Blog #33: Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact

The Kellogg-Braind Peace Pact was a pact signed by 26 countries in which was would be used to solve any troubles or conflicts between these nations. The main goal of this act was actually to prevent war or another world war but was very ineffective in doing so. The main reasons the pact was ineffective was that is had no way of managing traditionalism. All the different nations will ultimately act on their greatest behalf and do whatever they think will get them ahead in the world. However, the pact did create some positive relations between countries. The pact was put to the test with the Manchurian Incident, which was an explosion that destroyed Japanese owned railroad track. The Japanese blamed China for the explosion and launched an invasion on Manchuria which violated the pact and proved that it was ineffective. 



Another ineffective policy was the league of nations' policy of appeasement during WW2 with Germany. Both the Peace Pact and Appeasement demonstrated that countries will do whatever they deem necessary or advantageous.

Blog #32: Wilson's 14 Points of Peace

With the end of the first World War, President Wilson drew up 14 points to take to the Paris summit and present to the other countries. Wilson's points were completely idealistic as there was no way that the other countries would get on board with Wilson's points. The main problem with the points were they didn't reflect the will of the majority of the countries at the peace summit. Many countries shamed Wilson and called him a laughing stock because America hadn't suffered nearly as much as the other European countries during the war and while the US wanted peace, they wanted revenge. Some of Wilson's points were aimed at freedom of the seas, no economic barriers, military reductions and colony rights. No other countries agreed with the majority of his points. However, a few of Wilson's points did make it in such as the formation of a league of nations.


Similarly, Jay's Treaty was another historical example of poor negotiation that led to further problems down the road. 

Blog #31: Schenck V. United States

During World War 1, Socialist Charles Schenck gave out circulars which were letters given to large groups to inform them they were to be drafted. However, Schenck did not agree with the draft as he thought it was a means on involuntary servitude that one had the right to refuse. Schenck began putting up posters to persuade people to draft dodge. While this was done peacefully the case was taken to the supreme court and Justice Holmes ruled Schenck's actions were in violation of the espionage act. The reasoning behind this ruling was that the espionage act made it illegal to write, print or speak anything negative of America involvement during wartime. Holmes insisted that Schenck's letters represented a clear and present danger which meant it was in violation of the espionage act and congress had the authority to prosecute him and deny these actions. This is a great example of how during wartime, while people's rights aren't taken away they are certainly compromised to a degree.   

This is similar to the case of Zenger v New York, when John Peter Zenger was accused of Libel.

Blog #30: Wilson's First Inaugural

President Woodrow Wilson begins his inaugural address by talking about the shift in government in recent years from republican to democrat. Wilson continues his point by saying this shift in government in more than just an election but a call from the country to say that they need the democrats right now to lead the nation forward and understand the problems that the nation faces. In the next part of Wilson's address, he begins to enumerate positive aspects of the country such as their government structure and an incredible infrastructure built by geniuses. However, Wilson proceeds by saying that in this greatness there is evil and that with this fine gold that they nation is enjoying there has been some corrosion. Wilson points out that there is suffering and cost to economic growth and expansion. This is Wilson's main point in his inaugural speech. He declares that as president he will work towards fixing this corrosion that has undergone in the country. Some of the things Wilson plans to fix are the banking system. foreign tariffs, the agricultural system and labor laws. At the end of his speech, Wilson finishes by reminding the country that the government is here to protect the lives of the people that live under it and promises swift change to the economic system.



While not as focused on the economy, this speech is similar to that of George Washington's inaugural address because it was centered around unity of government and that the government would serve by and for the people. 

Blog #29: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act was passed in 1914 under Woodrow Wilson. This was a turn away from the previous government policy towards big businesses of lassiez-faire or "pro-business". The Clayton Anti-Trust Act enumerated policies and areas of business that were prohibited.
1. Price Discrimination
2. Specific deal practices that were deemed inmoral or unjust
3. Monopolies / Company mergers

The Act also gave more power to private organizations to sue and obtain damages as well as placed an emphasis on the freedom and power of labor unions. This Act was much stronger in comparison to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act could not be enforced by the government exemplified in the court case United States v E.C Knight. Thus the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was much stronger and had the greater impact. Another connection with this act is with the Department of Justice and the FTC as these two parts of government enforce antitrust laws.

Blog #28: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

During the early 1900s, there were millions of children employed for terrible wages and working in extremely dangerous conditions. The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 was one step the government took in trying to limit and protect children in the workforce. The main goal of this act was to stop factories or companies from employing children below the age of 14. The 3 main parts of this act were that it:
1. banned the sale of products from any factory that employed kids under 14
2. banned mining products from being sold if their were kids employed under 16
3. banned selling products if factories had kids under 16 working more than 8 hours a day

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act also put regulations on things like how long teenagers could work and helped to try and keep younger children out of these dangerous factory conditions. However, this act was eventually deemed unconstitutional during the court case Hammer v. Dagenhart in 1918. This was because the law had no right to impose government power on interstate trade.


Despite the Keatin-Owen Child Labor Act being declared unconstitutional, later in 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act was put into place prohibiting the employment of oppressive child labor.

Blog #27: MLK, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech

Martin Luther King Jr's I have a dream speech is possibly one of (if not the most) important speech's in history, especially American history. King was an exceptional optimistic and had a perseverance second to none. From openly facing the civil rights movement head on to writing rebuttal speeches in jail, King was an amazing leader. These qualities are reflected in such a speech. King begins his speech by talking about how the African-American community is here with the help of Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation. However, King says that despite this proclamation being issued 100 years ago they are still fighting for the freedoms inscribed on that proclamation. King continues by pointing to the declaration of independence. How is it that all men are created equal yet the African-American people remain segregated and withheld these "inalienable rights"? However, one of my favorite parts of King's speech and what I admire about him is that he addresses the negatives and the setbacks but only to acknowledge them, he does not sit on these setbacks but continues to charge forward with a positive outlook and says to his people do not hold bitterness and do not be discouraged. In the urgency to make our dream a reality we must treat white people as brothers not enemies and that is how we will achieve true equality and freedom. King is incredibly wise and kind in this regard. He knows that racism will not end with African-Americans gaining full freedom but they must defeat the idea of racism in the country. King proclaims that they must be stern but forgiving. They will not rest until civil rights are achieved 100% but they will also not make violence as they go. My favorite dream that King talked about was "I have a dream that my four 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. This one is my clear favorite because I relate this so much to today's society and how we are living in one of the most divided times in American history whether it be in politics or race. King was incredibly ahead of his time and sadly his ideas and his dreams continuously struggle to become a reality today.



Another incredibly famous civil rights speech was deliver by Nelson Mandela while he stood on trial for being charged of sabotage. This quote is a great summary of his speech: "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.