Megan's AP American Blog

LAD #38: Truman Doctrine On March 12th, 1947, President Harry Truman announced what is known as the Truman Doctrine. Following WWII and the rise of the USSR as a global superpower, America became worried about the spread of communism, and adopted a policy of “containment” in regards to it. Truman issued the Truman Doctrine to address this, regarding the regions of Greece and Turkey. He begins by saying how Greece has sent an “urgent appeal for financial and economic assistance.” He says that Greece doesn’t have very many natural resources, and had a really hard time during WWII. He says that now, Greece doesn’t have enough funds to rebuild and finance imports to help themselves. He also said that Greece was being threatened by communists, and couldn’t defend themselves- they needed our help, and had nobody else to turn to (Britain had helped them, but couldn’t any longer). He said that we had to preserve democracy there, and everywhere. He then spoke about Turkey, and said they were in...

LAD/Blog #37: FDR’s Executive Order 9066 President FDR passed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 to create military areas that were used as “relocation centers” for Japanese Americans following his declaration of war due to Pearl Harbor. He designated the Secretary of War (and other military commanders who he authorized) to be in charge of this task, and keep the people in these areas fed and with shelter/adequate accommodations. He said these people could do whatever seemed “advisable to enforce compliance with the restrictions applicable to each Military area.” Additionally, FDR authorized Executive Departments and Federal Agencies to help the leaders, which could include supplying medical aid, food, clothing, transportation, the use of facilities, and more. This executive order was seen in the story “Home was a Horse Stall,” which told the heartbreaking experience of a Japanese American family who was sent to one of these areas. Sox, the main character, as well as others in t...

LAD/Blog #36: FDR’s Declaration of War On December 8th, 1941, FDR addressed Congress and asked to declare war on Japan, directly following their attack on Pearl Harbor the day before. He famously says that December 7th, 1941, is “a date which will live in infamy.” He says that before this incident, the US was at peace with Japan, and looked to continue that peace as well as peace in the Pacific in general. The attack was clearly planned in advance, as a message was received just an hour after the bombing, stating that there wouldn’t be any continued negotiations between the two countries (but it didn’t mention war). FDR states that there was a lot of damage to naval/military forces, and many lives were lost. In addition, he says, Japan unleashed a string of attacks throughout the Pacific on the same day, which clearly prompts war. The only person in both houses to vote against the declaration of war was Jeanette Rankin, which earned her the nickname “Japanette Rankin,” as many disagr...

LAD 35: Home was a Horse Stall The story of Sox and her family, especially during WWII, is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. On February 19, 1942, FDR passed Executive Order 9066, establishing military areas across the West Coast, and limiting activities in them, as well as later the Civilian Exclusion Order No. 27, which said that “all persons of Japanese ancestry” were not allowed on the West Coast. One of the first parts of the story that was tough to read was when the news came about Pearl Harbor, and it said that Yumi’s “native country was now the enemy.” It was hard to see how Japanese Americans were forced to stay away from certain shops, and were discriminated against- the “land of the free” wasn’t really that. Another part that was shocking was reading about the conditions these innocent people were forced to live in- dirty horse stalls with bathrooms far away, and without the great majority of their belongings. It was terrible to see how these people were treated, just bec...

LAD/Blog #34: FDR’S First Inaugural FDR delivered his First Inaugural Address on March 4th, 1933. He begins his speech by saying he will speak the truth, and says the US will revive and succeed. He famously says, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” He is trying to rally the American people following the Great Depression. He says they face difficulties, but only material ones (except for those struggling to survive being unemployed, which he calls the “dark realities of the moment”). But, he urges, the struggle is not as bad as what their forefathers went through, they just need to build America back up again. He says nature is still there, but the management of goods has broken down. He says that those who control the supply of money have fled, and lost their vision. He tells the American people that happiness isn’t found in money, and this struggle will be worth it if people can be taught to determine their own destin...

LAD/Blog #33: Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact The Kellogg-Briand Pact (or “Pact of Paris”), was signed agreeing to outlaw war on August 27th, 1928. It was meant to prevent another world war. The two men the treaty is named after are French Minister of Foreign Affairs Aristide Briand and U.S. Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg. Briand proposed a peace pact only between France and the U.S.- a bilateral agreement saying there would not be war. Some in America loved the idea, but President Coolidge and Kellogg thought differently. They worried others might view it as an “alliance,” so they suggested having other nations join the pact to prevent war. This was very well received (especially because it only outlawed wars of aggression, not self-defense), and eventually, two clauses were agreed upon: it “outlawed war as an instrument of national policy and…called upon signatories to settle their disputes by peaceful means.” On the 27th, 15 nations signed it (France, the United States, the United...