LAD/Blog #30: Wilson's First Inaugural

Woodrow Wilson ran for president in 1912 and was elected as the democratic candidate. Wilson acknowledges the change in government--how it has become democratic. Wilson addresses certain aspects of the nation, including individuals, wealth, and the government. He then goes on to explain the "inexcusable waste" of the Gilded Age. Wilson looks to cleanse and reconsider. As a progressive president, he is clearly looking inward and hoping to make reform. Wilson emphasizes the need for laws to protect US citizens. He, at the end, states "This is not a day of triumph; it is a day of dedication," urging the people to dedicate themselves to the cause of reforming.

This is similar to JFK's inaugural address who says the US can meet any hardships, like the hardships of reform during Wilsons time.

LAD/Blog #29: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act was passed in 1914 during Woodrow Wilson's presidency. The candidates in the previous election all agreed that the government, especially the Supreme Court, had been too lenient with the big businesses, so they believed the government needed to strengthen antitrust laws. The Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 prohibited price discrimination, prohibited certain deal practices, expanded the power of private organizations to sue and obtain damages, allowed a labor exemption that permitted union organizing and prohibited anticompetitive mergers. The Sherman Anti Trust Act of 1890 was the first major legislation against the practices of big businesses. However, the Sherman Act, while it was expanded, was not as enforced. 

Both Sherman and Clayton Anti Trust Acts regulated big business

LAD/Blog #28: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was an Act passed in 1916 prohibiting the shipment of goods or products between states if the product was worked on by a child in the past 30 days. Children younger than fourteen cannot work on these items and children between  fourteen and sixteen cannot work more than eight hours in a day, six days in a week, after seven, or before six. This act contributed to the progressive movement by regulating the extreme conditions under which employees worked. However, the Supreme Court eventually declared this act unconstitutional on the grounds that child labor was not involved with interstate commerce therefore, the states should decide how to regulate it. 

Similarly, in John Spargo's The Bitter Cry of the Children, he advocated against child labor.

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

Martin Luther King Jr. was a well-known advocate of civil rights. He protested discrimination and segregation, and his "I have a dream" speech clearly voices his support of integration between black and white communities and living in peace. He starts off stating how great his demonstration will be--one that will go down in history. However, he urges that even one hundred years after the emancipating of slaves, the black population is still held down by society in terms of discrimination and segregation. He continues to push for the fight against injustice, but encourages the people not to lose their dignity. King then states his dreams, including that "nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal,:, that places will foster freedom and justice and that children will not be judged by the color of their skin. This speech supports the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation of public places and employment/education discrimination. The Act was first proposed by Kennedy but opposed by Southern Members in Congress. Therefore, it was later passed by Lyndon B. Johnson.

Just as King's I have a dream speech protested discrimination and segregation, the Montgomery bus boycott was part of the civil rights movement in which people protested discrimination and segregation on the public transit system.

LAD/Blog #26: William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech

On July 9th, 1896, William Jennings Bryan presented his "Cross of Gold" speech. This is to address the issue over the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold 16 to 1. He lays the foundations of his speech with "individual is but an atom; he is born, he acts, he dies; but principles are eternal; and this has been a contest of principle." Bryan is stating how running in an election has everything to do with humanitarian principles. He addresses how Democrats have proposed the issue of money, but ties and friendships are still disregarded. Bryan ends with if anyone tries to defend the gold standard, he will "fight" them because he believes people should not "crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

This is similar to the Nixon Shock which was when Nixon cancelled the direct international convertibility of the United States dollar to gold. like the cross of gold speech, it combatted the gold-standard.

LAD/Blog #25: The Dawes Act

The Dawes Act was enacted by Congress in 1887. It was an Act to provide for the allotment of lands in severalty to Indians on various reservations. Therefore, the President can divide up common or tribal lands so an individual owns them. Some land is allotted to each head of the family, each single person over 18, each orphan under 18, and each single person under 18 who was born before the Dawes Act. This gives power to the American government and the President, who can reserve land when needed and can even give it to American settlers. Native Americans not on a reservation will be given an equal allotment. Also, the allotment holder will become a US citizen. 

The HomeStead Act of 1862 is similar to the Dawes Act in that it offered land to American settlers.

LAD/Blog #24: Populist (People's) Party Platform

In the Preamble, the populist party states how the people of America were demoralized and the public opinion had been suppressed. They pledge to fix two evils: the fact that the industries of America support only a few wealthy people or companies and that the currency is not adequate. In the platform, they voice how the union of labor forces will be permanent, wealth belongs to the individual who is responsible, and that there should be regulation of railroads. They also emphasizes the need for a secure national currency. They additionally encourage that transportation is a public necessity and that land is a heritage of the people. In the Expression of the Sentiments, they list resolutions including free ballot, support for fair and liberal pensions for soldiers, limiting the president to one term, opposing national aid, shorter working hours, and support of income tax. 

Donald Trump is seen as a populist. he sates that he performs with the people in mind and wants to benefit the average middle class working American.