Transcript presidential decisions - Sewanhaka Central High School District

PRESIDENTIAL
DECISIONS
U.S. History Regents Review
Why is President Bush “The
Decider?
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President
Bush called
himself this
while
defending
Secretary of
Defense
Donald
Rumsfeld
How does the President make decisions?
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

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He takes advice from members of his cabinet and the
White House Staff.
Laws must be passed by Congress.
Executive Orders can be issued with approval.
Treaties must be ratified by the Senate.
George Washington – Proclamation of Neutrality
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Background
During Washington’s
administration, the
French Revolution was
taking place.
The Napoleonic Wars led
to fighting between Britain
and France.
The United States was a
young nation with a new
Constitution after the
failed Articles of
Confederation.
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Decision
Washington believed it
was in our best interests
to avoid foreign affairs.
He felt that the nation
was not prepared to take
sides.
He faced opposition from
his Secretary of State
Thomas Jefferson who
believed that we should
support the French who
helped us during the
American Revolution.
Thomas Jefferson –
Louisiana Purchase
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Background
New Orleans was an
important city to ship
agricultural goods west of
the Appalachian Mountains.
Jefferson wanted to acquire
the port from the French
while Napoleon was looking
to raise money to fight his
wars in Europe.
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Decision
Jefferson sent Robert
Livingston to negotiate a
treaty with France.
Napoleon offered over
828,000 square miles for
$15 million.
This purchase doubled the
size of the United States.
Since Jefferson was a strict
interpreter of the
Constitution, he had to
change his views for this
purchase.
Jefferson sent Lewis and
Clark to explore the region.
Abraham Lincoln – The
Emancipation Proclamation
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Background
Slavery had been a major
source of political,
economic and social
conflict in the U.S. for
several decades. (Please
include any information
you know about the
abolitionist movement)
Slavery and states’ rights
were the two primary
causes of the Civil War.
Lincoln’s goal, however,
was to preserve the
Union.
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Decision
During the Civil War, Lincoln
issued the Emancipation
Proclamation.
It stated that on Jan. 1, 1863,
all slaves living in states in
rebellion would be freed. This
did NOT include the border
states (Md, De, Mi, Ky).
Had he done so, these states
likely would have joined the
Confederacy, severely
damaging Lincoln’s war
strategy.
Slavery was eventually
abolished with the 13th
amendment.
Franklin Delano
Roosevelt – Japanese
Internment
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Background
On Dec. 7, 1941 Japan
attacked the U.S. military base
in Pearl Harbor (Hawaii).
FDR responded by declaring
war against Japan, Italy and
Germany.
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Decision
FDR issued Executive Order
9066 which led to the forcible
relocation of over 100,000
Japanese-Americans. (Spies?)
Individuals were placed in
detention centers and
internment camps with
deplorable conditions.
People had to give up most of
their possessions.
Germans and Italians were not
subject to the same treatment.
Korematsu vs. U.S. – The
Supreme Court declared these
camps to be constitutional
(national security).
1988 Pres. Reagan formally
apologized and provided
reparations for survivors.
Dwight D. Eisenhower –
Little Rock Central High School
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Background
After the Civil War, the South
passed Jim Crow laws which
led to segregation.
1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson –
declared segregation
constitutional as long as
facilities were “separate but
equal.”
1954 Brown vs. Board of
Education of Topeka, Kansas
– overturned Plessy decision;
segregation was
unconstitutional.
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Decision
In 1957, nine black
students, known as the
Little Rock Nine, were
denied entrance by
Governor Orval Faubus.
Eisenhower called in 1,200
federal troops to escort
these students into school.
This demonstrated that
Eisenhower was willing to
support the civil rights
movement.