LAD #37: Brown vs. Board of Education

The decision to desegregate buses from the Montgomery Bus Boycott relates to Brown v. Board of Education because both desegregated aspects of America.


Brown vs. Board of Education Summary:  Racial segregation in public schools was the norm across America in the early 1950's. Although all schools were meant to be equal, the black schools were often much worse. A little black girl from Topeka, Kansas, named Linda Brown was forced to walk one mile through a railroad switch yard to get to her black school, even though there was a white school very close to her house. Her father attempted to enroll her in the white school but she was denied. Brown went to the head of Topeka's branch for the NAACP and they were eager to help her. They first took their argument to the District Court for Kansas and claimed that segregated schools sent the message to black children that they are inferior  and therefore the schools are unequal. The Board of Education claimed that the segregation in schools would prepare black children for the segregation they would face later in life. They also claimed that segregated schools were not necessarily harmful to black children, using Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, and George Washington Carver as examples. With this evidence and the precedent of Plessy v. Ferguson, the court ruled in favor of the Board of Education. Brown and the NAACP appealed to the Supreme Court and they combined their cases with some other around the country. At first the Supreme Court did not come to a decision. However, om May 17, 1954, the Court came to a unanimous decision that the doctrine of "separate but equal" does not apply to public education, requiring the desegregation of schools around America. This was a giant step towards complete desegregation  of public schools but we were still far away from it.

LAD #36: The Truman Doctrine

The Bush Doctrine relates to the Truman Doctrine in the fact that it states that the US will help to fight against a certain group that they see as dangerous, Bush fighting terrorism and Truman fighting communism.


The Truman Doctrine Summary: During Harry Truman's address to a joint session of Congress in which he introduces the Truman Doctrine, Truman first states the problems facing Greece and Turkey, elaborates on what complicates these problems, and finally suggests a solution. Obviously, the problem facing Greece and Turkey was economic instability, which was rampant in the war torn areas and even threatened to derail their governments. However, this problem was complicated by whom was derailing these governments, communist rebels. True to the spirit of the Cold War, this was not mentioned directly, but only in passing. Still, everyone in the room knew what Truman was talking about, just like the US and USSR always understood each other's diplomatic maneuvering. As the US would do for much of the War, this speech actually spent more time trying to paint the conflict as one of Democracy vs. Totalitarianism than as one of competing economic systems. For instance, Truman mentions that the coalition governing Greece at the time represented 85% of the parliament members elected the year before. With these things in mind, Truman suggested a move that would be very similar to the policy the US would follow through the rest of the Cold War, giving aid to nations to fight communism and make it less appealing.

LAD #35: FDR's Executive Order #9066

The Dawe's Act is similar to FDR's Executive Order #9066 because both forced a specific group of people into a confined amount of land based on their ethnicity.



FDR's Executive Order #9066 Summary: President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the Executive Order #9066 on February 19th, 1942. This order stated that as a precautionary protection against any acts of Espionage towards the United States, all Japanese persons were to be put in internment camps across the United States. It gave the Secretary of War and Military Commanders the power to create designated military zones, where all their necessary needs would be taken care of by Federal Agencies. These agencies provided food, shelter, equipment, land and much more.

LAD #34: FDR's Declaration of War

Woodrow Wilson's Declaration of war is similar to FDR's declaration of war because both were declaring to enter into major world wars and both were more or less started because of attacks on US citizens.


FDR's Declaration of War Summary: The beginning of FDR's declaration of war opens by discussing the events that took place on December 7, 1941. He talks about the Japan plan to attack Pearl Harbor despite trying to deceive the American government into thinking peacefully. The surprise attack killed thousands of Americans and destroyed military equipment. Japan also launched attacks on numerous other places, including Guam and the Philippine Islands. President Roosevelt went on to say that the American people have formed their opinions and are ready to take the necessary measures to defend the safety of the country. The people, territories, and interests of the United States are in danger. FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan with confidence that the United States will be victorious. 

LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugural Address

Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address relates to FDR's First Inaugural Address as both were taking office in times of economic hardship and their speeches both focused on the economy quite a bit.



FDR's First Inaugural Address Summary: FDR begins his speech with the famous quote "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". With FDR coming into the Presidency with the in a depression, he made it his main goal to boost moral and to get the country back on their feet. In hopes that he would encouraged those who were at the time discouraged, he focuses on social aspects rather than economic turmoil and claims happiness does not lie in "the mere possession of money". FDR insured the public not to worry and suggests several solutions to the ever growing problem. One being the strict regulation of banks, jump start spending, investments, establishing a sound basis of currency, and ending the speculation. It was important for the banks to regain trust of the citizens if the economy was ever going to jump start itself. FDR urged people to use the banks and spend even amidst the depression because that is the only way that it would ever get better. Again focusing on the economy, he passes the "Good Neighbor Policy" meaning that America will respect the rights of other countries and devote their efforts to rebuilding the American economy.

LAD #32: Kellogg Briand Peace Pact

The United Nations relates to the Kellogg Briand Peace Pact because both were/are a group of countries that came together to try and keep peace.

Kellogg Briand Peace Pact Summary: The Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact was passed in 1928 by nations such as Germany, France, and the United States. The intentions of this pact were good, but that didn't stop it from being an utter failure. The pact was made in an attempt to create a much more peaceful world by making the countries who signed it, agree to denounce war as a foreign policy or a way of solving disputes. The whole point of it was to get countries to work out their issues diplomatically, rather than through war. The United States took unofficial leadership in following through with the treaty and other countries were allowed into it as well. The reason that it was unsuccessful, however, was that the only way that a country can really enforce an international agreement is if it has the military force to back up the agreement. This pact did not allow for a military to go to war to settle conflicts, so therefore it couldn't settle a conflict if a country broke the pact.

LAD #31: President Wilson's 14 Points

Wilson's 14 Points relate to the Treaty of Paris of 1783 because both negotiated peace to end a major war.

President Wilson's 14 Points Summary: Wilson begins by addressing the Congress saying that the countries of the Central Empires want to negotiate peace. Russia had also outlined what they thought the peace treaty should include. The United States would like to be able to help the Russian people attain their hopes for liberty and peace. Wilson wants to make sure that all secret covenants are gone. Wilson just wants it so the world is fit and safe to live in and to achieve this all of the countries will have to work together. His 14 points include, diplomacy being available to the public, absolute freedom of the seas, equal trade and the removal of economic barriers, guarantees that the national military will be reduced to the lowest point to keep domestic safety, as well as a open mind about colonial claims. They also include giving freedoms to Russia and allowing them to join the society of free nations, Belgium will be evacuated and restored and its freedom shall not be limited, all French territory should be freed and restored including Alsace-Lorraine, most nations that were involved are to be evacuated and restored, and finally an association of nations is to be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity. He doesn't even want to really hinder Germany at all as long as they want to join with the other peaceful nations.

LAD #30 Schenck vs. US

The Clay v. US case is very similar to the Schenck v. US case because both were against the draft and going to war.

Schenck vs. US Summary: During WW1 sent things to draftees that suggested that the draft was a monstrous wrong motivated by capitalism. In order to repeal the draft, he urged people to use peaceful action such as petitions. Schenck was charged with conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act by attempting to cause defiance in the military and to stop recruitment. The question was, however, did the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment protect Schenck's actions? Speaking for a unanimous court, Holmes concluded that he was not protected in this situation. He explained this decision by saying that it depends on if the actions "create a clear and present danger" and bring about the "substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent". Which basically means that if the actions could create problems, in this case civil unrest or lack of a military, then Congress has the right to stop these actions from happening, especially in a time of war.

LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act relates to the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act because both regulate labor and make for more fair and humane working conditions.

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act Summary: After the 1900 census revealed that 2 million children were working in factories, mines, fields, and stores across the country, the nation was outraged. Social workers and other prominent individuals began to condemn the treatment of children in workplaces given its negative effect on their health and over all well-being. The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was passed in response to this outcry for a solution. The act established the age of 14 as the minimum for work and 16 as the minimum for work in mines. In addition, children could only work a maximum of 8 hours per day. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court declared this law unconstitutional in the Hammer v. Dagenhart case. The Supreme Court ruled that the government did not have the right to regulate commerce. An amendment was proposed in the 1920's regarding child labor which also failed. Finally, in the 1940's the Supreme Court reversed their ruling. This decision stands today.

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural

Obama's First Inaugural Address relates to Wilson's first Inaugural Address because both speak about what their plan is for America going forward to improve it from where it was before.


Wilson's First Inaugural Summary: In his First Inaugural Address, Wilson spoke about the morals of the American people and the need for change in society. He first talked about how successful the Industrial Revolution was, but he also addresses the underlying issues it caused. The boom in industry had lead to much corruption, which needed to be combated. He spoke of "the human cost, the cost of lives snuffed out, (of) energies overtaxed and broken". He also admitted that the government "has too often been made use of for private and selfish purposes" and he is essentially stressing the need for reform. He promised reforms such as sanitary laws, pure off laws, and laws regarding conditions of labor. These promises were carried out through the Pure Food and Drug Act passed during his administration. He desired to restore the nation, rather than destroy it. Although he acknowledged that the nation is in need of a serious makeover, he conveys a message of hope for reform for his presidency.

LAD #27: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act relates to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act because both regulated businesses so that they don't cheat consumers.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act Summary: The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was largely ineffective, bringing need for the Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914. One of the main points of this Act was the assertion that businesses could not charge customers different prices for the same product. This served to limit the monopolistic practices, especially by Rockefeller with the railroads, of charging different prices to different customers. It was made clear though that this Act would not limit a business's ability to selectively choose customers. The Act also disallowed companies to shift prices and the eliminate the weak as had been done before. The last point of the act was the outlawing of restrictive mechanisms such as "pyramid business", in order to promote free trade and prevent the lessening of competition.

LAD #26: MLK's 'I Have a Dream' Speech

MLK's I Have a Dream speech relates to Obama's keynote speech in 2004 because both are important and great speeches in America's history and talk about prevalent problems of the day.


MLK's 'I Have a Dream' Speech Summary: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is one of the most well known and inspiring American speeches. He begins his speech by alluding to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, and saying that even though the slaves are free, "one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free". He then explains that after 100 years, the situations of black people in America have not gotten to "equal" yet like they were supposed to. MLK Jr. then references the Declaration of Independence and proves that he rights of do not hold up for blacks. He argues that the nation must change and that Civil Rights must be given. He then repeats the famous line "I have a dream..." and effectively uses this pattern with heartfelt words that move the American public. One particularly important part is where he says the he has "a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character". He concludes this speech with a call for the blacks to be "Free at last!".