LAD/Blog #13: Polk's War Message

The US had a strong desire to establish peace with Mexico. In October of 1845, Mr. John Slidell was sent to Mexico to settle the Texas border and negotiate peace. However, the revolutionaries who overthrew the Mexican government in December of 1845 refused to speak with Mr. Slidell. Texas at this point was under the protection of the US and part of its revenue system. In the spring of 1846, the troops at Del Norte were instructed to act peacefully until war was declared or an act of hostility was committed. The belligerence of the Mexican troops lead to a small battle near the Rio del Norte. The grievances of the US citizens were ignored and no attempt was made by the Mexicans to solve them. Commerce with Mexico was all but destroyed, and as Texas was an independent republic that had chosen to annex itself into the US, and Mexico had invaded the US, meaning that the two nations were now at war with each other. Despite Polk's attempts at diplomacy he ends the message by stating that the US was at war with Mexico.

War Message:
Image result for polk's war message

Declaration of War in WW2:
Image result for us declaration of war in ww2

Comments

LAD/Blog #35: Home was a Horse Stall

Executive order 9066 was essentially a racist program that excluded Japanese Americans from everyday life in America due to the actions of their former nation. They were banned from the west coast and forced into internment camps where they essentially lived under oppressive, racist marshal law. This was especially painful for first generation immigrants as they had a personal connection with both nations. Many of them did not want to see their two home nations fighting, and held some allegiance to both, but most were more prone to defending the United States.This was also hard on Japanese children, as they were ripped away from their friends, lives, and schools and taken to internment camps. One example of this is Sox, and her difficult upbringing during this time. She is taken away from her home and placed in a new one. That home is a horse stall. This stall was in a small, crowded internment camp which Sox was forced to grow up in. Her experience illustrates how poorly the Japanese ...

LAD/Blog #28: Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

The primary purpose of The Keating-Own Child Labor Act of 1916 , "To prevent interstate commerce in the products of child labor, and for other purposes." This act disallows the conduction of distribution, or commerce of products that were manufactured using child labor. The qualification for child labor is that thirty days prior to the commerce of the product, a child under the age of 16 worked for long hours. Additionally, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Labor will form a committee that will create regulations to enforce and strengthen the act. Furthermore, officials will be continuously monitoring offices, mills, and factories to help oversee a proper workplace. Also, the state and attorney general to present all available evidence when quarries or mills or any such industry is being inspected. If child labor is discovered, there will be fines, jail sentences, and procedures for conviction. Another main point of emphasis is properly ...

LAD #37: FDR’s Executive Order 9066

On February 19th, 1942, FDR proposed executive order 9066, the order that gave the Secretary of War the ability to create designated areas for specific people to stay during wartime that could pose a threat to the US military. In WWII these areas became known as internment camps, and the people put in them were Japanese-American citizens. This allowed for the rampant mistreatment of these people with cramped living conditions and improper education. While FDR did say these areas were to be provided adequate food, shelter, and transportation, the word "adequate" is very subjective, and allowed for very poor conditions. One example of this is the story "Home was a Horse Stall", where a young girl, Sox, and her family were forced to live in a horse stall and had very little rights and no access to programs many citizens would such as a good education. I, personally, think this is a horribly executed order. While it was FDR's intention to avoid the influence of spie...

Jack's AP American Blog

Search This Blog