DECA Idea Challenge 2013- Aluminates

LAD #37

In the early 1950s the education system for blacks and whites was similar to when a older sibling breaks a cookie in “half”, both the pieces are now separate, but in no way are they equal (if you are a younger sibling you understand this idea completely). School existed for the both races but was again not to equal standards. In Topeka, Kansas, a little girl named Linda Brown went to school at an elementary school that was over a mile away from her house. This wouldn’t be a really issue if there wasn’t a closer school less then seven blocks away, much closer for the little girl to go to. But, this was an all white school, so Linda was not aloud to attend because of her race. The upset Brown family went to McKinley Burnett, of the NAACP, who was more than eager to support little Linda Brown in her move for the abolition of segregation in schools. One of the main arguments by the plaintiff was that the segregation in the schools made the black students believes that they were inferior to the white student, lending that the segregation was separate but not equal. On the other side the defense argued that these supposed “not equal” school were preparing the black students for a segregated and unequal world. The education board also noted the many successful black who came from segregated schools just like Linda’s. When an injunction was requested, the Supreme Court was compelled to act as they understood that segregated schools were hurting black progress in society. However there was hesitation in ruling in favor of the browns due to the precedent of Plessy vs. Ferguson. After much deliberation, the court finally ruled against Plessy vs. Ferguson in the fact that the schools were inherently unequal, and thus against the spirit and letter of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court demolished “separate but equal” and decided that schools must integrate. This however is easier said then done and it took a long time for other American facilities to become integrated. 

LAD #36

On March 12^th, 1947 President Harry S. Truman made an address to congress known as the Truman Doctrine. He opens his address by stating that Turkey and Greece are requesting monetary support from the US. He continues on stating hat these counties have always been scarce for resources and have had to work hard in order to stay democratic. But, the ever-prevalent pressures of communism are beginning to affect these weak countries. Communist ideas have been on the minds of these people due to their poor conditions, and their economy is a wreak making even subsistence living a challenge. These two countries have requested American aid in leadership, supervision and support to make sure the money that was loaned is effectively used. President Truman argues that without American monetary support, these small countries will fall pray to communism and democracy will not hold through. He then recognizes that the previous wars were begun as other countries attempted to impose their will on other countries. Btu as a result of this, President Truman proposes the creation of the United Nations to help fix all these problems. By creating this, he emphases that no other country can support Greece and Turkey. President Truman then says that if these two countries were to fall to communism it would cause major issues for he surrounding countries. He then request an investment that was much smaller that what was spent during WWII to help aid these countries. President Truman then ends his address with a call to America; he calls for the leadership of the United States, so that the people in those countries can remain free under democracy.

LAD #35

On February 19, 1942, Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued his Executive Order #9066. He started his executive order by stating that this document was required in order to prevent any acts of espionage or any “harmful” actions toward the war efforts in America. FDR then declared that the secretary of War and the military commanders should designate military zones in the US. He continued in granting effort and support of any other federal agencies and bureaus in order to insure the resources they needed to full fill this order. He then commanded all federal agencies to be supportive in this effort and be conscious of their resources such as food, shelter, land, equipment, facilities, utilities, etc.  FDR closed his order by saying that this document was not to infringe upon the interests of the FBI. Ultimately this executive order led to Japanese internment camps in the military zones. These camps were where innocent Japanese-Americans were sent to be held in order to prevent any acts of espionage that could hurt any other American citizen. These camps are greatly considered to be one of the biggest regrets of the American government in history.

LAD #34

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Declaration of War began with a respectful acknowledgment of all the parties present for his speech, he then got right into it with all the facts. Before the cruel surprise attacks of December 7, 1941, Roosevelt explained that the United States were trying make become part in any peaceful negations with the participating countries. After this the Japanese ambassadors gave the sorry message that efforts in peace negations were hopeless, but they did not hint that there would be any possible attacks. But nonetheless, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. FDR placed a great emphasis on the fact that innocent America lives were taken by the Japanese’s on this day. It was his belief that this attack was premeditated due to the act of the distance between Japan and Pearl Harbor. He then went on to say that Japan was acting similarity to how Germany was during the Great War, by restricting America’s freedom to the seas.  After this FDR finished his declaration of war very politely by just simply stating the facts of his argument of war.

LAD #33

          On Saturday, March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his first inaugural address. He opened his address by stating that he desired to tell the whole truth. In his address he argued one of his most famous lines, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He went on to say that America was in a time of trouble, but it will bounce back and America will prosper once again.  He then reminds the people that America’s forefathers rose from devastation as well. He continues with that the United States is a beautiful nation and will continue to stay that way despite the difficulties that it faces.  After that he calls for the people to increase in ethics and make the realization that public office is not there for people to make a personal profit, but to help the people. It was Roosevelt's belief that materialism was plaguing the American people, he asked America to use their land and resources more effectively. He then called for three big changes to occur: the supervision of banking, to end speculation of other’s money, and the creation of a sound national currency.  It was also Roosevelt’s belief that one should respect themselves and one’s neighbor (“Good Neighbor Policy”).   Roosevelt finishes off his first inaugural address proclaiming that he will do his best to help and lead the United States, he also wished Congress with help him accomplish his goals. 

LAD #32

         On August 17^th, 1928, the Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact was signed (A.K.A. the Paris Pact). This pact detailed the names of the world powers that could not in any way participate in war, unless it was in a defensive nature. If any arguments were to occur this pact made it so that they could only be settled by passive means. This pact was sadly unsuccessful, but it was a step in the right direction in creating a multinational peace agreement.  The countries that were listed include United States, Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Germany, France, Japan, New Zealand, India, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Union of South Africa, Irish Free State and Belgium.

LAD # 31

We have all herd about President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, he opens up his points with his strong desire to have international peace. With multiple mentions of Russia President Wilson makes it very evident that given Russia current position that peace can be made with them for a short amount of time. It is implied that Wilson believes that the Great War is being fought for purely a moral cause. Before fully discussing what his points are Wilson states his own opinion that the world is one people and that each country is the partner of the next.  He then gives a reminder to the American people of what exactly are America’s motivations for entering this war.  During his fourteen points President Wilson recites the "program of world peace".  The following are his points summarized; one open and public treaties with out private dealings, two freedom of the seas, three removal of economic barriers and establishment of equal trade, four reduced armaments (for Germany), five impartial adjustment of colonial claims, six calls for the evacuation of Russia and international help for Russia, seven calls for the soverniety of Belgium, eight the righting of wrongs done to France by Prussia in dealings with the Alsace-Lorraine, nine readjustment to the Italian borders, ten opportunity for autonomous development of Austria-Hungary, eleven dealt with the evacuation of evacuation of Rumania, Serbia and Montenegro, Dardanelles should be an area of free passage and sovereignty for the Turkish Romanians, twelve the creation of a sovereign polish state, and fourteen was and a general association of nations geared towards world peace and protection ( League of Nations). To conclude Wilsons pleaded for peace and justly reminded Americans what the cause of the Great War were.

LAD#30

In the Supreme Court’s ruling of Schenck vs. US, they found Schenck guilty upon three counts which were; exercising overt actions in the pursuit of a conspiracy, conspiring to commit a crime against the United States, and unlawfully using the mail system to send items that were deemed unsalable by an act passed in June, 1917. During the WWI era Schenck was a secretary to the socialist party, he was arrested and tried for printing and distributing anti-war, mainly anti-conscription pamphlets, these were thought to create insubordination amount the ranks of men that were previously drafted in the army. Upholding the rights of the citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution, Schenck's pamphlets argued that the Conscription Act and the Selective Service Act were both unlawful as they violated the thirteenth amendment forbidding the practice of involuntary servitude. He was also arrested to the right of the people to protest a government act. When he was tried Schenck claimed with much angst that it was his right thanks to the first amendment to say and publish whatever he wanted publically. However, when the ruling was presented the Supreme Court felt that his “right” as inconsistent with the manner in which the crime was committed, he had this right but, they felt that his opinions were a danger to the freedom of other citizens. His actions were dangerous and had the potential to create widespread panic and destruction of peace.

LAD #29

In 1916, due to Senator Beveridge’s proposal, congress passed the ever so needed Keating-Owen Child Labor Act. Using the power of the federal government’s power to regulate interstate commerce, this bill began to regulate harsh child labor in factories. The Keating-Owen Act banned the sale of products from any company that employed children under the legal age of 14. This ban also included any child under 16 working in a mine, at night, or for more than eight hours a day. Even though this would be extremely beneficial to child workers and was even approved my President Wilson, the Supreme Court declared the bill unconstitutional in the Supreme Court case Hammer v. Dagenhart.  IT was still declared unconstitutional even though many people wanted to see the end to unfair child labor. It eventually came to be that congress was successful in archiving to the goal of an act that regulated child labor.

LAD #28

            As a result of the split in votes between the Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican William Howard Taft, the democrat Woodrow Wilson won the 1912 election for the democrats. In Wilson’s First Inaugural Address, he called upon his fellow American patriots, he called upon them to remember and stand true to their morals. Wilson describes a country overcome with the evils of industry, and that there country needed to have a time of restoration. With meticulous organization Wilson laid out his plans for everyone. He wanted to continue the cleanse of the industrial system and of course provide better working conditions for the common people. It was his goal to pass regulatory legislation that would regulate the industries of the time. One such legislation is the Pure Food and Drug Act. He saw his election as a cry from the people to help clean up the American way of life and the business world to how it was before, a society based on the true honest morals of man. This concludes Wilson’s very patriotic and hopeful first inaugural address.

LAD #27

 

            In 1914 as a response to the semi-failure of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Congress passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. This new act prohibited big business corporations from making exclusive contracts, freezing out their competition, interoperate stock holdings and rebates. A main component in this new act was that these labor unions were no longer constrained by the economy and were not specified making this new feature tot eh act more effective than the previous act, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The pervious act which made these unions act as constraints on business. Another added bonus to this new act was that it documented the legalization of peaceful strikes, picketing, and boycotts. In later years the Clayton Anti-Trust act was used a key tool in many lawsuits against big business.

LAD #26

On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr., gave an influential speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Martin Luther King Jr., started his speech with the ever-powerful statement "I have a Dream". Throughout his timeless speech he repeats this statement, thus bringing passion to the audience. His dream was a day when all men are judged by the "content of their character", a day when his black children could play with whites. His speech was about treating some one differently just because of their race, age, gender or any other characteristic that is insignificant and how that is inhume and disgraceful. Mr. King alludes to the constitution when he says to the audience, "all men are created equal", he by doing this means that all black men and all white men are equal.  He dreams of a day were pervious wrongs have been righted, where previous slave owners would sit down with there former slaves and have a civilized dinner. Mr. King had a powerful dream that was herd by millions.  

He is still remembered today and will never be forgotten.

Happy MLKJ Day America!

LAD #25

In February of 1887, the Dawes Act was approved by congress. This Act provided for the relocation of Native Americans onto specified reservations. According to the Dawes Act, all Native Americans would be reassigned to a section of land to live on; this land would also be surveyed at any time. This act then continues on to designate how much land each Indian would be given out. Of course, the head of the family is to receive the most land. It then says that if an Indian was not given any land on a reservation then they were aloud to live anywhere else in the country. This act was specified to only be binding for 25 years. At the end of the 25 years, the president could make the decision to extend or not the act. This act entitles the Indians to the benefits of being under the American law, this included equal rights. One catch was that the government could use the reservation land for public use is deemed necessary to the country.

LAD #24

In 1896 on July 9th William Jennings Bryan made a speech about his support of silver currency being used in the American economy in a valued ratio of 16 to 1. By having this currency it would help the farmers in debt by increasing the amount of currency that is in circulation. In Bryan’s mind he appealed to his “holy” cause as being what is truly humane and righteous for the country to do. He argues that he is not here to fight, but to calm the situation. The idea of the coinage of silver is a matter of principle. Bryan believes that the United States is supposed to be a country for the people, which are what the country was founded on. He also argues that he himself represents the masses when he is showing his desire for the coinage of silver. He also points out hat he is in favor of having an income tax. He also believes that the nation needs a leader that will end the concentration of wealth in the fans of the few that are powerful. He then goes on to recognize that many of the city inhabitants think that the gold standard should be in place. But, then reminds them that their lovely wealth comes from the hard work of the poor and in order for the poor to continue on with their lives they need the coinage of silver. Then with much dramatic flair he closes he speech with the powerful statement “You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

LAD #23

In the election of 1892, the Populist Party represented a potentially viable option for the presidency. As a response to Gilded Age and its big business, the populists were against the concentration of money. In their preamble, the populists stated that America is in ruins and that all corruption must be put to an end. In their argument they argued that silver has always been used as currency, and that it must be used again as currency to scare of creditors. The “plain people” are whom the populists are fighting for. They claimed that they must increase the control of the government in ordered rot regulate the corrupt big business and their practices. And allow silver to become currency again. Again, they talked about their desire for silver money, a graduated income tax and an increase in the circulation of wealth. Also the idea that there should be a permanent union of labor workers along with many other things. Their desired graduated income tax revenue would be directed to decrease other taxes. This group was also against long hours and government subsidies to private business. All in all the populists wanted more power for the average working man.

LAD #22

           In 1898 President McKinley gave his war message to congress. He believed that the war occurring in Cuba at the time had to end due to four main factors. He wanted America to end the barbarity, that America owes Cuba the protection. Also that Americas Economy is being hurt by the Cuban missile crisis, and that a war is a threat to American peace and neutrality. McKinley didn’t specifically blame the issue on Spain; he argued that the destruction of the USS Maine was evidence that this conflict was extremely dangerous to America.  McKinley begged congress to allow him to end this war by means of force. He said that after Cuba has been pacified American support would continue.  He went on to state that this decision was in the hand of congress. Quickly in his last point, He mentioned that Spain had recently made America aware that they wanted to end hostilities. If their efforts were not successful, the problem of the conflict with Cuba would still exist.