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.

LAD #30: Schenck vs. US

Schneck vs. the United States on March 23rd in 1919 was a  case which backed the Espionage Act of 1917. The Espionage Act denied any interference or involvemnet in military plans and operations. Despite the protection of freedom of speech by the first amendment, Schenck’s distribution of printed documents posed a grave threat therefore leading Congress using their right to cease his actions. Schenck’s messages were: “"Do not submit to intimidation” and to “Assert your rights”. His passionate and intense document was to prevent the draft. “It denied the power to send our citizens away to foreign shores to shoot up the people of other lands, and added that words could not express the condemnation such cold-blooded ruthlessness deserves”. This was the "clear and present danger" , which consisted of information about the draft and many arguements fighting it. In many cases, the context of the words in which one speaks and the nature they were spoken in are the leading determinant in if the Congress has a clear path to defend. For example,“The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. It does not even protect a man from an injunction against uttering words that may have all the effect of force.” Schenck simply commited a crime that was an obstruction of the recruiting services.  In the Schneck vs. the United States, Schenck was found guilty and was sent to jail for six months. He had appealed to the Supreme Court because he felt his right to freedom of speech had been violated.

LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

In the early 1900's large businesses and corporations aided the United States for economic reasons byt gave little thought to the American people, especially those working for them.Workers in cities suffered grueling conditions, long hours and little pay. Often times, instead of working toward an education, children would be working day and night in factories, mills, and farms in order to bring in an additional profit for their family, even if just a small one. Problems in the workforce were worsened for young children as they did not have labor laws to protect their rights and they were often hired solely because they could fit into small, dangerous spaces and they could be payed less. Men and organizations like Lewis Hine and the National Child Labor Committee worked endlessly to put a halt to the atrocities. In 1916, their goal was achieved with the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act being put into action, making strides to reform many of the hardships that working youth faced. Its goal was to restrict child labor which would lead to more open jobs for adult men. The act prohibited the sale of goods produced in factories by children under 14 years old, and mines operated by children under 16 years of age. Furhtermore, the Keating-Own Child Labor Act prevented children under 16 from working more than 8 hours a day, or at night. Unfortunately, the act was soon declared unconstitutional, however the next attempt to limit child labor came with the Revenue Act of 1919. Again, this stride towards reform for children was declared unconstitutional. It was not until 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act was finally passed and still remains in place today.