LAD #34 and #35

34
On December 7th 1941, the United States was attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. At the time of the attack, there were still negotiations about maintaining peace in the Pacific. An hour after the bombing at Pearl Harbor, the US Secretary of State received a reply from Japan stating that it was pointless to continue diplomatic negotiations. Despite this, there was no information regarding an attack. Because of the large distance between Hawaii and Japan, the attack is believed to have been planned many days or weeks ago. During this time, the Japanese people have deceived the US governments with hopes of peace. The attacks have caused much damage on American navy and military forces. In addition many lives have been lost, along with American ships being destroyed. The United States were not the only victim of Japanese attacks. Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island were also attacked. The President stated that he would direct that “all measures be taken for our defense”. Roosevelt expresses his determination when he states that the American people will fight until absolute victory. In addition, Roosevelt assures the people of America that such a tragedy will never occur again. Lastly, Roosevelt asks congress for an official declaration of war against the Japanese empire for their attack on Pearl Harbor.

35

President Roosevelt announced his executive order #9066 on February 19, 1942. He states that in order to successfully win the war, the nation must have protection against spies and sabotage. With his authority as the President of the United States and as the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, he authorized the Secretary of war the Military Commanders to prescribe military areas if they believed it was necessary. The Secretary of war was to provide the residents of the Military area with transportation, food, shelter, and any other necessities. The designation of military areas in any region will supersede any areas that were previously reserved or restricted. Roosevelt also authorizes the Secretary of War and his other military commanders to use Federal troops and other Federal Agencies to their liking. He also authorizes and demands that any other government agencies must follow his executive order. This includes medical aid, hospitalization, food, clothing, transportation, land, shelter, supplies and anything else needed. Roosevelt states that his order is not trying to limit the authority of the Executive Order #8972, or the roles of the FBI, Attorney General, or Department of Justice. Instead he will intervene when seemed necessary to do so.

LAD #33

When Roosevelt was to be inaugurated, he was in the midst of severe economic problems and national concerns. In his Inaugural Adress he began by easing the minds of the American people. He promised that America could overcome all obstacles if they kept a optamistic attitude. "We have nothing to fear but fear itself". Although the taxes had increased, markets were losing availibility, and industrial productivity had decreased, Roosevelt claimed that America could redeem itself with its social values. Hard work and the revival of the joy of achievement would bring the nation back to its feet. A more efficient use of land, a higher employment rate, increased agricultural as well as industrial productivity and the organized national palnnign of transport and communication was also necessary. Lastly, Roosevelt stressed the improtance of the strict supervision of banking, investment, and an end to money speculation was essential. In order to achieve these national goals, Roosevelt encouraged the importance of "good neighbors" and working together as one within the society. Roosevelt assured the nation that he would do whatever it took to protect the nation in a time of need.

LAD #32

The Kellogg-Brand Pact of 1928 was a seperate peace treaty made by the U.S. with European world powers after WWI had ended. It stated that any power who wanted to declare war, would be denied. It was seperated into different articles. The first article stated that the High Contracting parties should consult one another when they wanted to declare war against another country. Article two said that if any problem should ever occur between these nations, then they should be dealt with "pacificily." The last article stated that the treaty should be put into effect immediately following ratification. Basically, the Pact oulawed declaring war, which proved to be unsuccessful.

LAD #31

Wilson’s Fourteen Points:1. No more Secret Treaties2. Freedom of the Seas3. The Removal of Economic Barriers 4. Reduction of weapons5. Adjustment of colonial claims in the interest of the natives and colonizers6. Evacuation of all Russian territory 7. Evacuation of Belgium 8. French territory should be freed and restored and al of the wrongs done by Prussia pertaining to Alsace-Lorraine should be righted9. Adjustment of the boundary lines of Italy10. Austria-Hungary should be self-governing. 11. Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated. 12. The Turkish portion of the Ottoman Empire should rule and all other nationalities under Turkish rule should be self-governing.13. An independent Polish state should be created14. A league of Nations should be created to keep the peace and settle world disputes.

LAD #30

The Schenck vs. U.S. case occurred in 1919. It supported the Espionage Act of 1917, this act said that there could be no interference with any military plans. The act also said that the 1st Amendment would not save anyone from being drafted into the war, and that it was illegal to avoid the draft or find a way to not be drafted. The case began a test called the "clear and present danger" test. This test determined free speech against the draft. In the end Schenck was found guilty and was sentenced to 6 months in prison because he appealed that his freedom of speech was violated. 

LAD #28 & LAD #29

#28

FDR's first inaugural address is one of the most famous presidential addresses of all time. In this address Roosevelt said one of America's most famous quotes, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  During these difficult times, it is up to the American people to trust the government to deal with issues of unemployment and the poor economy. The government has a plan to create more jobs, but it could be risky. Thus, there has to be policies to regulate banking, investments, and credits as well as establishing a concrete currency. FDR spent most of his time revealing that there are going to be dangers, but the nation can overcome these dangers by working together. 


#29

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Law was created in 1916 to control the amount of time children could work and to stop the interstate trade of all products made by children. In 1900 a census came out that revealed to Americans that approximately two million children were working at that time. This census prompted a national movement. Lewis Hine, a photojournalist during the time started to reveal the horrible working conditions of children in factories, mills, and mines. The Keating-Owen bill regulated child labor by restricting the age of children in factories (children now had to be older than 14 or 16). Children also received better conditions by lowering their working hours.

LAD #27

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act was passed by the American Congress in 1914. It was made to add to and improve upon the failures of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. This Act was set in place in order to stop major companies from rebates, price cutting, inter corporate stock share holding, and from making exclusive contracts with other companies. Although there are some similarities between the Clayton, and Sherman Anti-Trust Acts, they are some noticeable differences. For instance, labor unions were no longer considered constraints of the US economy. Thus labor unions were able to legally carry out reform during this time.  

LAD #26

Martin Luther King Jr. starts his famous "I have a Dream" speech by comparing the situation in America at that time, to the Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, a time when African Americans were not free. He stated that Black people still being suppressed and that the segregation and discrimination of African Americans was not fair. There was no time like the present to fix the racial barriers in America, and MLK Jr. believed that it was time to take a stand. Therefore, the citizens of America, both black and white, must stick together in order to achieve a common goal. He thinks that the discrimination and prejudice has gone on for too long and it is now time for true freedom. The most famous part of this speech, however, is that  King talks about his hopes and dreams for the future in a time where people in America will live together in peace.

LAD #25 Dawes Act

The Dawes Act was set in place to send the Native Americans to multiple reservations around America. The president now had the power to split up the communal lands held by the different tribes and then give different shares to individual owners. Each person received different amounts of lands based on different factors such as gender, age, or family status. The US could now sell any Indian land to American settlers. The act also tried to make the Native Americans assimilate into American culture. However, the act did not include the 5 civilized tribes at the time. It also gave the government the right to build railroads through the Native American's new land. 

LAD #24 Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold speech is one of America's most famous speeches. William read this speech to a crowd at the Democratic nominating convention and he was very well spoken. He felt that gold and silver should be used to set a standard in currency, which is called bimetallism. This was a common argument between political parties during the time. This would also stop the deflation in America. After this speech was over  William Jennings Bryan was seen as a huge influence in this debate. 

LAD #23

The Populist Party was created and was against any effects that industrialism or big business had on America. They believed in democracy and that the government existed to help the people. They thought that people should be able to make their own wealth as well as be allowed to create labor unions. The Populist Party wanted the government to take control of all transportation in the U.S. and to reduce the power that the railroad companies held. Their major goals were to break up the power of big business for the benefit of all American citizens. 

LAD #22 McKinley's War Message

In 1898, President McKinley addressed Congress by demanding that the war with Cuba be ended. He stated multiple reasons that this war should end, the first one being that America end all barbiturates in Cuba because it is their duty. Next he urged that the proper help should be offered to the people of Cuba so that they may be protected and guaranteed life and property. Third he threatened that if we did not intervene then it would result in a decrease in trade, business, property, and land. Lastly, McKinley stated that this war was a severe threat to the freedom in America.