Wednesday, March 23, 2011
LAD #36 The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an address of the foreign policy and the national security of the United States, and also Turkey and Greece. The United States received an urgent appeal from Greece for economic and financial assistance, if they did not receive aid it seemed as though they would not survive as an independent nation. Greece was never a wealthy country and it lacked many natural resources, and it has “suffered invasion, four years of cruel enemy occupation, and bitter internal strife”; it was reported that the “Germans had destroyed virtually all the railways, roads, port facilities, communications, and merchant marine. More than a thousand villages had been burned. Eighty-five per cent of the children were tubercular. Livestock, poultry, and draft animals had almost disappeared. Inflation had wiped out practically all savings.” Tragic conditions, a militant minority and human exploitation have made economic recovery seem impossible. The Greeks were asking for help to resume purchases of the bare essentials that were unavailable at the time. The Greeks also asked the United States for political aid “the assistance of experienced American administrators, economists and technicians to insure that the financial and other aid given to Greece shall be used effectively in creating a stable and self-sustaining economy and in improving its public administration”. Truman tells the joint session of Congress that the aid the United States has already provided for Greece is inadequate and that the United States, as a self governing democracy, must do more for Greece. The British had been helping them previously but they can no longer offer economic support after March 31st.
Monday, March 14, 2011
LAD #35 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 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. He gave power to the FBI and all other federal agencies to do this and was very determined to have this done effectively. 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. This act showed the hatred towards the enemies in war and how strong the resentment was towards these countries and their actions.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
FDR's Declaration of War LAD 34/36?
Despite being allies in World War One, the treaty of Versailles as well as several events and aspects of America in the 1920's including an isolationist policy, and certain aspects of the depression left Japan with a distaste for America. Japan began its policy of imperialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, beginning to claim several pacific islands for raw materials and military bases. in the Early 30's they took Manchuria, with only a slap on the wrist from the league of nations. Eventually, Japan attacked a neutral America in a surprise bombing of the US pacific fleet at the naval base in Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7, 1941- "a day that will live in infamy". Immediately, the next day, Roosevelt called congress into session to declare war on Japan and it's allies. FDR explains in his message the deliberate and deceptive relations between the US and Japan, whom recently stated that they wish to remain at peace. He assures the American people that America will not only defend itself, but will ensure that there is no such attack again, and will claim victory over its foes in the pacific.
Monday, February 28, 2011
LAD 32
The Kellogg-Braind Peace Pact was a treaty that was negotiated partially by the Secretary of State Kellogg and ratified president Herbert Hoover. It was a peace agreement between the US and several other nations including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Britain, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Poland, Belgium, and Japan. Many countries were involved because it was intended to be a world-wide treaty. It was declared to be open until other nations signed it making it globally comprehensive. Basically, the Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact made nations promise that they wouldn't use war as an instrument of their foreign policy, that solutions could be reached peacefully and that war was not the way to pursue national interest. By creating such a pact they hoped to avoid another war, still trying to recover from The Great War's destruction. The treaty was said to "promote the welfare of mankind" through "peaceful and friendly relations." While a rather pathetic crack at world peace, at least they tried..
Monday, February 14, 2011
LAD #31
The fourteen points was a speech delivered by Presient Woodrow Wilson in 1918 after the Great War. Wilson’s Fourteen Points calls for peace and an international policy of openness. It was also intended to assure the country that the Great War was being fought for a moral cause and for postwar peace in Europe. The Fourteen Points are as followed: 1. Calls for public diplomacy, Freedom of navigation of the seas, Equality of trade conditions,No farther build up of armies, Adjustment of all colonial claims, Evacuation of all Russian territories, Restore Belgium, Sovereignty for all French territories, Readjustment of the frontiers of Italy, Autonomous development for the peoples of Austria-Hungary, Evacuation of Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro, Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations, Erection of a sovereign polish state, A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity
Friday, February 11, 2011
LAD 30
Charles Schneck was the Secretary of the Socialist Party of America and he was passing out papers and mailing papers that were agaisnt the draft and discouraged the war. These had phrases like "dont give in to intimidation" written on them and the government was unfuriated because he was discouraging the war. The government then arrested him and said that his actions violated the Espionage Act of 1917 and he sued. He then lost and appealed his way to the supreme court. Schneck then lost the case because although the first ammendment gaurenteed freedom of speach, the Supreme court ruled that during a time of war certain things were intolerable and if they caused direct danger to people then it was a criminal act. The "clear and present danger" that was depicted of Schnek's crime was what put Schneck in jail and set a precedent for other people protesting the war openly. It also did create a warning flag in society for socialism because the socialist party was growing very rapidly.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Lad 29
The world today is in a very serious situation. Two places that are in particular trouble are Turkey and Greece. In the case of the later, it can not survive without our aid. I believe that the American people wish to help Greece, as the war completely devastated that country and it has been unable to rebuild because of a militant minority. Greece can not deal with this problem itself and needs our help. The government is not perfect but none is. Another country that needs our help is Turkey, although it did not suffer the destruction of war. The United States needs to help Turkey and support our way of life. We are helped in this role by the United Nations. America has complained to the United Nations in order to support several oppressed countries that were not given a choice of how to live. We must support these countries or they will collapse. Therefore, I am asking Congress to assistance to Greece and Turkey in the amount of $400,000,000. We have invested much in a better world, and this small amount is absolutely necessary to protect our investment. We have been great responsiblities and if we falter in our leadership, the world will suffer.
LAD 28
I believe that this country will pull through this dark time, as it always has done in the past. Our country is facing many problems, including lack of markets for goods, increasing taxes, and falling wages. There is also significant unemployment. Yet, these problems are not insurmountable. There are mainly the fault of the leaders and rulers stubbornness and incompetence. The money changers are only concerned with themselves and have no vision. Money should not be given out, but earned. Material wealth should not be the measure of success. The nation wants immediate action. We must get people working and the government can help. We must help farmers by raising cost of agricultural products. There must be a sound currency, there should be oversight of banking and credit, and there should be no speculation with other people’s money. I shall send this proposal to Congress. The emergency at home must be solved before we look abroad. Only by working together can we solve our problems. I am willing to do my best to help the country, but I will not abuse my Constitutional powers and hope that the balance between the branches will be kept. If Congress will not act, I will ask for special war powers to fight this emergency. The people have elected me because they want action and leadership. I hope God helps me fulfill these expectations.
LAD 27
This act which is still successfully used today marked the commencement of government activism. Previous to the Clayton Anti-Trust Act big businesses were free to monopolize, discriminate, as well as use corrupt policies. This was in large part due to our governements economic policy of Laissez-Faire. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act had been enacted but not strictly enforced, which is why the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was put into place in October of 1914. It stopped price discrimination as well as prohibit a sole person from being the head of more than one company. All of these restrictions worked together to ensure competition between businesses giving the consumer the benefit of the doubt.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
LAD #26: MLK's 'I Have a Dream' Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. said a quote where he wanted his children and family to live in harmony with white kids. This was perhaps one of the most famous parts from Martin Luther King Junior's speech evokes emotion and passion that no one can deny. It is embedded within a series of statements starting with "I have a dream..." of which the premices include not solely equality for the slave but for the negroe and civil rights for all. He alludes too several "ancient" (if you will) American documents such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence. Although his actions may be dwarfed by these great acts of diplomacy, his outstanding moral tenacity and courage will be and is obviouslly remembered today.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
LAD #24: Cross of Gold Speech
LAD #24: Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech
This speech was given by William Jennings Bryan on July 9th, 1896 at the Democratic National convention which is located in the bustling city of Chicago. He starts off by talking about the true value of the American worker- the importance of the workers, and the great country that America is and the rights that we have as citizens. He believes that to help the hurting economy, to have free coinage of silver,as there was a higher abundance of it compared to gold,and as it was hurting the farmers, as stated in the previous LAD, a key belief of the Populist Party and the Silver Democrats, who were pushing for free coinage of silver as well. Silver is worth 1/16th of gold and farmers could not use them- only wealthy men could use it. The important thing to do is what's for the major benefit of the people, and that the farmers were just as important as the big business people. Farmers could use this change in money value and pay off the debts they owed. He also believed in an income tax, believing it would be for the benefit of people. He ends the speech with a beautiful line that's very poetically written yet hits all the political marks "You shall not crucify a man upon a cross of gold."
This speech was given by William Jennings Bryan on July 9th, 1896 at the Democratic National convention which is located in the bustling city of Chicago. He starts off by talking about the true value of the American worker- the importance of the workers, and the great country that America is and the rights that we have as citizens. He believes that to help the hurting economy, to have free coinage of silver,as there was a higher abundance of it compared to gold,and as it was hurting the farmers, as stated in the previous LAD, a key belief of the Populist Party and the Silver Democrats, who were pushing for free coinage of silver as well. Silver is worth 1/16th of gold and farmers could not use them- only wealthy men could use it. The important thing to do is what's for the major benefit of the people, and that the farmers were just as important as the big business people. Farmers could use this change in money value and pay off the debts they owed. He also believed in an income tax, believing it would be for the benefit of people. He ends the speech with a beautiful line that's very poetically written yet hits all the political marks "You shall not crucify a man upon a cross of gold."
LAD #23: Populists
This party came as a result from the Farmers Alliance in the late 19th century, around the 1870's, different from Democrats and Republicans. They were against the corrupted concentrated capital, and instead were believers in the common American man. They wanted to raise the quality of living in America by raising pay, as workers at the time were working under desolate conditions and no workers right/compensation at all. They were all for labor unions and they wholeheartedly supported workers rights- such as pensions for ex soldiers, no immigrant workers, and protection of job. They had many beliefs against the big corporations, all centered around the idea that they, the Populist Party, did not trust them. They believed that the companies were decreasing the value of silver to benefit from the value of gold, and believed in circulation of money, more money pumped into the economy, and for the government to keep an eye out on the railroad companies, along with owning the telephone companies. They basically wanted power back for the "plain people."
LAD 25 Dawes Act
The Dawes Act was to re-organize and redistribute reservation land into land for individual Indians, their own private property. 18 and above, including orphans, got 1/8 of a piece of land, while adults in charge of a family will get 1/4th- of which they could stay on or sell. The land is supposed to be used to produce crops or for animals to graze. Dawes Act also includes laws for the reservation- Indians can apply to become American citizens and work for the government. The land, if there is not enough, is divided by a class system and also by an agent, who would give out patents of ownerships. Indians who don't live on reservations can ask and apply for land. Once they've stayed on the land for five years, the land is forever theirs.This wasn't always true for Indians because if the government wanted that land back, they could take it back and just pay the Indians.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
LAD 22 McKinley's war message
McKinley's main message was a plea to Congress asking them to try to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Cuba. The warfare happening was similar to wars that have been fought in the past and he did not want the US to be blamed with the reprocussions. The warfare was similar to the many other revolutions against Spain that had occurred in Cuba and McKinley said this had come at a price in the United States. Trade suffered, U.S citizens' capital in Cuba was lost, and many were just growing tired of the unrest. After three years of neutrality, McKinley demanded Spain to cease all warfare. He stated that the only way to end the war was intervention as an impartial neutral, as an active ally, or by imposing a rational compromise. He laid out the grounds for such an intervention and concluded that the U.S would be justified in intervening. He furthered his argument by stating that the destruction of the Maine was proof that things in Cuba had gone too far. "In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests," McKinley asked for permission to fully end the conflict between Spain and Cuba and also to establish a secure government on the island. Despite McKinley's well-meant efforts however, war spirit resulted in Congress sending the United States into war on the Cubans' side. McKinley obviously would have disapproved of this decision.
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