Lauren's AP American Blog

Background: Prior to Truman's speech, the British government announced that they would no longer support the Greek government. When Greece reached out to America for help, Truman decided to announce his new foreign policy of "containment". In this post WWII world structure, America was embroiled in the Cold War, where they opposed the spread of Communism and the Soviet Union. This was a major influence on Truman's foreign policy. This is because he pushed America to protect nations who were at risk of succumbing to Soviet influence. Truman reasoned that America could no longer stand by as nations resisted the Soviet's attempts to force them under a Totalitarian government. The setting of the Cold War as well as the direct link of Greek's call for help pushed President Truman into creating this new foreign policy. Beliefs: President Truman believed that it was the job of America to help nations who resist the subjugation of other nations. Additionally, we

Connection to Home was a Horse Stall: The Executive Order 9066 was used to create the internment camps that Sox from "Home was a Horse Stall" was forced to live in. This Executive Order led to the formation of these internment camps as well as the forced relocation of Japanese Americans. Thoughts: By reading "Home was a Horse Stall" we were able to see the negative effects of FDR's decision to pass the Executive Order 9066. This stark contrast between what FDR and the Congress believed to be protecting the American people, and the Japanese American people, even those who were born and raised in America. It is unbelievable to me how America could punish their own citizens for their race. Additionally, the Executive Order 9066 was created to protect America, but it ironically forced numerous Americans into Concentration camps. Who did the President give the authority to: FDR clearly delegates power directly to the Secretary of War. He gives him the autho

Seven Word Phrase: A date which will live in infamy The Lone No Vote: Jeanette Rankin casted the sole Congressional vote against America's declaration of war on Japan. Because of her lifelong commitment to pacifist beliefs, from her vote against WWI to her protests against the Vietnam War, during WWII the press nicknamed her Japanette Rankin. Summary: FDR expresses how unexpected Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor was. Even as it was occurring, America was continuing to correspond with Japan in hopes of keeping peace in the Pacific. An attack of this magnitude needs time to conduct, which makes it easy to see that Japan was just trying to deceive America. FDR also addresses the other attacks Japan has made and the injuries they have caused to America. FDR recognizes that although the attack is recent and America has traditionally held more of an isolationist view, the American people are already in favor of his declaration of war. FDR calls upon the Congress and the Ameri

Reaction One: The story about Sox is heartbreaking because of how many Asian Americans were  treated as if they were not human, just because of their race. The prevalence of racial issues only increases during war times and Japanese internment camps are just one example. From being forced to live in an abandoned horse stall, to being stripped of the basic privacies that humans should have. When all of the Asian Americans were being moved to the camps, Sox noticed that only two white Americans came to say goodbye to them. All of the people Sox thought were her friends were too afraid to even be associated with Sox and her family. Reaction Two: Sox's story made me incredibly mad. Why are people not aware of this crime America committed in times of war. Our Internment Camps mirrored the Concentration Camps of the Germans during the same war. Both were images of racial discrimination that forced their inhabitants to reside in undesirable circumstances. Although the Japan

Summarize: Franklin D. Roosevelt opens his Inaugural Address as well as his record breaking four term presidency with the famous quote, "This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself ". FDR addresses the clear problem that succumbed the nation in the early 1930's, the Great Depression. He recognizes that the increase of taxes and decrease of money to pay them effects every American. However, Roosevelt does not lament a seemingly unsolvable problem, rather, he reflects on the hardships Americans have overcome in the past and how America is still the land of opportunities, which FDR had every intention of making use of. Roosevelt clearly dispenses the need of wealth and material goods. He instead attributes joy to physical success and achievement. He claims that action has not yet been taken and Roosevelt reassures the nation that he will not

Kellogg and Briand: French Minister of Foreign Affairs Aristide Briand proposed the peace pact as a bilateral agreement between America and France to prevent a war between the two powers. US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg were less interested in this bilateral arrangement as it appeared to be an alliance, which America was attempting to avoid. Kellogg suggested that the two nations instead lead the way to invite all  nations to join them in outlawing war. Other Name: The Pact of Paris Number of countries who signed it: Fifteen nations originally  signed the pact in Paris. This included: France, America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Later forty-seven more nations signed the pact. What is needed to enforce it: The Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact and the League of Nations lacked a combined armed force that could be used to enforce their policies. When offenders dis