LAD #31: The Fourteen Points

      As unprecedented as the beginning, the end of the Great War saw large talk about the future of the world. Wilson, in his address to Congress addressed the retreat of Russians at the end of the war and the consequences of this. With the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia settled its problems with the Central Powers and left the British and French to fight. While applauding, Wilson questioned the thinking behind such a decision as they kept all land after the treaty. He became skeptical of the "democratic" process that was occurring largely because he was unsure of Russian motives and the German involvement. In order to protect democracy and justice, Wilson declares that it is now the United States' duty to join the conflict and present its own plan. With the conclusion of the fighting, Wilson hoped that the people of different countries could become more harmonious to maintain order and peace. Perhaps unrealistically and more so idealistically Wilson hoped to restrict the practices that had become normal in many countries. He suggested that secret treaties come to an end, freedom of the seas, end of economic barriers, self-determination for colonies, and the reacquisition of lost territory to Russia, France, Italy, and Belgium. As well as peaceful organization of Austria Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro and the other Balkan states that made up to "powder keg" as well as a League of Nations.

LAD #30: Schenck v. United States

        At the turn of the 20th century, the Great War was on the horizon and those oppossed began to spread their opinions. During these tumultuous times, Charles Schenck began to circularate material in opposition to the draft to draft prospects. They urged to "not submit to intimidation" and advised peaceful actions to petition the Conscription Act and hopefully have the statue repealed. Schenck was in turn charged with the attempt to cause insubordination in the military in violation of the Espionage Act. His case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where he argued that he did not committ a crime as he has the right to free speech. Chief Justice Holmes and the other eight judges decided that Schenck was guilty as in this particular case his circulars caused a "clear and present danger." By this, Holmes meant that in the circulars was being suggested an action that would lead to "evils that Congress has the right to prevent" or that the law had the right to arrest Schenck. The justices added that while his actions would not have been punishable in peacetime, in the midst of war these anti-war feelings were a danger to the nation.

LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

     With the Progressive movement reaching its height, the establishment of child labor was challenged. The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act basically outlawed by preventing interstate commerce of goods that used child labor in their production. In more detail, it said that any product made with labor from a person under sixteen years old would be prevented from being sold between states. Along with this, making a person between ages 14 and 16 from working more than eight hours a day for more than six days a week between six am and seven pm. It gave the Attorney General, Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor to make a board to create and publish uniform codes. The Secretary of Labor had the additional power of to inspect mills, canneries, and other industries to make sure all codes were being followed. If any provision of the act was violated, then  it was to be brought immediately to the district courts without delay of punishments. These laws did not apply to boys and girls cannery clubs that had been recognized by the Agricultural Department. A monetary punishment was set in place with a minimum fine of 200 dollars for the first offense, and a maximum fine of 1000 dollars or imprisonment for three months. If any false claims were made the same punishments could be applied.

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural

       With his first inauguration, President Woodrow Wilson notes the change that has occurred in government. As the president stated, the government has become filled with Democrats. Despite this previously underrepresented party gaining power, it did not mean that it would be coupled with a transition of ideals. Quite to the contrary, the Democrats assumed the aspects of things that had become normal and familiar and were reinvigorated by new perspective. During this time, the United States was dealing with several problems including conflicts against the Progressive platform. Wilson then goes on to praise the morally strong and then lists the problems that had to be addressed. One of these was the need to preserve natural resources in the midst of hostile competition in industry. This mentality led to a lack of control in the corporate sector. Rather than perpetuate this harmful condition, justice should be the new goal of government. Before this can be realized, the wrongs that have been a result of this mentality including a tariff that violates the principles of taxation, a banking system that is poor at adjusting to changing times, an industrial system that does not had the rights of labor and natural resources as a top priority, and an farmers that have never been given the benefits of big business. To Wilson, government has become an instrument of justice where it will ensure equality of social classes and in the other areas that had been wronged. Despite this, Wilson remains practical and asks for the help of humanity rather than a party.

LAD #27: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

     As one of the most progressive of the Progressive Presidents, the Wilson Administration passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act in 1914. Aimed at the elimination and control of unlawful business practices, the second prevented a business from unlawfully controlling the prices of goods. This can not be done by a business when its goal is to discriminate against the consumer based on "grade, quality, or quantity" of the good sold or when their intent is to create a monopoly. This may be allowed, however, when it is for competition among businesses. In the third section, it explains that granting rebates and other malpractices of this sort to force out competitors or to decrease the value of the prices of another company to create a monopoly is illegal. In the seventh section, it outlaws the consolidation of companies for the purpose of lessening or eliminating competition that would lead to a monopoly in any line of commerce.

LAD #26: I Have a Dream

             Perhaps the most well known activist of the Civil Rights Era, Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his powerful "I Have a Dream Speech" during the march on Washington. As Lincoln sits solemnly in his memorial, Dr. King begins by speaking of the accomplishment of the man who led us through the Civil War. "Four score and five years ago" President Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation, and yet a hundred years later African Americans still are not free as they live in poverty and segregation and is still "languished in the corner of society." Referring back to our Founding Fathers, Dr. King declares that our government has defaulted on the promise they set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as still today African Americans are denied their unalienable rights. Despite this King believes that the "Bank of justice" still can give them what they deserve as they come to cash their "check." Now is the time to stop taking the "tranquilizing drug of gradualism," but the time to "make real the promises of democracy." In mesmerizing rhetoric, Dr. King emphasizes that it is now the time for African Americans to finally become equals. If the nation returns to "business as usual" it will be shocked as African Americans are granted their full rights. Despite this promise, he also emphasizes that their protests shall not "degenerate into physical violence." We must march ahead, and never turn back and will continue to march until the rights of Africans Americans are met. He then acknowledges the journeys and suffering of those who were before him, and tells that when they return to their homes that this will be changed. It is here where he declares his famous dream that one day the United States will one day upheld the ideas that were written in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. A dream where all man can come together, a dream where the injustice of oppression will be soon wiped out, and a dream where one day his children will be "judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." With the faith of this dream man will stand together knowing that all will be free, and soon if African Americans and Whites work together they can "let freedom ring." When this happens, when freedom does ring, all people whether Black, White,  Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant will be able to sing that they are "free at last."

LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

           In February 1887, the Dawes Severalty Act was passed as a continuation of the policy or creating and populating Indian reservations. A system  of procedure was set up to allot tracts of reservation land to families to "own," while the land still fell in the domain of the United States. Rather than forcing Indians onto the land, land was to be allotted systematically. One quater of each section was given to the head of each family, one eighth was given to any person over the age of 18 and one sixteenth was given to people under the age of 18 who were born before the creation of this new system. There were many other parts to the Dawes Act that were beneficial to the landholder, including extra grazing land. To prevent conflict, provisional lines were drawn that ensured the total amount of land given to each person or family is equal to the remainder of the land they were entitled to during the original passing of the act. If suitable lines are not drawn in four years, they will be drawn by the Secretary of the Interior. The issue of an Indians not on reservations, they can still acquire land if they apply to the local land office. Patents can be handed out, ensuring land is owned by Indians within the domain of the United States for twenty-five years. The Secretary of the Interior regulates the extension, selling, and purchasing of land. The U.S. also holds the right to use sold land for redistribution of settled homes, immigration systems, or education. Also, religious organizations in the middle of the reservation will be allowed and given a tract of land up to 160 acres. Citizenship is offered to Indians who comply with the act. This does not apply to displaced Indians under Jackson's administration as well as the Seneca Nation in New York. The act also lacks protection of Indian land from being crossed by railroads, telegraph lines, or other public uses.