LAD #29 Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

The Census of 1900 was released and showed that 2 million children were working in mines, factories, fields and stores across the country. People were shocked and outraged with these statistics and people began to try to create change and prevent this from happening. This act used the federal government’s power over interstate commerce power to regulate child labor. The act would ban the sale of any goods from factories that employed children under the age of 14 and mines that employed children under the age of 16 were banned, as well. The Supreme Court then declared this unconstitutional, but eventually the Child Labor Amendment would be passed and would help regulate child labor.

Pictures: I chose a picture of children working in a factory and a picture of men working because adults were also treating poorly while working. While children shouldn't have been working at all because it was a dangerous and not moral, but adults were also put in very harsh and poor working conditions. Especially during the Industrial Revolution, adults worked long hours with little pay, which would eventually lead to the formation of labor unions.

LAD #28 Wilson’s First Inaugural

Due to the Republican vote being split between Taft and Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson won the election of 1912. In his speech he talks about how there was a gradual change in the government, which favored and strengthened the Democrats. He then goes on to say the good things about the nation and talks about how good things come with the bad. He brings up that it is his and the rest of the government’s job to correct the wrongs brought on by industrialization. He then goes on to talk about how the United States needs to preserve natural resource and protect citizen’s rights. Lastly, he says that the government will ensure equality and asks for the help of the people to make sure everyone has a say and does their part in continuing to better America.

Pictures: I chose a picture of Woodrow Wilson and a picture of JFK because he and Wilson addressed similar things in their speeches. For example in Kennedy's speech he says "those human rights to which this nation has always been committed..." and Wilson also talked about human rights and citizenship for the people of America. They both acknowledged things that needed to be fixed about the nation and wanted to address changes they hoped to make. Both of their speeches were memorable, well written speeches that are still addressed today.

LAD #27 Clayton Anti-Trust Act

The purpose of the act was to eliminate the corruption of big business polices and it was passed after the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which was considered a failure. One part of the law made it illegal to discriminate by price, which was used by monopolists. Another part was about  price shifting and how it is not allowed to force out competition. Lastly, it promotes free trade by restricting a company from buying controlling stock in other companies to lessen competition.

Pictures: I chose a picture of the guy from monopoly because he represents a big business owner and creating a monopoly. I also chose a picture of J.P. Morgan because he was a big business owner who tried to monopolize the railroads. At the time, the government was pro business so they appreciated the railroads, but eventually they had to step in and regulate them because the monopolies were becoming too big and powerful.

LAD #26 Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”

In his speech, King references Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation because it was the first step towards freedom for blacks. He also talked about the Declaration of Independence and how it states all men are created equal. He says that this is not the case and people are still being denied basic human rights. He wants segregation and discrimination to end and King says that the inequality cannot be overlooked any further and that there needs to be change. He wants change quickly and says that even if it does not come very quickly, the blacks should not turn to violence and must treat the whites with discipline and as if they were brothers. King then discusses his dream, that one day all men, blacks and whites will be equal. He wants people to be judged by their character, not by their color. He dreams that one day, all the children in Alabama will be able to hold hands and hopes that some day freedom and justice will be granted to blacks and that all Americans will be able to live the freedom that the country promised its people.

Pictures: I chose a picture of Martin Luther King Jr and a picture of Rosa Parks because she was also a big leader in the fight for black equality. She did not give in to segregation laws and did not tolerate discrimination. She was a big role model to blacks and helped fight for freedom, as did King.

LAD #25 Dawes Severalty Act

The Dawes Severalty Act was created to break up reservations and make the Natives independent, as well as assimilate to white culture. It also gave them land so they would be sufficient farmers and take away their culture and way they were used to gathering crops. The act also allowed Native Americans to be granted citizenship if they cooperated, but there were some groups that were denied this opportunity.

Pictures: I chose a picture of the Act and and a picture of a ghetto where Jewish people were forced to move to. This is similar to the Act because it forced a minority group to a certain area of land and they were forced to change the way they lived. Many Native Americans were killed in their fight and resistance against foreign influence as were the Jews during the Holocaust and fight for their basic human rights. The Holocaust is related to American history because many people fled Germany to come to America for safety and were also a minority in the States, similar to the Natives.

LAD #24 Bryan’s Cross of Gold Speech

William Jennings Bryan who was a Democrat from Nebraska, gave the speech called “Cross of Gold.” In the speech he addresses that he thinks the question about money is the most prominent issue in America and the election. He believes that the settlers who farm out west are just as important as the business man’s work. He also praises Jackson for removing power from the wealthy and returning in to the common man. He supported ideals of the Populist Party including bimetallism, the idea that the U.S. Mint should coin silver and gold. He then goes on to defend the graduated income tax law and was a large influence in the debate about gold and silver.

Pictures: I chose a picture of Bryan and a picture of Thomas Jefferson because they had similar ideals. Bryan referenced the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson's idea that all men are created equal. They were both important figures that reached a large audience and wanted the common man to have more power and create reforms in the economy, politics and labor.

LAD #23 Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party emerged in the late 1800s and were at their peak in the late 1890s when they were regarded as a third party. The Populist Party Platform included the Preamble, Platform and Expression of Sentiments. The Preamble talked about how they felt that the abuse by the big businesses needed to end and that labor was harmful, with bad conditions. They believed the rich should not get richer and they also referenced the lack of silver in the monetary system. They wanted an expansion in government and wanted equal rights. In the Platform, they talked about how they wanted protection of the working class and government control of the railroad companies. In the Expression of Sentiments, the Populists demanded secret ballot elections that were fair and wanted pensions to soldiers. The party rejected government aid to business and wanted more limits on immigration because they felt they were taking away American jobs.

Pictures: I chose a picture of the Populist Party at the nominations convention and a picture of the Justice Party which was formed in 2011. They are a group of political activists who stand for progressivism and want change like the people of the Populist Party. They also want to restore fairness to the political system, end corruption and return the power to the people.