Gavin's AP American Blog

In 1947 President Truman made a speech to both houses of Congress in a successful attempt to win support from Republicans, who controlled both of them. This address would become known as the Truman Doctrine and establish American policy during the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine was originally created with the goal of preventing the spread of communism into Greece and Turkey. At the time of its creation, Greece was in the middle of a civil war, and many believed that if the United States failed to send aid to these areas it would inevitable that they would fall to communism and Soviet influence. In his speech to Congress, Truman made it clear that it would be impossible for Greece to recover economically unless a large amount of American support was provided, because no other nation was able or willing to provide them with the support that they desperately needed. In a more general sense, this policy was about the containment of communism. As a direct result of this, America adopted a po

In Executive Order 9066, President Roosevelt allowed Secretary of War Henry Stimson to declare areas as military zones. This would allow for the interment of Japanese Americans in these military camps. As described in "Home Was a Horse Stall, conditions in these camps were absolutely horrible, with large numbers of people being forcefully relocated and made to stay in tiny, unsanitary living conditions. Roosevelt justified these actions by saying that it was necessary to protect against espionage and sabotage to ensure that the nation was secure. Soon after the order was signed, around 125,000 Japanese Americans, almost all of whom fully supported the United States in the war against Japan, were evicted from there homes and forced to live in these interment camps. In my opinion, this executive order was too extreme. While spies were certainly a threat, imprisoning over 100,000 Americans in the faint hope of being able to find a few spies was unnecessary and overkill. While it woul

In the first line of his speech, Roosevelt calls December 7th, 1941, as "a date that will live in infamy." Roosevelt starts his speech out by making it clear that the United States had been looking to maintain peace, but had still been attacked by Japan. Roosevelt noted that Japan had attacked American troops and civilians throughout the Pacific, including a naval base at Pearl Harbor. He continues by saying that Americans were completely unaware of this incoming attack, despite the fact the peace negotiations with Japan had been ongoing at the time. As a result of this, Roosevelt concluded that the people of the United States understood how serious the situation was and that the nation was in danger. As Commander in Chief, Roosevelt had ordered the Army and Navy to take all necessary measures to defend the country. He also asked that Congress formally declare war on Japan as a consequence to the unprovoked attack. Jeannette Rankin, the first female member of Congress, was th

Sox was born in 1918. Despite being originally named Tsuyako, everyone called her "Sox" because they were unable to pronounce her given name. Sox and her sister were very upset when they heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Eventually, her and her family were forced to relocate. They were only allowed to pack a small amount of things. Families often burned Japanese heirlooms, because they might raise suspicion. At their new home, they were forced to live in army-style barracks. In every building, there were two back-to-back rows of ten stalls. Each stall was only 9 feet by 20 feet. Some people felt humiliated by these horrible conditions, which were so bad that these interment camps can be compared to the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. This was all allowed because of Executive Order 9066. This order, signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1942, allowed the military to imprison Japanese Americans, German Americans, and Italian Americans. As a direct result, aroun

Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address was very important because the country was in the depths of the Great Depression, and the country was looking for guidance from their new president. In one of his first lines, Roosevelt stated that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." By saying this, he meant that unnecessary anxiety about the state of the country was not helpful, and could only cause more harm. Roosevelt went on to talk about the stock market crash and the Great Depression. Roosevelt emphasized that money is not the sole cause of happiness and people should sometimes focus on things other than profits. He went on to criticize bankers who had been a major factor in the cause of the crisis. Roosevelt said that he had plans to address the extremely high rate of unemployment, as almost one in four Americans were unable to find a job. Roosevelt promised to address the financial crisis quickly and successfully and to return the country to its previous state of ec

The Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact was signed in Paris in 1928. While it aimed to prevent another global conflict, it ultimately failed to stop World War II, but has had some success. It was originally crafted by Frank Kellogg, the American Secretary of State, and Aristide Briand, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. The pact was originally signed by 15 nations, including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Since then, it was signed by 31 other countries. The pact was first truly tested in 1931, when the Japanese invaded Manchuria (also called the Mukden Incident). No action was taken to enforce the pact because of the Great Depression and the fact that no countries really wanted to go to war to protect China. One key flaw in the pact was that it failed to clearly define what "self-defense" is, so it was easy to ignore the pact entirely. Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact Synthesis: The Covenant of the League of Nations, another international

Wilson's Points of Peace seem to be much more idealistic than realistic. While all of the points seem to make sense in theory, it seems extremely unlikely that all could have been successfully put into practice. For example, it is doubtful that any countries at the time would have been willing to reduce their armies to the bare minimum necessary for safety, especially after a World War had just occurred. In his 14th point, Wilson called for a "general association of nations" to be formed. This idea would turn into the League of Nations. However, the League of Nations failed when the United States Senate voted not to join it, leaving it mostly powerless. The League of Nations would eventually be replaced by the United Nations, which some still question the effectiveness of. Wilson's 14 Points of Peace Synthesis: United Nations

During the Great War, Charles Schenck and Elizabeth Baer distributed leaflets encouraging people to disobey the draft. This was illegal, and they were arrested for violating the Espionage Act of 1917. The Supreme Court had to decide whether the Espionage Act violated the First Amendment rights. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that the Espionage Act was Constitutional because of Congress' wartime authority. Chief Justice Holmes wrote that this type of speech created danger, and was not protected under the First Amendment. Holmes compared the distribution of these flyers to yelling "Fire!" in the middle of a crowded theater. Chief Justice Oliver Holmes, who wrote the opinion of the Supreme Court for this case Synthesis: Yates v. United States was a 1957 Supreme Court case that ruled that radical and reactionary speech was protected by the First Amendment unless it was a "clear and present danger"

In his first inaugural address, Wilson noted that there had been a significant change in government. Wilson pointed out that the House of Representatives, Senate, and Presidency were all under control of the Democratic Party, but he stated that the success of a party was not important if the country as a whole was not doing well. Wilson also claimed that the entire country had changed significantly in the recent past, in large part due to the rise of monopolies and trusts. Wilson wanted to regulate business during his time in office. He claimed that "inexcusable waste" had come with the riches that some had acquired as a result of business, and it was necessary to protect both nature and all workers. He stated that the government had failed to properly represent people, and instead catered to the interests of private businesses. Wilson claimed that the main purpose of the government was to ensure justice, and that he would be dedicated to protecting the rights of everyday men

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act was far more detailed than the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The Clayton Act was also much more effective because it was actually enforced by the government after it was passed. It banned price discrimination, making it unlawful for a company to sell the same good to different consumers at different prices. It prohibited "tying agreements," which were often used to turn one monopoly into two. It allowed private parties to be able to sue for damages, which allowed for people who were injured to attempt to recover damages. It allowed for permitted labor unionizing, which deceased the amount of power that companies had over their workers. Most importantly, it also criticized anti-competitive mergers. This helped prevent price fixing and the creation of monopolies. Woodrow Wilson, who passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act Synthesis: Federal Trade Commission

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was a law meant to address issues involving child labor. It limited the sale of goods produced by people 14 years old or younger, mines were children 16 and younger worked, or any business where children worked during nighttime hours. The law was only in effect for a short period of time, as it was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Child laborers Synthesis: The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 made child labor mostly illegal

In his "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King Jr. described several dreams that he had for the future. They were: That the United States would live up to the founding principle that all men are created equal That the sons of slaves and slaveowners would be able to get along That all states would become areas of freedom and justice That people could be judged by their character instead of their skin color That children of all races would be able to become friends Martin Luther King Jr. Synthesis: Barack Obama being the first African American elected President of the United States in 2008  

In his famous "Cross of Gold" speech, William Jennings Bryan attacked the gold standard and discussed his support for bimetallism. He believed that it was important for all American people to be represented, especially those who lived in the Western parts of the country. Bryan stated that the country needed someone like Andrew Jackson who would take a similar stance on economics. Bryan also claimed that the income tax was a just law. Lastly, Bryan denounced the gold standard and called for international agreement over bimetallism. He believed that the gold standard was only helping richer people who lived on the Eastern coast, and thought that a system that included gold and silver would help bring prosperity to Americans who were living outside of this area. Bryan finished his speech by comparing the gold standard to the crucifixion of Jesus, saying "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold." Bryan after delivering his speech Synthesis: FDR's

The Dawes Act allowed the federal government to divide Indian land. This would help assimilate Indians into American by ending a policy of tribal land ownership and allowing for individual property rights. Some important parts of the act were: 1) Most Indians would receive a grant of 160 acres 2) Land allotments would be controlled by the government for 25 years 3) Indians only had four years to select their land or the government would choose it for them By allowing for assimilation the act would benefit Indians and help lift them out of poverty. Advertisement as a result of the Dawes Act Synthesis: Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862

The populists believed that corruption had led the country close to moral and political ruin. They believed most of this was because there had only been two political parties for a long time. The Populist Party intended to return the power of the government back to the common people, where it had initially formed. The platform included: 1) All unions should be legal 2) Wealth belongs to the person that created it 3) People should have some power over the railroads 4) A safe and stable national currency should be created 5) Land should not be monopolized for speculative purposes There were several other sentiments that did not make it into the platform, including pensions for all ex-Union soldiers, a limit of one term for the President, and a stricter law on working hours. Omaha Platform Synthesis: Donald Trump ran his 2016 campaign with a populist message

Over the past century, Cuban uprisings against Spain had caused America headaches due to a disturbance of trade and the difficulty of maintaining neutrality. Despite American efforts to create peace in the area, Spain refused to allow Cuba any form of a self government and continued a bloody war. Because of the nature of the war, it is unlikely that one side could win a final military victory, and it was more likely that the war would continue until one side was simply too exhausted to continue. Because of this, McKinley sent a letter to Spain requesting that they immediately suspend hostilities and form an armistice. Because of the violence of past wars that America had been involved in, McKinley was reluctant to declare war on a country. However, he believed that it was the best course of action based on what was occurring in Cuba. McKinley's War Message Synthesis: Declaration of war of Great Britain that led to the War of 1812

Carnegie believed that the upper class should be giving with their wealth and improve society overall. Carnegie believed that the wealthy had a responsibility that came along with having lots of money, and that money should not be used wastefully. Instead, surplus money should be donated or used in a manner that has a positive impact on a large group of people. One point that Carnegie makes is that a person's personal wealth should be redistributed into society after their death. These ideas mostly conflict with the ideas of Social Darwinism, as that theory disagrees with philanthropy and the sharing of wealth. Social Darwinism: The idea that humans are subject to the laws of natural selection that Charles Darwin had discovered in plants and animals. Andrew Carnegie Synthesis: Bill Gates

On September 22nd, 1862, a new proclamation was issued. One impact was that on January 1st, 1863, all slaves held in states that were rebelling against the United States would be recognized as free. It was also stated that if there were representatives in Congress voted on by a majority of the qualified voters of a state, the state would not be considered in rebellion. Lincoln then listed the states that were in rebellion. There were several areas in states that were considered to be rebelling that were left alone, the most notable of these being West Virginia. Emancipation Proclamation Synthesis: 13th Amendment

Lincoln believed that there was less of a need for extended remarks in his second address than there was for his first. He believed that the progress being made by the military was making satisfactory and encouraging progress. Four years ago, most attention was being given to trying to prevent the upcoming Civil War. War came because one side was willing to create war because of their situation. Slavery was a major cause of this war. Lincoln believed that his main job during his second term was to eliminate the division within the country, take care of the soldiers who were serving in the military, and create a lasting peace within the country. Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Synthesis: George Washington's First Inaugural Address

In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Dred Scott could not sue for his freedom because he was African-American and therefore not a citizen of the United States. It is often seen as one of the worst decisions ever made by the Supreme Court. Dred Scott, who had been a slave in Missouri, sued for him freedom when Missouri became a free state. The case traveled through several courts until it reached the Supreme Court in 1857. In the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Robert Taney ruled that Scott's lawsuit should never have been heard in the first place, as Scott was not a United States citizen and could not sue. This is widely seen as a terrible decision as Taney ignored precedent and distorted the meaning of the Constitution. Taney, who owned slaves, also ruled that African-Americans could never be citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in territories. This decision was celebrated in the South, as it seemingly provided an example of the federal government defending slav

In her speech, Sojourner Truth says that women are equal to men but are not treated that way by society, because women are still helped when they are getting into carriages or jumping over puddles. Sojourner says that she has planted crops and worked on farms and can work and eat as much as a man, despite the fact that most people at the time didn't think that women could do that. At the end of the speech, she says that even though Christ was a man, he was born because of a woman.   Sojourner Truth Synthesis: Lucretia Mott

In this speech, Douglas praised the Founding Fathers and said that they were brave and wanted to honor their memories. However, Douglass also claims that slavery is unjust and goes against the American spirit. Because the 4th of July celebrated freedoms, Douglass claimed that only white Americans could celebrate it, as slaves had not been given any of the same freedoms. He believed that slavery was wrong because it went against the principles of liberty that the country had been founded upon, which made America barbaric and hypocritical, and it was unfair that only certain people in the country were given these rights. He ended his speech with a poem that also supported the abolition of slavery. Frederick Douglass Synthesis: Martin Luther King Jr.

87 years ago a new nation was created with the basis of freedom and equality. Now there is a civil war that is testing whether the country can survive. I am dedicating part of this field to the soldiers who died so that the country could survive. However, in a sense, the ground cannot be dedicated, because the soldiers made it above others to be impacted. While what is said after the battle will be forgotten, what occurred during the battle will not be. People need to be focused on the task ahead to ensure that the people who will killed did not die in vain and that American democracy will not be destroyed. The Gettysburg Address Synthesis: First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt, in which he addressed the country on the impacts of the Great Depression and the need to carry forward.