LAD #29: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

In 1916, the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was passed by Congress following the proposal of Senator Beveridge. This act regulated child labor in factories by using the Federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce. It also prevented the sale of products from any company that was employing children under the age of 14, and any mine that was employing children under the age of 16. It also banned the sale of products from any business that had children under 16 working night shifts or more than 8 hours a day. After this act was approved of by President Wilson, it was declared unconstitutional due to the case Hammer v. Dagenhart. Change regarding child labor took a long time despite public support, and the cruel treatment of children at the factories and mines continued. The Supreme Court reversed its opinion in Hammer v. Dagenhart in 1941.

LAD #28: Wilson's First Inaugural

In 1912, the split in the election between Republican Taft and Progressive Roosevelt lead to the election of Democratic Woodrow Wilson. In his First Inaugural Address, Wilson spoke about the morals of the American people and the need for change in society. He first talked about how successful the Industrial Revolution was, but he also addresses the underlying issues it caused. The boom in industry had lead to much corruption, which needed to be combated. He spoke of "the human cost, the cost of lives snuffed out, (of) energies overtaxed and broken". He also admitted that the government "has too often been made use of for private and selfish purposes" and he is essentially stressing the need for reform. He promised reforms such as sanitary laws, pure food laws, and laws regarding conditions of labor. These promises were carried out through the Pure Food and Drug Act passed during his administration. He desired to restore the nation, rather than destroy it. Although he acknowledged that the nation is in need of a serious makeover, he conveys a message of hope for reform for his presidency.

LAD #27: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

In 1914, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was passed by Congress after the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which was mostly a failure. The Clayton Anti-Trust Act prevented companies from making exclusive contracts, rebates, inter corporate stock holdings, and price cutting. This is very similar to the Sherman Anti-Trust act, but there is a subtle difference- labor unions were not considered constraints of the economy. This act was very influential because it did not inhibit unions from forming or carrying out their plans for reform.

LAD 26: MLK's 'I Have a Dream' Speech

In March, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. He opened with the well known line "I have a dream". This statement was repeated throughout his speech, and the audience reacted with  a great emotional response. His dream is of a day where the "content of their character" judges men, not skin color. He also dreams of a day where his children can play with the white children. He references the preamble of the Constitution that "all men are created equal", and that blacks should receive a status equal to whites. He also dreams of a day in which crooked things will be bent strait, wrongs will be righted, and former slave owners will sit down to dinner with their freed slaves. This speech resounded throughout America, and the waves it raised are still felt today.

LAD #24: Cross of Gold Speech

In 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered a speech regarding his opinion of silver currency as 16 to 1 in the American economy. In doing this, farmers in debt would be helped because of the increase in the amount of currency in circulation. Bryan believed his cause to be humane and right for America. He does not want to fight, but rather clear the waters. He argues that America is a country for the people, and believes that he is representing the masses when he states his want for the coinage of silver. He also supports an income tax, and that the nation needed a leader to distribute the wealth to the people. He concedes that many city people support the gold standard, but informs them that their wealth comes from the poor, and the poor ned the coinage of silver.

LAD #23: The Populist Party Platform

The Populist Party was a reaction to industrialization, and opposed big business. It emerged from the farmer's alliance in the 1800s, and was the third independent party of Democrats and Republicans. They were usually Southern farmers, and opposed big business because small farmers could not compete with it. Populists believed that the workers were being denied their basic rights, and supported workers and the formation of unions. Populists opposed immigration because it took away jobs from Americans. They believed in the increase of power of the government and the free coinage of silver and gold in the ratio of 16 to 1. They also wanted an income tax, an increase in the circulation of wealth, and the formation of a permanent union of workers. Essentially, the Populists were fighting for more more power for the average working man.

LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

The purpose of the Dawes Act of 1887 was to replace the lands previously held by Native Americans with individually owned properties. It relocated Native Americans to predetermined reservations. All the natives were forced onto a section of land that could be surveyed at any time. Each person was granted a certain amount of land, and the head of the family received one-quarter of the land. Native Americans were allowed to live elsewhere in the United States if they were not granted land on a reservation. This act was only valid for 25 years, at which point the President would decide to terminate or continue the act. Finally, it granted all Native Americans the benefits of being under American law and equal rights as Americans. The government still held power to use the land as they deemed necessary for 5 years, after which point the natives would be able to keep the land forever.

LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

President McKinley delivered his war message to Congress in 1898, demanding that the war in Cuba be ended because of four reasons. First, he demands that the United States end the barbarities in Cuba as it is their duty. Second, assistance is owed to the citizens of Cuba to give them protection and indemnity for life and property. Third, failure to intervene would lead to devastation of commerce, trade, and business, and the destruction of property and land. Fourth and most importantly, the war is a threat to the peace and neutrality of America. McKinley argues that the destruction of the Maine is evidence that this conflict was too dangerous to not intervene. McKinley begged Congress "in the name of humanity" that the war in Cuba must be stopped. He believed that even after the conflict in Cuba had been resolved, that American support should continue. Lastly, he mentions that Spain had recently informed America that they were planning on ending hostilities, but if not the conflict in Cuba would still exist.