LAD #37

 

The case Brown v. Board of Education, originating from Topeka, Kansas with the story of Linda Brown, would ultimately be the first step towards desegregation in the United States. Before the Supreme Court's decision in this case, the concept of "separate but equal" facilities was upheld by the case Plessy v. Ferguson. The ruling of this cae allowed for the state-endorsed segregation of public schools. Linda Brown, an African American student, was supported by the NAACP as she challenged this segregation. From the outset, the case for the Plaintiff was strong: segregation in schools made black children feel inferior to white children and put them at a disadvantage later on in life. However, because of the precedent established by Plessy v. Ferguson, the hands of the state courts were tied and the case was not decided in favor of Brown. It was not until the case went to the Supreme Court that the decision of Plessy v. Ferguson was struck down and segregation in public schools was made unconstitutional.  Unfortunately, because the Supreme Court's ruling did not determine a timeline for the desegregation of schools and racial stigmas persisted, it would be many years before desegregation was realized.

LAD #36

 

Following World War II, President Truman issued his Truman Doctrine to Congress. In this address, he urged representatives to support a plan to provide economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to assist in their reconstruction. Great Britain, an American ally throughout the war and a supporter of capitalism and democracy, could no longer afford to finance these nations. Because of this, Truman believed that it was the responsibility of the United States to protect its fundamental ideals overseas. If this aid was not provided, Truman feared that Greece and Turkey- a necessary ally in the Middle East,- would fall to Communism under the influence of the Soviet Union. This could not be tolerated. According to Truman, radical Communists were already gaining influence in these areas and were preying upon the insecurities of the peoples and governments there. If these countries succumbed to their influence, their neighbors would surely follow. In this way, American financial aid would not only bolster the economies of Greece and Turkey by allowing them to import the materials necessary to sustain and rebuild their populations, but would also secure a foothold for future American influence. The Truman Doctrine would be one of the United States' first steps towards becoming an international police force and benefactor.







LAD #35



On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued a vague executive order: Executive Order 9066. This order  granted the Secretary of War- Henry Lewis Stimson- the authority to designate military areas and restrict access to those areas by certain individuals. Excluded individuals could then be relocated to separate "accomodations" which would be overseen by the Secretary of War and his colleagues. Other members of the cabinet were instructed to furnish these accomodations. Though the terms of this order are not explicitly stated, it is clear that the order was intended to allow for the segregation of Japanese-Americans, German-Americans, and Italian-Americans who were often arrested or sent to internment camps following the issue of the order. The order is deliberately opaque in its transparency to avoid seeming openly racist. Roosevelt qualifies the order by declaring that the country was obligated to protect itself against espionage and sabotage in times of war.

LAD #34

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt urged Congress to declare war on the kingdom of Japan. According to Roosevelt, this declaration would have the support of the American people and would reflect a pre-existing sentiments that existed against Japanese aggression. In asking for this declaration of war, Roosevelt provided multiple justifications for an abandonment of the country's isolationist policies. The Japanese had planned the attack- likely the product of several weeks/months of planning- while mainting a front of diplomatic relations with the United States. In response to the attack, Japanese diplomats continued to assure the United States that their intentions were peaceful. For these reasons, they could not be trusted. American lives had been lost at Pearl Harbor and on other vessels that had been torpedoed by Japanese missiles. Japan had also taken an aggressive stance in the Pacific by attacking the Phillippines and Guam. At this point, President Roosevelt believed that the country was justified in declaring war and the country would renew mobilization efforts soon after.

LAD #33

 

On March 4, 1933, PFranklin D. Roosevelt assumed his presidential and addressed the American people. His Inaugural Address addressed the country's current economic panic and proposed the New Deal upon which he would lead his administration. Resolved to confront the issues of unemployment, loss of savings, and lack of demand, Roosevelt urged the American people to unite around a common cause. In order to recover from the panic and to be successful in the future, both the very wealthy and the unemployed would have to cast aside prejudices and work for the good of the whole. Marginal profits could no longer drive domestic policy- as it had throughout the administrations of President Harding, President Coolidge, and President Hoover- and the Federal Government could not continue to take a laissez-faire approach to big business. According to Roosevelt, the United States was blessed with an abundance of resources. However, these resources were being exploited by the "rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods." A solution to the country's economic problems could not be found if the country continued to be dominated by the agenda's of these individuals and corrupt financial institutions would not inspire confidence in consumers. Roosevelt advised that the country turn away from international commercial projects- while still maintaining a "good neighbor" policy- and focus on job creation through the initiation of public works projects that would use the country's available resources. Reducing the numbers of foreclosures on homes and businesses and cutting spending would also be priorities under Roosevelt's adminstration. He also advised that the Federal Government assume control of transport and communication systems and that it regulate the practices of banks and reestablish a stable currency. Roosevelt believed that the Constitution would be flexible enough to allow him to carry out these plans. However, he warned Congress in his address that he would depart from the balance of powers in order to "wage war against the emergency." It became clear that Roosevelt was in favor of a more powerful central government to combat the panic.

LAD #32

 

Following the Great War, members of the international community came together to draft a formal contract of peace. The result was the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928. In effect in 1929, the document forbade signatories from building their foreign policies on the basis of war. It also encouraged member nations to pursue diplomatic strategies to resolve international disputes. There was also a third clause which stated that member nations would be obligated to have the document ratified by their respective government. Individual ratifications would be reported and the document would go into effect when the the United States had offically approved it. This pact, whose clauses were heavily influenced by the altruisms reminiscent of President Wilson's administration, essentially did little to prevent future world wars. It did not stipulate actions that would be taken if the pact was broken nor did it expand on the international definition of an act of war. This would allow the League of Nations to pursue a policy of appeasement towards Adolf Hitler in later years.

LAD #31

As the Great War drew to a close, the international community struggled to formulate and agree upon a comprehensive treaty. Central Empires proudly refused to give up the territory that they had gained during the war, but feared retribution for their actions. Members of the Allied Powers, particularly Great Britain and France, were eager to punish Germany. President Woodrow Wilson of the United States seemed to take the most moderate, though idealistic, approach to the issue of drafting a resolution. He advocated for fourteen basic points. He called for an end to secret to alliances and an enforcement of free seas and free trade. Wishing to protect national sovereignty, he also advised that armaments be reduced in all nations and that Poland, the Balkins, and areas in the Ottoman Empire be allowed to develop indepenedently, among others. Wilson's main point was the necessity of a League of Nations that would mediate international issues. This international body would ensure that issues were solved diplomatically and would not escalate into global wars. Ultimately, Wilson would be forced to heed to the desires of France and Germany. As a result, most of his points were disregarded. Wilson was willing to see his points thrown away as long as the League of Nations was established. Though the United States never participated in this body, Wilson compromised on this point.