LAD #31

LAD #31: Wilson's Fourteen Points

         Following the end of the World War in 1918, the leaders of Europe and the U.S. met without Germany to discuss war terms. Many of the European countries were very bitter and they wanted nothing but revenge for what Germany did to them and their countries. Wilson on the other hand looked back on American history and knew the harsh effects of beating down too hard. The south was still bitter for the way they were treated during reconstruction and he didn't want that to happen here too. He suggested fourteen points that he considered very reasonable and necessary. Things like freedom of seas, and no economic boundaries. It ended with the creation of a peace keeping organization in which all the countries would join and meet in order to keep problems at bay. Unfortunitely the countries being bitter as they were, through out all but the last point and developed the fluffy idealistic League of Nations, which was really no match for the issues that Europe still possessed. The U.S. was very upset with this and never signed the treaty. Surprisingly the U.S never joined the League as well.
           

LAD #30

              LAD #30: Schenck vs. U.S.

A while ago, an act was passed called "The Conscription Act of the Great War". Schenck wanted to get people together to resist the Act peacefully as he felt it was unconstitutional. He did so and ended up being charged of course with violation of the Espionage Act, because apparently he caused obstruction to recruitment of the military. Holmes spoke within the court stating that Schenck's words weren't protected under the First Amendment. He said that the way that each Act is to be interprited due to the individual situation. They confirmed that because the country was in a time of war, his actions at this certain point were dangerous to the people of America. Holmes opinion  was that congress could resist the problem, but Schenck could not resist the act.

LAD #29

               LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act
               In 1916 Senator Beveridge proposed the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act which was passed shortly after. The purpose of the Bill was to regulate child labor in factories around the country. It also banned the sale of anything sold by companies endorsing child labor (e.i. employing children under the age of 14 and also mines employing those younger than 16). Children were also not allowed to work more than 8 hours a day. The government had the power to control interstate commerce which helped them control the Act. President Wilson was of course all for the bill as it helped remove some of the evil and corruption from America. Unfortunitely, congress dubbed it unconstitutional. The Act got people thinking about how much child labor needed to be removed, even though it took a very long long time to get it regulated and ended.

LAD #28

             LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural Address:
During the election of 1912, there was a decisive split between Roosevelt (the progressive candidate) and Taft (Republican) and the win actually went to Wilson (the Democratic nominee). Representing the lower classes and the working people of American won him a lot of votes in the end. Wilson could see all the evils that were coming with the industrialization and he wanted to stop it. He said this needed to be a time to restore what used to be. He promoted better working conditions, higher pay, and a happier common man. Wilson knew there was a lot of regulation that needed to be done, especially in the food market (thus leading to the creation of the Pure Food and Drug Act). He wanted a society based on morals and respect. Things needed to return to the way they were. Wilson was extremely hopeful and dreamed of the best for America.

LAD #27

         LAD #27: The Clayton Anti-Trust Act
In 1914 Congress passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act due to the seeming failure of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. It restricted the power of companies, and banned them from doing things like lowering there prices to destroy places that couldn't even compete. It also didn't allow for rebates, inter-corporate stock holdings, and of course exclusive contracts. The Act was far more successful and for many reasons. For one, unions were no longer allowed to get in the way of the economy, for example the restriction of trade. But the document also made many forms of peaceful protest very legal. The Act has played a big part in lawsuits against big businesses over the years.