LAD #31: Wilson's 14 Points

He scares me.



The 14-point plan outlined by US President Woodrow Wilson after World War I's conclusion were focused on creating open and direct peace agreements between belligerents. He points out that the US only entered the war because their interests and the interests of their people were in danger, and they are only interested in making sure the people of the world are safe. This is reflected in his points, which call for, in order:

1. Open covenants of peace
2. Freedom of the seas
3. Equality of trade conditions between nations
4. Reduction of national armaments (not of any specific country, rather of all belligerents)
5. Impartial adjustment of colonial claims
6. Evacuation of Russian territory
7. Evacuation and restoration of Belgium
8. Freedom of French territory and settlement of prior conflicts
9. Readjustment of the frontiers of Italy
10. Austro-Hungarian freedom of autonomy
11. Independence of the Balkan states
12. Autonomy of Ottoman-controlled nationalities
13. Creation of an Independent Polish State
14. Association of nations formed to affirm mutual guarantees of independence and integrity

Many of Wilson's points focused on peace talks, allowing smaller nations to gain autonomy, and the general demilitarization of all world powers. However, this was challenged by Britain and France, who wanted heavy reparations to be paid by Germany for the destruction of the war. These reparation payments would breed further hostility in Europe and set the stage for World War II.

LAD #30: Schenck v. United States

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. a.k.a. "The Mustache"



In 1918, Charles Schenck, a leader of the Socialist Party in Philadelphia, was brought before the Supreme Court after mailing out pamphlets to draftees during World War I urging them to resist the draft. Schenck was strongly opposed to the draft, believing it to be motivated by capitalism, and told the draftees not to submit to US intimidation. Since he was obstructing recruitment into the US military and trying to cause insubordination, Schenck was charged with conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act of 1917, which prohibited either of these acts. Although free speech and free press are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, the court unanimously found Schenck guilty, as he was in direct violation of this act. Justice Oliver W. Holmes Jr. claimed that if words prove to provide a "clear and present danger" to the United States or its people, they should be protected from that danger.

LAD #29: The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

 

 Lewis Hine's photography exposed the horrors of child labor.

This act was passed in the interest of combating child labor, specifically by regulating interstate commerce. It banned the sale of products from factories, shops, or canneries that employed children under 14, mines that employed children under 16, or any facilities that made children under 16 work at night or more than 8 hours during the day. The law passed and remained in effect until it was ruled unconstitutional in Hammer v. Dagenhart in 1918 on account of the government overstepping its power to regulate local trade. The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938 to a similar effect, and the Supreme Court reversed their decision concerning Hammer v. Dagenhart in 1941.

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural Address

Woodrow Wilson

In this address, Wilson notes the government is slowly being taken over and controlled by the Democratic Party. He says the success of the nation will lead to the success of America. Wilson proclaims that life, specifically life in America, is good, and has led to happiness. However, it has not been all good. Many valuable resources have been squandered, and the cost of industrial expansion has been great. Wilson says that it is the duty of the American people to correct the evil without destroying the good that was created by its prospects. He points out several national systems that need to be resolved to fix the issues, like foreign tariffs, banking, labor, and agriculture.Wilson also urges the government that protecting the citizens should be its highest priority, and wants to ensure that the people focus less on celebrating their success, and more on solutions and progress for the future.

LAD #27: The Clayton Anti-Trust Act

 Anti-trust acts broke up monopolistic trusts.




This act was created to outlaw monopolies and prevent new ones from being created. It makes price discrimination in favor of monopolies illegal, specifically locally lowering prices to undercut competitors and drive them out of business. It gives the FTC the power to identify and terminate such discrimination. The act also prevents rebates and corporations holding stock in each other's companies, when such holding of stock would lead to the creation or furthering of monopolies.

LAD #26: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech

 MLKJ giving his "I Have A Dream" speech

King begins his speech by pointing out that even 100 years after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation, black Americans are still outcast, unequal members of society. He compares the promise of freedom given to all Americans in the Declaration of Independence to a check, and that black Americans always had insufficient funds to cash it. King calls for all Americans to take action to gain civil rights, but deplores the use of violence as a means to this end. He also strongly urges black Americans not to lose trust for all white Americans, as true equality lies in togetherness. King asserts that as long as blacks are segregated by society and targeted by law enforcement, they will never be truly satisfied. He then famously goes off-book, talking about his dream for a free and equal America, for everybody.

LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

 There is exactly one picture pertaining to the Dawes Act in existence.

Passed in 1887, the Dawes Act allowed the US government to claim and distribute Native American lands held by tribes to individual Native Americans. Each individual received a different amount of land depending on age, gender, and status. However, while seeming innocent enough, the act also allowed the government to purchase excess land and sell it to American settlers. This was intended to cause assimilation of Native Americans into American society. The Dawes Act does not include the 5 "civilized tribes" among others. Lastly, this act gives the government power to build government-owned infrastructure such as railroads and highways through Native American land.