LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugural Address

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first inaugural address outlined, in broad terms, how he hoped to govern. FDR reminded Americans that the nation's "common difficulties" concerned "only material things." The speech was almost entirely composed of the issues of the economy at the time: The Great Depression. He outline his plan to fix the economy, which included putting as many people to work as possible. FDR stated that international trade would not be a priority anymore because the country needed to fix the emergency at home first. He addresses the issue of the depression as if it were a war. He expresses his hope for Congress to accept the laws he proposed quickly. He states that he "shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis-broad Executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe." This statement foreshadows the extreme power FDR would exercise during his time as president through the attempted stacking of the Supreme Court and other measures.

LAD #32: Kellogg Briand Peace Pact

The Kellogg Briand Peace Pact was signed by 11 nations right away. France, Poland, Belgium, Japan, and even more nations signed within a year. The pact rejected war as a form of foreign policy. It established that any nation that went to war for only a personal benefit would not be given those benefits in any treaty. The nations who signed hoped that those who did not sign would eventually follow the example of the signed powers and reject war themselves. The United States was responsible for making and holding the treaty and adding more nations to the pact. A year after the treaty was created, over 40 nations had joined the pact. The treaty was created by Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg. It was signed by President Calvin Coolidge. The treaty was later reaffirmed by President Hoover and and his Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson.

LAD #31: Wilson's 14 Points

President Woodrow Wilson played a major role in negotiations and peace keeping both during and after the Great War. The United States emerged as the greatest world power and Wilson put out his 14 points plan. This plan helped to prevent further conflict and not destroy defeated countries. The points are summarized below.

1. Open covenants of peace
2. Provide freedom of navigation in the seas
3. Remove economic barriers and establish equality of trade
4. Reduce national armies
5. Adjust colonial claims
6. Evacuate Russian Territory to promote growth
7. Evacuate and restore Belgium
8. All French territory freed and restored
9. Readjustment of Italy's borders
10. Free opportunities to people of Austria-Hungary
11. Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro evacuated and restored
12. Protection for minorities in Turkey and free passage of ships in Dardanelles
13. Independence for Poland 
14. Form a League of Nations to avoid further conflict

LAD #30: Schenck V United States

Charles Schenck, an American socialist, was distributing fliers to young men, telling them to avoid enlisting in the Great War. Schenck stated that the draft was violating the Thirteenth Amendment because it enforced "involuntary servitude." He also claimed that the war was motivated by "capitalist greed." Schenck was charged with violating the newly enacted Espionage Act. More specifically, he was said to have been trying to incite insubordination in the military and naval forces. Schenck appealed his case to the Supreme Court on that basis that the Espionage Act violated the First Amendment. However, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes stated that an individual's Freedom of Speech was not guaranteed when the speech would cause a "clear and present danger." This was a pioneering opinion in America, as Schenck's speech did cause a "clear and present danger" because he was creating military insubordination during wartime. The Supreme Court proceeded to vote unanimously against Schenck. Since then, the ruling has been overturned.