One Man Army

In unit 3 of Policy we learned about what the judicial branch is, who it consists of, and the powers it can hold. We focused mainly on the Supreme Court and its involvement in the the checks and balances of the three branches. Also we reviewed Supreme Court cases and how they all challenge what the Constitution states. For the action project we had to choose a Supreme Court case and make a presentation on it, which consists of the historical context, looking at both sides of the argument, and if we think it was just or unjust. I chose research the Korematsu v. United States (1944), which had to deal with Japanese Americans being put in internment camps. I decided to this case, because when reading about it, it challenged me to think if it was just or unjust. Something I enjoyed about this action project is that it is in presentation form, whereas the previous action projects have been essays. A challenge I faced was being able to pick a case, because there are so many that it can be hard to find one that interests you. I hope you like reading about Korematsu v. United States!

Just War

In unit 2 of Policy, we focused on the executive branch, such and the powers and different abilities it has. We also looked the Vietnam War, and the different things it did to people and how the executive branch can make policies that are unjust, like war. For an FE we went to the International Veteran’s Art Museum, where we looked different art work representing the Vietnam War. We also got to try on some gear that veterans had to wear while in battle in an exhibit inspired the book we are reading, The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien. For the action project, we had to choose a war and explain if it is just or unjust, and explain our reasoning. I picked the Civil War because this is a war that is a very old war, and show how it had a lot of ripples that lead into the present day. Something I liked about this project was getting to select a war of any kind, even if it wasn’t an actual physical battle. Hope you enjoy reading about whether or not I think the Civil War is just or unjust!

                                                                              

The American Civil War, fought in between the north (Union) and the south (Confederacy), lasted for four years, from April 12th, 1861 through May 9th 1865, not a war that the United States joined but a war that was in the center of the United States, dividing our nation. A war that would push a ripple effect on our society, a ripple that is ongoing. The war was the first where slaves could fight if they had become free. This also was a war that brought our nation together and ended slavery in the United States. But why did this war happen? Mainly it was tensions between the north and south about what was right and wrong, like whether or not slavery should exist. A lot of underlying causes were the Underground Railroad for slaves to use to escape to the north. Also the Dred Scott case of 1857, declaring African Americans not citizens of the United States. The Missouri compromise of 1819, separating free states and slave states. But that was just putting gasoline on the wood, the match to start the flame was on April 10th, 1861 when in Fort Sumter and a firefight broke out between the north and south, marking the start of the Civil War.

Was it good we went to war, or should we have tried to make this civil conflict more peaceful, since this was the war with the most deaths so far? I believe this war was just, and needed to happen because it got people out of the state of treating others as literal property. It ended something that should have never been a to begin with, but was sadly. It gave the line, “All men are created equal” more truth in the Declaration of Independence. This war was a declaration in it’s own way, asserting that slavery is wrong and needs to stop, and our nation has to begin working together again.

The President at the time of the Civil War was Abraham Lincoln, and during his first inaugural speech said that we need to get the south to become part of the Union again, to have the nation working together; this was a month after after the war started. This also had a lot to do with Lincoln’s want and need to end slavery in the United States. Congress played a huge role in this war, in 1861 Congress created the Joint Committee on the Conduct of War. Where a group of people from the south and north would give intel on the war and everything else that was going on that they might need and should know.

During this time two big policies were made, the Conscription Act of 1863, and the Militia Act of 1862. The Conscription Act meant that every man between the ages 20 - 45 must register to be a soldier, even if they were about to become citizens. The Militia Act meant that freed African Americans would work as laborers and soldiers in the war. Both policies were created by Congress, mainly to get more soldiers for the Union. The Conscription Act was hated by many people and resulted in a lot of protesting in New York, whereas the Militia Act had many African Americans ready to sign up and ready to fight, to show their pride. Both these led to the reason why the American Civil War had the most deaths of any war that the United States has been a part of. I say on a legal and logical standpoint that Congress was just for making these policies, because they needed to be made for the Union to have won the war. Plus the acts didn’t go against any policy previously made, in fact it helped one act that was made during the Revolutionary War, saying that all men needed to have a weapon in preparation of war. I say this because it showed how the government need all these acts to secure the victory in the end.

In conclusion, this war was just and needed to happen to make a step to a better society, one where we could work together. President Abraham Lincoln was right to have wanted to free slaves for the greater good, and to bring the south back to the Union. If not, then we might not have won a lot of the wars that we did in the not-so-far future. This might have had the most deaths, and did have ripples both good and bad. But it did lead to the great migration, where many African Americans were able to get good jobs that they could survive well with. Also leading to more change that was for the good. This war needed to happen, and it moved us on.


References:

"Causes Of The Civil War | HistoryNet." HistoryNet. Web. 11 May 2016.

"African Americans In The Civil War | HistoryNet." HistoryNet. Web. 11 May 2016.

"Abraham Lincoln." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. Web. 11 May 2016.

"Congress Passes Civil War Conscription Act." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 11 May 2016.

"U.S. Capitol Visitor Center." U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Web. 11 May 2016.

"The History Engine." History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research. Web. 11 May 2016.

Modern Day Segregation?

In unit 1 of my class, Policy, we focused a lot on the Legislative Branch, such as who runs it, who makes it up, and what they have to do with making policies. For an FE we went to a city council meeting in Chicago, this was to audit a meeting they would have and see if what kind of stuff they like to discuss. For the action project we had to pick an issue that we were interested in, and then write a letter to a government official about the issue. I chose to pick gentrification because it is a very confusing topic, of whether it is good or bad in the long run. Also, I chose to write to Governor Rauner, because gentrification is a big issue in Illinois, and mainly Chicago. Something I liked about this project was that these letters are actually being sent to the government officials, which shows that we will possibly be heard.

                                                                                                            

April 25th, 2016

Governor Bruce Rauner:

Office of the Governor

207 State House

Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Rauner,

What would you think if you were literally forced out of your house, because of other people’s likings? Everywhere more cities are growing, becoming more middle class suitable, with tensions of race and culture rising. Well this all has to do with gentrification, something that is happening a lot and needs to changed or altered to become a good thing.  

Gentrification is tearing neighborhoods apart, and leading to many problems, like racial tensions. People are being forced out of their homes, because they can no longer afford it. It has made racial tensions grow because neighborhoods become whiter and push different races out to another area. The website Governing says, “Neighborhoods gentrifying since 2000 recorded population increases and became whiter, with the share of non-Hispanic white residents increasing an average of 4.3 percentage points.” - Miciag, Mike. "Gentrification in America Report." Gentrification in America Report. Feb. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. Also the people that previously lived there are the ones that have made the neighborhood what is it, and are the ones that made it so good. Then soon, because of rising prices they will eventually be kicked out. PBS says, “Earlier residents may feel embattled, ignored, and excluded from their own communities. New arrivals are often mystified by accusations that their efforts to improve local conditions are perceived as hostile or even racist.” - "Flag Wars." PBS. PBS, 17 July 2003. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. This is true, and as I said makes more tensions grow, because the people that built everything are being ignored by the new people. Then because of the price increase the people that wanted and liked that the neighborhood was shaping up, they, because of the new people rising prices, are eventually bought out. How Stuff Works said, “While long-time residents may benefit initially from cleaner, safer streets and better schools, they are eventually priced out of renting or buying.” - Roos, Dave. "How Gentrification Works." HowStuffWorks. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. This says what I said, but it is true, and we need something to stop this from happening.

Now I am a person who lives in a middle class neighborhood, and the majority of the people that live in my neighborhood are white are white. I look around and I barely ever see anyone of another race, and I always ask why can’t those people live here, or why can’t they go to another neighborhood like mine. I have learned it’s because they can’t afford it, they have been pushed out of all the areas slowly through generations to the point where they now have their own part of the city, that is very bad. I know many people that can’t live in certain places because it has become too expensive for them, and they have literally pushed, even when fighting not to, to live in a certain area. What I am saying is sounding a lot like segregation, no? People having to go from one place to another, just because people with more money think that this area is better for them. Maybe they don’t physically kick you out, but it’s time that does it, it gets to the point where they can’t deal with the prices of everything around them. It’s like when a new piece of technology comes out, which is an area being gentrified, it takes over the older pieces of technology, the people previously living there, and soon the old pieces are pushed away to go somewhere else. I think we really need to show how bad gentrification is, and show what it does to people that live in certain areas.

You might be wondering, then what should we do? Well I have a plan, there should be a policy put in place that says if an a neighborhood grows to the point where it can, by definition be called gentrification, the people living their beforehand, that were lower than middle class, can have the option of buying/renting property at the original property rate. The owner of the property that was there first also gets a bigger tax rate savings.

Now I can see how gentrification could be good, it does get ride of crime in more areas, and cleans up the neighborhood to look better for everyone living there. It also opens up better places to eat, better education, and better places to live that are very visually appealing. But how should we let all that happen, and not let the people that were originally there have some of that, and let them stay for the original price they were paying. Because once they basically forced out, they will have to go to neighborhood that even worse than the one they were previously in, making it worse for food options, education, and job opportunities.

I, a student, leave off by saying that we need this policy, were people that are lower than middle class can have the option to pay the original price, not only for the people that are being forced out, but for everyone in the community, to be a better one. To have school with true diversity, and culture, where the kids can grow in a great environment. Where this policy will end the race tensions, and bring everyone together and learn to respect each other. To have it where people can have fresh groceries and not depend on cheap junk food. To really end our modern day segregation issue.

Sincerely,

NVA