LAD 28- FDR's First Inaugural

FDR's First Inaugural Address

In his Inaugural Address President Roosevelt was faced with the overwhelming presence of the Great Depression. In order to put a stop this Roosevelt first felt the need to put a halt to the negative attitude which supported it. As he stated that, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." This attitude need to be accepted by the nation who had been led on by the unsuccessful rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods. These men were failures because of their short sightedness in only encouraging people to buy on credit and when that does not work simply buy it on more credit. Also it was important that the nation focus more on achievement and less on the value of money. The government also must become, in some part, responsible for putting the people to work. Roosevelt also recognized the foreclosure epidemic which was sweeping the nation. With this he stressed the important of not only making plans but acting on them. The government must work towards public forms of transportation and communication. Speculation must also end and along with a closer watch on bank credits and investment the nation can safeguard against another depression like this one. Roosevelt recognizes that along with all of this internally he will be a good neighbor outside of the nation. In the end he also makes it clear that he is the current instrument for the American people to establish a new government order of things, one which the government plays the role of a helping hand in the state of the nation.

LAD 27- Kellogg Briand Pact 1929

Kellogg Briand Pact of 1929

The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1929 was made up on the notion that war must be denounced as a means of National Policy and that those nations signing the treaty were doing just that as well as agreeing to promote perpetual peace. Those involved with this treaty must then pursue peaceful resolutions to conflict as well as they were to be denied the benefits of this treaty if they decided to break it. In this way it was the hope of the treaties founders that other nations would join in in order to work towards joining in on this peace. Signing onto this treaty were the nations of Germany, the US, Belgium, France, Great Britain and all of its protectorates, Italy, Japan, Poland and the Czech Republic. There are 3 articles to this treaty each which outline a different proposal. The first article goes on to again renounce the use of war as a diplomatic means while the second states that no problem will be solved by any means which are not peaceful. Finally the third article covers the concept that this treaty shall be open to all those nations who did not immediately ratify the treaty. Aloo it states that United States is to be resonsible for the the carrying out of this treaty. This but the nation at the fore-front of this push for peace while making sure that it adhered to the treaty as well.

LAD 26- Schenck v. United States

Schenck v. United States

In this case of Schenck v. the United States the limits of Freedom of Speech were called into perspective. The case came into play after the leader of a Socialist party circulated a number of leaflets promoting the opposition of the draft from those recruited by it. This particular case caused the debate over where the limits to Freedom of Speech needed to be. As stated by Justice Holmes it can not be allowed for someone to use their freedom of speech in a way which would present a "clear and present danger" to the nation. The danger was clearly seen in this case as it was a very obvious encouragement of insubordination for those who were recruited by the draft. This insubordination would have caused a major problem and honest danger for the Nation as it was in the middle of war with Germany. A hinderence to the war effort like this simply could not be tolerated. Schenck was charged with an indictment of three counts, the first being a violation of the Espionage Act, the second was the intention to commit an offence against the United States and the third was the unlawful use of the mail system to spread these illegal actions. He was then found gulity of all counts and Holmes made the important distinction on Freedom of Speech when he claimed that, "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic." This scenario would cause cause choas considering everyone would be trying to get out and danger would be present for all who were there. This same danger would be present in the case of Schenck.