Livia's APUSH Blog

LAD/Blog #31: Schenck V. United States: In World War I, Schenck distributed circulars, which are letters addressed to a large group of people, with the purpose of getting the attention of those being drafted. He argued against the draft but only suggested peaceful action or resistance against the Conscription Act (and act that made the first wartime draft in the United States). However, Justice Holmes ruled that Schenck's actions violated the Espionage Act since his letters seemed to talk down the military and discourage people from attending. Holmes argued that Schenck's letters presented a "clear and present danger" so, Congress had the right to stop and prevent these actions. This is similar to the Peter Zenger trial since in this trial, Zenger was tried with speaking out against the government like Schenck.

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. The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice are the two federal agencies that enforce antitrust laws. Both the Clayton Anti Trust Act and the Sherman Anti Trust Act regulated big busin...

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. King then references Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation. 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. King compares the struggle of the black community to a check. The check, in comparison to the Constitution, was meant to be for every American: both white and black. Nonetheless, for blacks, the check was marked "insufficient funds." But, King does not believe the "bank of justice is bankrupt." He continues to push for the ...