LAD #31 Wilson's Fourteen Points

After the Great War, leaders and delgates from many of the nations involved met in Versailles, France on November of 1918 to negotiate terms of peace. The goals of Wilson and the other leaders varied as most European nations wanted to punish Germany for being the aggressor versus Wilson who wanted peace within all the nations. He proposed a plan of 14 points that would hopefully prevent another world war, only one was used in the Treaty of Versailles:
1. No more secret alliances
2. Freedom of the seas
3. No economic barriers
4. Reduction of arms
5. Self-government in colonies
6. Evacuation of Russian territory
7. Evacuation and restoration of Belgium
8. Evacuation and restoration of French territories
9. Readjustment of Italy's Borders
10. Austria-Hungary accorded the freest oppurtunity to autonomous development
11. Romania, Serbia and Montenegro should be evacuated and restored.
12. The Turkish portion of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty.
13. Polish Indepence
14. Creation of a league of nations in an attempt to avoid more world wars (only one adopted in Treaty of Versailles).

LAD Schenck vs. US

The Schenck vs. US trial began on March 3rd 1919. The issue concerned teh United States mail shipped by the socialist pary in the early 1990s. The actions that were going on were in violation of the previously passed Espionage Act of 1917. The Chief Justice, Holmes, claimed that the defendant was causing insubordination of US troops during WWI. Schenck had become involved because he was the Secretary of the Socialist Party and sent almost 16,000 brochures that encouraged men to dodge the draft. The draft was put into place during The Great War. Dodging the draft is and was illegal. In the end, the judge found the defendant guilty as charged for presenting a clear and present danger.

LAD #29 Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

In the early 1900's large businesses and corporations aided the United States for economic reasons. However, these large businesses gave little thought to the American people, especially those working for them. Workers in cities suffered gruesome conditions like long hours and little pay. There was no regulation that gave a minimum wage or minimum hours. Often times, children would be working day and night in factories in order to bring in additional profit for their family instead of going to school for an education. Problems in the workplace were worsened for young children because they did not have labor laws to protect their rights and they were often hired solely because they could fit into small spaces and could be payed less than an adult. Organizations like the National Child Labor Committee worked endlessly to put a halt to the atrocities. The goal was achieved with the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act which was being put into action. This made strides to reform many of the hardships working youth faced. Its goal was to restrict child labor which would lead to more open jobs for adult men. The act prohibited the sale of goods produced by child under the age of 14 and mines operated by children under 16 years of age. The Act also prevented children under 16 from working more than 8  hours a day or at night. The Act was soon declared unconstitutional as was the next act, the Revenue Act of 1919. It would not be until 1938 that the Fair Labor Standards Act was finally passed and still remains in place.

LAD #28 Wilson's First Inaugural

Woodrow Wilson took office as a democrat which showed the shift from Republicans to Democrats. In his presidential address, Wilson acknowledged that Democrats now made up the majority of Congress. However, he stated that power within a political party is meaningless unless people use it to reform and carry out necessary changes that benefit the country. Wilson also recognized the problems that were facing the nation like the big businesses/corporations. These big businesses were taking advantage of the government's previous laissez-faire/pro-business policy and the society as a whole. The impact of the businesses on the people of America needed to be assessed and considered. During the address Wilson also mentioned his disapproval of an extensive tariff, taxation, as well as businesses overtaking the government and the people of the United States. Wilson put a specific emphasis on the need of social reform. He showed support for advances in sanitation and labor reforms. He finishes his address with the statement that this day should be a day that marks the dedication of the American people and Democratic party to a common cause.

LAD #27 Clayton's Anti-Trust Act

During the end of the 1800's, government's laissez faire/pro-business policy led to widespread trusts and monopolies. These businesses controlled the markets and took advantage of workers and consumers. They were able to raise prices which led to more profits for them. Some steps were taken in legislation like the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the ICC. However, they were usually not readily enforced and in some cases were used against the workers. When trust-busting Theodore Roosevelt came down on big business and began to regulate trusts and monopolies, a breakthrough came in 1914 with the passing of Clayton's Anti-Trust Act. The act was meant to break up monopolies and trusts. The act stated that no corporation could own the stock of another. The act also stated that fixing prices on goods and transportation was illegal. The Clayton Act could not be used against workers versus the Sherman Anti-trust Act which was used against workers. The act was meant to strengthen the power of the government in dealing with monopolies.