LAD #37: Brown vs. Board of Education

A problem arose in Topeka, Kansas, when a little African-American girl, Linda Brown, was denied the right to attend public school, one said to be just for whites. This case was about the segregation in public schools, and the NAACP was eager to help the case and end this segregation. The court case of Plessy v Ferguson was brought up, that established separate but equal, and this was ruled unconstitutional, and therefore the desegregation of public schools resulted. Sparking the Civil Rights Movement, and forever changing the United States.

LAD #36: The Truman Doctrine

Starts out talking about how Greece needs help in the form of money and also with help with their government. He further explains that the United States is the only option Greece can go to for help, for the United States is the only democratic country willing to offer aid. Turkey also needs this help. After this, he goes on to talk about governments in general and how Democracy needs to be protected and spread, as it is one of the best governments, although "no government is perfect." This document shows the start of the tensions between democracy (and the United States) and other government forms and those countries.

LAD #35: FDR's Executive Order #9066

This was an order put into use by the president during World War II which allowed Japanese Americans to be placed in relocation camps. This put nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans into these internment camps. Although this order was mainly targeted at Japanese Americans, it also had an effect on German Americans and Italian Americans. These two groups saw 11,000 of German ancestry put into camps and 3,000 of Italian ancestry. This act showed the hatred towards the enemies in war and how strong the resentment was towards these countries and their actions.

LAD #34: FDR's War Declaration

"A day that will live in infamy" is what FDR called the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor on December 7th. Not only was there an attack here, but also six other attacks the same day/night. FDR shows that these surprise attacks by Japan were deliberate and the United States should go to war. He asks Congress to support him, as the whole nation did. The vote in Congress was almost unanimous, with just one voting against war. The speech was short and to the point, but with no lack of emotion or sentiments.

LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugural Speech

Franklin D. Roosevelt took office shortly after the Great Depression started. His speech address the widespread unemployment and appealed to the people that he would bring about change. He says, "This Nation asks for action, and action now." Roosevelt promises to bring this much needed change and help the sickly country regain health. Not only is the president going to help the country back to its prosperity, but help to prevent this awful situation from striking again. FDR says he will act as an advocate of democracy, in order to help the people and the nation. He restores the people's faith in the president, during this hectic time.

LAD #32: Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact

This treaty, also known as the General Treaty for the Renunciation of War, renounced war as an official policy by the countries who signed it, which include Italy, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, and Great Britain. Although at first it was a treaty between the United States and France. It is named after the United States senator Frank B. Kellogg and French foreign minister Aristide Briand. This also set the legality of "crime against peace" if anyone broke the terms. (This treaty would later be instrumental at the Nuremberg Trials after WWII).

LAD #31: President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points

President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points was proposed in 1918, after World War I. He first talks about conditions in the world including many countries such as Russia, Great Britain, and Germany. The actual Fourteen Points are as follows:
I. Peace and Diplomacy should be followed and used.
II. Freedom of Seas will be granted to everyone.
III. Removal of Economic Barriers.
IV. Removal of armies and no further buildup.
V. Change of views on Colonial claims.
VI. The evacuation and better treatment of Russia
VII. The evacuation and restoration of Belgium.
VIII. The guarantee of French Territory, as well as the acquisition of Alsace-Lorraine.
IX. Adjustment of the borders of Italy.
X. Autonomy in Austria-Hungary.
XI. Evacuation and independence of Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro.
XII. Sovereignty to Turkey, and the Dardanelles would be opened for free passage of ships.
XIII. An independent Poland.
XIV. General Association of Nations (would become the League of Nations) to talk about world problems to avoid another awful war.
This was meant to create peace, allow for better relations, and avoid another costly war to all countries of the world. This also became influential in negotiating the Armistice with Germany (but did not deal with the Treaty of Versailles).