LAD #37: Brown vs. Board of Education

The case of Brown vs. Board of Education dealt with the issue of a supposedly all white public school in Topekam Kansas denying little Linda Brown, a black girl, the right to attend the school. She lived closer to this all white public school than the black school that she was walking a mile to in order to attend. This case caused many conflicts regarding segregation in schools to arise. The NAACP was eager to aid in the case, striving to end this segregation in schools and other areas of daily life. Additionally, the case of Plessy vs. Ferguson was discussed which had established that separate but equal was unconstitutional which was exactly what the case of Brown vs. Board of Education was dealing with. The schools available for blacks during this time were obviously not equal. Linda Brown challenged this. Her case resulted in the desegregation of the school system which forever changed America. Although desegregation happened very gradually, it began with the victory of Linda Brown. This revolutionary event in history also sparked the Civil Rights Movement, forever impacting and progressing the United States into what we have become today.

"To separate children solely because of their race
generates a feeling of inferiority that may affect
their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone."

LAD #36: Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine was created and then presented to Congress when the President decided that the involvement of the United States in world affairs was necessary in order to preserve democracy across the globe. President Truman asked Congress to aid and support Greece and Turkey in order for them to overtake the political challenges that they were experiencing and achieve democracy. Although establishing and preserving democracy was an extremely important aspect, one of the even more important parts was eliminating any kind of Marxist rule. The Truman Doctrine is known one of the first attempts of the United States in containing communism. We strived to cease European nations from to the plague of Communism which was also the government of the powerful Soviet Union. President Truman decided to take a huge step in providing these countries aid as Britain had grown financially weaker and could no longer support these nations with the funds necessary to prevent a Communist takeover. President Truman then expressed that it was the duty of America to provide aid and support in helping other nations to establish the same freedoms found in the United States, economically and militarily. "If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world -- and we shall surely endanger the welfare of our own nation."

LAD #35: FDR's Executive Order #9066

 

In the period after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, many American citizens were wary of Japanese Americans residing near them. Quickly a very prevalent anxiety arose among the country, stemming from the Japanese Americans. This prompted the Executive Order #9066 which said that alternate locations or referred to as "military areas" were created in order for Japanese Americans to be sent to and live on. Their freedom was basically stripped away however, as they could not leave these bases. Much of the time the bases were surrounded by fencing or some sort of blockade to prevent the people from leaving the premises. These "areas" mostly existed in the sparsley populated West in order to isolate them from the rest of the country. Virtually, all of their natural rights ceased to exist in these bases and many of the "homes" provided to families, were old horse stalls. Frequently, there was a lack of food and the education provided to the children was limited to none. It became legal to send Japanese American individuals and families to these areas based on any sort of "suspicion", even without any sort of tangible evidence or proof. Often times, families were sent to these bases, void of reason, solely because they were Japanese Americans which brought fear to many.

LAD #34: FDR's Declaration of War

Franklin Delano Roosevelt begins with speaking of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy." He quickly requested a declaration for from Congress after the attack.   Japan's entire attack on Pearl Harbor had obviously been very planned out as well as various other hostile attacks on surrounding pacific islands. Furthermore, Roosevelt also acknowledged the fact that Japan simply was undisturbed by the conflicts at hand, and went on as if there was nothing awry. This prompted Roosevelt request to declare war. He asked America to take a stand and fight against Japan and regain justice. He concluded with saying that the only way America was to prove itself against Japan was to fight.

LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugral Address

In the days before Roosevelt took office in 1933, America was in a period of distress and turmoil. The economy was continually struggling, as businesses were crashing, banks were closing. The life of comfort and luxury was over for many Americans, as living on the streets became a harsh reality. The construction of "Hoovervilles" outside major cities were swamped with the poor and homeless desperately seeking any kind of job. Unfortunately, President Wilson could do nothing but sit and watch his beloved country struggle and suffer. However, once Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected in 1933, the spirits of hopeless Americans were rejuvinated by his first inaugural address. He begins his speech stating that "our distress comes from no failure of substances." He wants to acknowledge that the hardships experienced are not things that the public can control but that perseverance and cooperation were necessary to change the present circumstances. "We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply." He goes on to say that it was the money changers which had lead to the failure of the banks. He states that the restoration of our great country is up to the extent in which we apply social values rather than solely profiting monetarily. Roosevelt demonstrates his trust in the American people that by working together, the country could again become economically stable and then prosperous once again. Roosevelt declared that he wished to implement action in the restoration of America at that very moment. Roosevelt stepped away from Wilson's ideas of letting the people solve the problems of the nation and decided to take charge and direct the nation so the country could then be repaired and replenished.

LAD #32: Kellogg Briand Peace Pact

The Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact declared a “renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy” to promote the welfare of mankind through peace, and specifically without the use of violence. With the refusal of war as a tool in the national policy, cooperation between nations of the world in a common rejection of war is necessary in order to make this the national policy of every nation in the world. The treaty then states that if a nation does use war or violence to promote itself in any way, then it will not receive the benefits of the Peace Pact. The treaty also placed criticism in the use of war to solve internal problems within the nation as well as "international controversies." Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Kingdom of the Serbs, Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Siam, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Panama all signed the Act. These coutnries participated in signing this act with the belief that they would reap the benefits of cooperating peacefully with other nations and that if any sort of warfare was used, then that nation would automatically be excluded from the Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact.

LAD #31: President Wilson's 14 Points

Many participant in the war expressed their desire for peace among the nations. Many issues had erupted and there was an obvious need for negotiation. Wilson wanted to reassert the reason for the involvement of the United States in the war. He reminded them that they were fighting for the safety of our country and democracy. He then listed his 14 Points which included:

1) No private alliances internationally and diplomacy will be present and open to the public.
2) Freedom of the seas even during wartimes.
3) Equal trade among all nations that desire peace as well as no new barriers constructed.
4) The reduction of the national army to while still maintaing domestic safety.
5) In colonies, the interests of the people must have equal importance to that of the government.
6) Evacutation of Russia in order for its development.
7) Restoration of Beligium.
8) French territories will be freed and France will be righted to ensure peace and cooperation in the future.
9) Italian frontiers to be righted among clear nationalities.
10) Austria-Hungary will have opportunities to autonomous development.
11) Balkan states will be evacuated.
12) Turkish portion will have secure sovereignty.
13) An independent Polish state will be built.
14) The League of Nations will be created.