LAD #37: Brown v. Board of Education

          The end of the American Civil War brought about great social and political change, or at least during the ensuing decade of southern reconstruction. However, after the compromise of 1877 resulted in the removal of northern forces from the south and the military zones were dissolved, civil rights became a non-issue as most, including several presidents, forgot about, or ignored the plight of southern blacks. This was reflected in the 1896 court case Plessey v. Ferguson in which the supreme court ruled that segregation, or "separate but equal" was legal. This stood until the early 50's, with Brown v. Board of education. After being defeated in Kansas district court, the NAACP brought the case to the supreme court in 1951, combining it with several other cases like it from different states. In 1954, chief justice Earl Warren delivered the supreme court's ruling that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional under the 14th amendment. Although it outlawed "separate but equal" in schools, segregation was still permitted in other public and private places like restaurants and restrooms.

LAD #36: Truman Doctrine

          Following World War Two, massive reconstruction efforts were made to restore European and Asian countries to normalcy. However, in these tough times, many countries turned to, or were overtaken by communist regimes that promised equality for all, but only resulted in a dictatorship. On March 12, 1947 President Truman addressed congress in search for support of funding democratic governments in Greece and Turkey. Greece's infrastructure had been badly damaged by the war, and it's democratic government faced terrorism from communist aggressors. Turkey, likewise, had its democratic government threatened, however, the US must help preserve it as it is vital to the stability of the Middle East. In the address, Truman discusses that it is the duty of the US to help fund and protect the preservation of democracy in foreign countries. This and "the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures," became the Truman Doctrine, and reflected the American policy of containment, or stopping the spread of communism, prominent in the cold war.

LAD #33: FDR's Executive Order #9066

          Executive order #9066 states that the secretary of war or a military commander may set up a federal military zone where they see fit, even if it conflicts with areas designated as off-limits by the attorney general, so long as that place and its inhabitants are in sufficient need of food, transportation, shelter and other accommodations. The order essentially institutes Marshall law, placing the jurisdiction of a military commander above all other state law enforcement agencies and officials. All of the executive department is to aid in this and help to provide food, clothing, medical aid, hospitalization, use of land, shelter, and other supplies. this is not to interfere with other executive orders or agencies such as the FBI or other executive associations.

Essentially, this order was used to relocate Americans of Asian, particularly Japanese, origin into Internment camps, similar to those used by the Germans to concentrate the Jews, but obviously far less ruthless. this was also used against people of Italian and German descent.

LAD #33: FDR's Declaration of War

          Despite being allies in World War One, the treaty of Versailles as well as several events and aspects of America in the 1920's including an isolationist policy, and certain aspects of the depression left Japan with a distaste for America. Japan began its policy of imperialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, beginning to claim several pacific islands for raw materials and military bases. in the Early 30's they took Manchuria, with only a slap on the wrist from the league of nations. Eventually, Japan attacked a neutral America in a surprise bombing of the US pacific fleet at the naval base in Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7, 1941- "a day that will live in infamy". Immediately, the next day, Roosevelt called congress into session to declare war on Japan and it's allies. FDR explains in his message the deliberate and deceptive relations between the US and Japan, whom recently stated that they wish to remain at peace. He assures the American people that America will not only defend itself, but will ensure that there is no such attack again, and will claim victory over its foes in the pacific. 

LAD #33: FDR First Innaugural

          President Franklin D Roosevelt took office at the low point of the great depression, however over the course of his presidency the state of the nation would dramatically improve thanks in part his domestic policy known as the New Deal. In his First innaugural address, Roosevelt urged the nation to maintain its composure, stressing that conditions would soon improve and stating that "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." He addresses the several financial and material issues within the nation, but also says that the nation still has much to be thankful for. He reiterates the idea that americans' wealth and prosperity does not lie in their possesions and materials, but in hard work and integrity and joy in acheivement. He states that their biggest task in the coming years is to put people back to work. The depression had the highest unemployment rate of any other time in american history at a rate of almost 25%. He also says: there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people's money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency. He finishes by stating that what is needed to overcome the obstacles ahead is persistence and dedication, and with that, though challanging, change will come.