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).

LAD #30: Schenck vs. US

This was a court case in 1919 that supported the Espionage Act, passed in 1917, that did not allow any interference with military plans or operations. Furthermore, this act said that no citizen could turn down the draft, therefore the First Amendment to the Constitution, the freedom of speech, cannot be used to object to the United States Draft. As a result, this case founded the "clear and present danger" test, which is about the draft and speech against it. "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic... The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." This case found Schenck guilty (who appealed to the Supreme Court because he felt his right to freedom of speech had been violated) and was sent to jail for six months.

LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

In 1900, there were about 2 million children working as child laborers. This statistic was eye opening to the citizens of the country and to the government as well, as changes were needed. The first of these changes came in the form of the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916. This act prohibited the factories or stores or companies that employed child laborers under age 14 from selling their product, or people from buying the products (other age and specifics were included here). This act regulated how long children age 16 could work and aimed to end child labor of children of young ages. However, this law was ruled unconstitutional in the case Hammer v Dagenhart 247 U.S. 251 (1918). But another act was passed after this to ensure child labor would be avoided in the same year.

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural Address

Wilson talks about how the Democrats won control of the Presidency, Vice Presidency, and Senate, but that this means much more than party success, but rather coming success for the Nation. He then talks about the citizens of the nation and how he would try to help them to "good" and away from "evil" as much as he could. Also, he asserts that the Government should be looking out for the welfare of the people.

LAD #27: Clayton Antitrust Act

This act, put into effect in October of 1914 was a supplement to the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890). This Act was much more specific in the guidelines it set including: price discrimination, sales, mergers, and prohibited any one person from being the head of two or more companies. This act tried to promote competition between companies to ensure protection of the consumer and of the market. Also, the Clayton Antitrust act helped out unions by protecting them with different sections and clauses. This act is still used today and serves it purpose very well.

LAD #26: MLK's I Have A Dream Speech

Martin Luther King Jr. starts his speech with an allusion to the Emancipation Proclamation, about how the slaves were set free, but still "one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free." He goes on to talk about how situations and life are still anything but great or equal one hundred years after this was supposed to happen. He also makes reference to the Declaration of Independence and how these rights do not hold true for blacks. He talks of Civil Rights and how the country must change. He then talks about his dreams saying "I have a dream..." "I have a dream today!" and continues this pattern with heartfelt words. One of the most memorable parts is when he says, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." He ends with let freedom ring in all the areas of the United States and let blacks be "Free at last!"

LAD #25: The Dawes Act

In general, this act is about the distribution of land in Oklahoma. Land was divided among the Native Americans, settlers, and railways. This act, also called the General Allotment Act divided up the land into allotments around 160 acres big. A trust fund was also created by this act with would collect money from industries around the Native Americans' land.

LAD #24: Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech

This is one of the most famous American speeches, if not the most famous. It is powerful and heartfelt. It was delivered at the Democratic Nominating Convention. This speech was in supports of bimetallism, meaning that the monetary standard is measured in amounts with both gold and silver in mind, not just one as many parties and people had been arguing. This would be done in best intentions for the country and would put a stop to the deflation which was occurring. Included in the speech was a lot about others who influenced the debate about which standard to use. By the end Bryan is seen as a leading figure in the argument about the economy.

LAD #23: Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party was a third party that "opposed the concentrated capital of bans and big businesses and decried the many of the effects that industrialism was having on American society." Main opinions were:
that the power of the people should be in the hands of the people, labor unions should exist, wealth is entitled to those who work for it, and the government should not just let the railroad companies walk on them, but rather take control. Also, a sound currency was desired and a few other important pieces in finance, transportation should be owned by the government, not the other way around, and land should be used with good intentions and for the benefit of the people. In closing, many resolutions were made dealing with citizens, workers, businesses, government, and controversial topics.

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

The Cubans revolted against Spain in 1895, and a brutal war resulted. During the first three years of warfare the United States remained neutral, but in 1898, the US asked for Spain to stop fighting. A few days later, the President declared war on Spain, saying,"In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop."
McKinley shows Congress how bad the situation is in Cuba and that it needed to be fixed, and the US could aide in this. He also described four main reasons why intervention was needed: 1. The US needs to help for humane reasons but also because the conflict "it is right at our door". 2. The citizens of Cuba need the US's help. 3. The war is affecting trade, commerce, and our people's business. 4. The condition of Cuba affects the United States' peace.
Also the destruction of the Maine (an American Battleship), further increased tensions.

LAD #21: Carnegie's Wealth

A very successful man, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), became wealthy in the industry of iron and steel. In his Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie explains how wealth and money should be handled to ensure it is protected and can be worth it. Also, he asserted that wealthy people were needed to keep a society balanced and so that they could distribute this money. Three ways of distribution were described: after death money could go to one's family, the society, or even give money away before death.

LAD #20: The Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln declares that all slaves are free and the United States Government will help to ensure their freedom. He says that anyone considered or held in the place of a slave in America are now emancipated, meaning free. All rights will be extended to them such as receive fair wages and a free life. A very official order by the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, on a very serious topic that would forever change America and really make her the land of the free.

LAD #19: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

There is a tone of sadness in his speech, even though he was just re-elected President and the Civil War would soon come to an end as well as slavery. Lincoln described how both sides were wrong and did not realize what they were getting into in this war. He also makes many references to God throughout his speech."With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. " By this, Lincoln references to the times ahead such as Reconstruction where he tries to help the South and make the country better for the future.

LAD #18: Dred Scott Decision

The decision of the Supreme Court was that slaves are property and the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court refused to act of the case because property could not sue, and since Dred Scott was a slave, a slaves were property, he had no right to sue. This made his argument to be a free slave invalid and he was sent back to the state where he was a slave and under the mastership of his old master.