LAD #37: Brown v. Board

The Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education judged the "separate but equal" clause from the Plessy v. Ferguson case in education. Linda Brown was a black third grader who had to walk three miles to get to her school for black children in Topeka, Kansas. There was a white school much closer to her house, a mere seven blocks away, but she was not allowed to enroll in this school because of her race. Her family then contacted the NAACP for help, and her case gained much support from those facing similar hardships. Finally, they argued the principle that segregated schools creates a distracting inferiority complex in education that adversely affects students. The Topeka board responded that this segregation was good preparation for adult life. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and considered the rights granted to citizens in the fourteenth amendment. After much deliberation, the court ruled the segregation to be unconstitutional. It was a significant step towards desegregation but the ruling was largely ignored since the racist status quo in the south greatly hindered the progress of civil rights. 

LAD #36: Truman Doctrine

After World War II, the Cold War crept into the forefront of American politics insidiously. Failed peace conferences left the Allied Powers estranged--the US and the Soviet Union had conflicting political ideologies. The Truman Doctrine addresses first Communism's threat in Greece. The end of  the war and the removal of the Germans left a behind a fallen and impoverished Greek state. Railroads were destroyed, communication lines were ruined, and other infrastructure was in ruin. Reconstruction was blocked by Soviet troops that committed acts of terror against the Greek government--inciting hostiles along Greece's northern borders. Greece needed the US's help in the form of supplies that would serve to equip the small Greek army with adequate arms to defend and rebuild their nation. Truman also noted Turkey's dilemma--their modernization and development also required the aid of an established democracy such as the United States. In aiding these countries, the US executes its responsibilities as a promoter of political freedoms. Plus, the US was at the same time a protector of the free world and thus a preventer of the spread of Communism. For these reasons, Truman asked Congress to send a sum of 750 million dollars and a contingency of American military servicemen and women to Greece and Turkey for the purposes of reconstruction and modernization. 

LAD #35: Executive Order No. 9066

By issuing the Executive Order No. 9066, FDR granted several military officials such as his Secretary of War to maintain a residence in regions both local and foreign for troops. These regions were to be supplied with adequate transportation, food, shelter, and other necessary accommodations needed to fulfill their orders. Military men were also given the right to use federal troops to maintain order. FDR also authorized the aid of these military residences by hospitalization, food, clothing, and use of land, among other things. To ensure that this order survived, FDR also entailed parts that declared its superior status to earlier proclamations. It also superseded the authority of the Attorney General. It did not interfere with the FBI, but took precedence at the time.

LAD #34: FDR's Declaration of War

Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, President Roosevelt issued an address to Congress, asking to declare war on Japan. Naming the day of the attack as a "day that will live in infamy," FDR had confidence in the army and America's power. He also urged Congress to think about the potential consequences involved with letting Japan go unpunished for their actions. According to FDR, the facts of Japan's attacks spoke volumes--there was no denying that Japan broke any notion of peace that existed between America and Japan. When he asked for a declaration of war, FDR was trying to ensure American interests and protect the country. This action brought America into the Second World War, a war that may not have been won by the Allies without American aid.

LAD #33: Roosevelt's First Inaugural

In his first inaugural address, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) admits that his presidency will be a long and arduous journey through the country's economic collapse. FDR told the American people that the crisis was not as dreary as they may have believed. Hope characterized this address and his following presidency. He recognized that the economy left in shambles left farmers without saving, industry without trade, and men with no hope in the stock market. FDR made his most memorable quote, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He had the mentality that the nation should be focused on the good of many people, and shy away from self-achievement and personal wealth. FDR ended his address in confidence, with a pragmatic sense of optimism. 

LAD #32 Kellogg-Briand Pact

The Kellogg-Briand Pact was a noble effort of nations weary of war, but was also an ineffective solution to military solutions. After the Great War, or, "the war to end all wars" was completed, the leaders of the countries involved tried to collaborate to made lasting peace a possibility. Consenting members of this treaty chose to practice passive action to resolve problems. War was ruled a barbaric practice that should not be used as a diplomatic strategy. This treaty remained open for other members to join if they wanted to rule out war in their foreign policy. The United States had the responsibility of providing all involved nations with a copy of the treaty, after it was approved in Washington. 

LAD #31: Wilson's Fourteen Points

When Russia pulled out of WWI, President Wilson addressed the serious blow that the Allied Powers sustained when they lost the eastern front of the war. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk allowed the revolution-prone Russians to make a peace with the Central Powers. This effectively led the war towards the British and French. Wilson admired this treaty as a benchmark for the progression of public democracy but also questioned its validity, as Russia made peace with a country and allowed it to keep every inch of occupied territory. To preserve democracy, Wilson argued that it was the United States' duty to join the war and make the world safe for democracy. He wanted to unite the world in order and peace. His points included ending secret treaties, freedom of the seas, colonial self-determination, reacquisition of lost territory, a sanctioned Ottoman port, and a League of Nations.