LAD #25 Fourteen Points

On the 8th of January, 1918 American President Woodrow Wilson gave his Fourteen Points Speech to the United States Congress. The purpose of these points was to set guidelines for a way to secure peace after World War One. After his points were addressed Wilson became a symbol of morale leadership for the allied nations. One of Wilson’s most important points was free navigation of the seas for all countries. This was important to America in particular because the attacks by German U-boats were a serious issue leading up to the war. Also President Wilson suggested equal trading between countries and an international reduction of armaments in order to relieve some of the tension on the arms race. Many of his points concerned the reestablishment of boarder lines and that invaded parts of countries are returned, and that Austria-Hungary be left alone and at peace. However Wilson’s most important point and the one that had the longest lasting impact was point number fourteen. In this point he called for a general association of nations in order to discuss issues diplomatically. Soon after the war this idea would be put into action with the League of Nations. And although this would eventually fail, it was the start to what is now know and the United Nations and this is still an effective way of dealing with international issues today. The effects of the Fourteen Points were also that it helped push Germany towards an armistice and an eventual surrender. President Woodrow Wilson may be the reason that the war ended the way it did, and he is certainly responsible to setting the foundation for the United Nations.

LAD #24 Clayton Anti-trust

The Clayton Anti-trust act was made to fix the problems in antitrust law created under the Sherman Anti-Trust act of 1890. This restricted the power of monopolies and other companies that took advantage of the consumers. The Anti-trust act disallowed price discrimination between different purchasers if such discrimination substantially lessens competition or tends to create a monopoly in any line of commerce. Also it kept competitors from pooling to raise their prices. If this happened the customer would have no choice but to pay the raised price, this was prohibbited by the new law. This act helped the consumer be taken advantage of, without it American citizens would be at the mercy of big business. The Clayton Anti-trust act kept these pools out of the picture and kept the economy fair but still successful.

LAD #23 Keating-Owen Bill

In 1900 over two million children were working in mines, mills, and factories across America. This caused many people to react and lead the Child Labor movement. Lewis Hine photographed many of the working children and showed the world the reality that these kids endured. The pictures were graphic and true to the situations. His work, along with others caused people to realize that something had to be done about the child labor situation. Oliver Twist was a novel that showed what the child labor was like, written by Charles Dickens. This book showed an orphan who was raised in poorhouses and workhouses, and all of the pain and trouble he saw. The Keating-Owens bill banned product from any factory or shop that employed children under the age of 14. It also limited the amount of hours that kids 16 years and younger could work. Hammer v. Dagenhart ruled that congress could control interstate commerce. The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 in addition to banning priducts, prohibited the sale in interstate commerce of goods manufactured by children.

LAD #22 Wilson Inaugural

President Woodrow Wilson’s first inaugural address was on March 4, 1912. This election resulted in, as Wilson described, a shift in government. Starting two years prior, the government began to shift towards the democrats. Now this shift was complete. The nation clearly supports the Democrats cause since they voted them into office. There are changes that are to be made, and the Democrats feel they know what these changes are. People were used to the way of life before but now it is evident that they must break habit. America has become an industrial power, but this has come at a cost. The labor force of men, women and children has seen bad hours, terrible conditions. It is the job of the government to step up and deal with some of these issues and to do what they can to fix these problems. President Wilson sees many issues that need mending. Tariffs, taxes and banks were another concern of his. He will do everything in his power to meet his goals. “I summon all honest men, all patriotic, all forward-looking men, to my side. God helping me, I will not fail them, if they will but counsel and sustain me!”