From the Radio Free Michigan archives ftp://141.209.3.26/pub/patriot If you have any other files you'd like to contribute, e-mail them to bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu. ------------------------------------------------ [This is the most recent version of a "timeline" I'm working on to show famous (and infamous) moments in the history of the North American continent in regards to the freedom enjoyed by individuals. Any corrections, additions, etc., are highly welcomed and encouraged. Any offers of assistance to convert it into some form(s) of hypertext (HTML?) would also be greatly appreciated, naturally.] Descent Into Hell, or, Moments in American History: Statism v. Freedom August 1994, Revision 1.4 [Note: I note violations of rights in that the action violated rights, or that it violated certain sections of the Constitution. Note that I do not endorse the Constitution, and view it as a collectivist usurpation over all individuals. Just so you know. :)] [pre-1400's; Indian "legislation" and justice system -- need more on this!] [1492-1776; colonial -- need more here too!] 1676 - Bacon's Rebellion [here too!] [okay, the detail starts now, honest...] 1775 - Beginning of War for Independence. Congress begins issuing fiat paper and claiming it to be lawful money. 1776 - Declaration of Independence. 1779 - Congress passes the $200,000,000 mark in amount of paper "money" printed since 1775. 1781 - Articles of Confederation adopted. - Alexander Hamilton: "A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing. It will be a powerful cement of our union." Spoken like a true Federalist (i.e., closet collectivist). - Congress asks for permission to levy a duty of 5% on all imported goods (to pay off the principal and interest of war debts); the amount asked for is limited, but the grant is to be of indefinite duration. Rhode Island refuses ratification. 1787 - Constitution usurps Articles of Confederation as government edict, showing the tendency of Constitional Conventions to exceed their original mandate. The statists (Federalists) score quite a coup here; the Constitution creates a government much larger and more powerful than before, and with powers of taxation far beyond the original pitiful claims of the British Crown. 1791 - United States Bank formed, with a 20-year charter. Thomas Jefferson writes "Against the Constitutionality of a National Bank". 1794 - Whiskey Rebellion. Protest by farmers over corn liquor tax suppressed by overwhelming force under the command of Dictator George Washington. All but two farmers are acquitted by juries, and George "graciously" pardons them. 1798 - Alien and Sedition Acts; violate 1st Amendment; establishes 1st half of 4th plank of Communist Manifesto ("Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels"). 1801 - On Thomas Jefferson's recommendation, the federal duty on liquor is abolished. 1811 - Charter of United States Bank expires. 1816 - Second United States Bank established, again with a 20-year charter. 1825 - The Thomas Jefferson, 10 Wheat. 428. The Supreme Court states that the federal admiralty jurisdiction is subject to the same restrictions as under English law, that is, to the high seas and rivers only as far as the ebb and flow of the tide extend. 27 years later, they will reverse this, opening the door to a tidal wave of statist incursion... 1832 - Worcester v. Georgia (6 Pet. 515). The State of Georgia violates federal treaties to exercise unlawful jurisdiction over the Cherokees, and instead of stepping in, President Jackson compels the "voluntary" removal of Indians (the infamous "Trail of Tears"). When the Cherokees file suit in order to obtain a judicial remedy, the Supreme Court holds that the Constitution bars Georgia from extending its laws over Indian lands, and rules invalid the arrest and imprisonment by the state of two missionaries working with the Cherokees. Georgia defies the Court and refuses to release the imprisoned missionaries. Jackson is reported to have said that John Marshall had made his decision, now let him enforce it, but this may be only apocryphal. Even so, it accurately describes Jackson's apathy, further confirmed by his statement that "The decision of the supreme court has fell still born, and they find that it cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its mandate." 1835 - During these two years, the national debt is a mere $38,000, down 1836 - from over 91 million in 1820. Interest: ZERO. 1836 - Establishment of the Independence of Texas 1837 - Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (11 Pet. 420) is decided. In it, the Taney Court states that where the rights of private property "conflict with those of the community", the latter must be paramount. 1841 - "Dorr Rebellion"; royal governor declares martial law, calls out the militia to suppress lawful Republican elections and goes running to the Federal government for promises of military backing. President Tyler, expressly recognizing the charter government as the rightful government of the state, confirms that he will use armed force if provoked, causing the "rebellion" to die out. A few years later, in Luther v. Borden, the Supreme Court says whether the government is Republican in nature or not is a "political question" (sound familiar?), that the guarantee in the Constitution of "a Republican form of government" is to be provided by Congress. Another case of charging the fox to watch the henhouse... 1845 - Annexation of Texas (oh well, it was fun while it lasted, huh?) 1845 - New York State prohibits the public sale of liquor. 1847 - New York State repeals the prohibition on public sale of liquor. 1848 - Child Labor Act says children may only work with State approval 1852 - The Genessee Chief v. Fitzhugh [12 How. 443]. A damage suit is brought in federal court under an 1845 statute which extends federal admiralty jurisdiction to the Great Lakes and connecting navigable waters. This reverses the 1825 "The Thomas Jefferson" case. 1857 - Dred Scott decision says "niggers ain't got no rights". This decision can be generally explained as overwhelming fear on the part of most of the idiots in the country that if blacks have rights, that includes the right to keep and bear arms. Guns in the hands of the darkies, oh gosh, we can't have that! (Of course, there are plenty of other factors at work here; for example, many of those early gun-control [people-control] laws only outlawed CHEAP guns... i.e., ones that the Joe Sixpacks, the poor folks of that time, could afford...to the effect that only rich people could afford to own firearms when those laws were enforced.) 1868 - 14th Amendment; removal of allodial land titles, allowing only "equitable interests" in land and property; creation of new class of "citizens" without rights, only privileges; establishes 1st plank of Communist Manifesto (Abolition of property [rights] in land) 1870 - Hepburn v. Griswold [8 Wall. 603]. A bare majority declares the Legal Tender Acts unconstitutional...a grace period all too brief. On the very day the decision is announced, President Grant appoints two new Justices [Strong and Bradley] who are known to support the Acts. After they take their seats, the Court again permits argument on their validity, in the Legal Tender Cases [12 Wall. 457 (1871)]...and of course, Justices Strong and Bradley, plus the Hepburn dissenters, make up a new majority. 1887 - Interstate Commerce Commision Act; establishes 1st half of 6th plank of Communist Manifesto (Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state) 1890 - Sherman Anti-Trust Act makes it illegal to go into business. (No matter what sort of person you really are, as far as any *real* people are concerned, the more money you make, the more of a bastard you are... crude populism at best, liberal guilt for the majority of boomer-age folks, and easily manipulated rhetoric practically pre-made by politicians as justification for ANY sort of horrid law, as long as they can convince the sheeple that only "the bad guys" (i.e., rich people) will get screwed. And of course, in the long run, *everyone* gets screwed. And pretty royally, at that.) 1894 - Democratic-Populist Congress passes a law taxing income, but exempting incomes of less than $4,000; it is widely attacked as a deterrent to thrift and ownership of property. 1903 - Coca-Cola switches from cocaine to caffeine 1906 - Food and Drugs Act 1908 - Aldrich-Vreeland Bill "authorizes" Secretary of Treasury to issue $500 million of federal notes to banks free of charge, as well as paying them interest on the securities upon which the circulation of notes is based. Debate on the Bill is limited to three hours, and members are permitted to see it only if they agree in advance to support it. 1909 - Prohibition of importation of opium. 1913 - Federal Reserve System (theft through control of 'money' supply), together with the "16th Amendment" (direct income theft); establishes 2nd plank of Communist Manifesto (A heavy progressive or graduated income tax) and 5th plank (Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and exclusive monopoly). - 17th Amendment; violates Article 4, Section 4 of Constitution which guarantees "A Republican form of Government" 1914 - Harrison Narcotic Act; controls sale of opium and its derivatives 1916 - Estate tax; establishes 3rd plank of Communist Manifesto (Abolition of all right of inheritance) 1917 - War controls, tax increases 1919 - 18th Amendment (Volstead Act; alcohol prohibition) 1924 - Heroin manufacture prohibited 1930 - Federal Bureau of Narcotics established - FDR elected; promises to reduce to taxes by 25%; ends up raising taxes by 3,000%. One of his first acts is the Gold Reserve Act, giving him the "authority" to devalue the dollar, impound all gold, turn it over to the Federal Reserve, and prohibit citizens from owning it. In effect, the bill transfers title to the gold to the Fed, and makes the U.S. Treasury the gold's actual physical custodian. 1933 - Prohibition repealed (yeah, big deal... we just stole all your money, now we need you to all get really, really drunk and not notice...) - House Joint Resolution 133 (goodbye gold standard! hello, alcohol! hardly miss the gold yet? you'll forget about it soon, anyway...) 1934 - The Communications Act; establishes Federal Communications Commission; establishes 2nd half of 6th plank (Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state) 1935 - Socialist Insecurity Act (more income theft) 1937 - Marijuana Tax Act 1942 - WW2 controls & taxes [more detail!] 1964 - "Johnson slugs" 1968 - Public Law 90-269 (goodbye silver!) 1970 - Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) enables seizure of property without due process; with Sedition Act, establishes 4th plank of Communist Manifesto (Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels) 1972 - Complete split of FRN's from gold by Richard Nixon [1972-present: need more!] Still need to add: - [ Hoover's New Deal & Smoot-Hawley tariffs? ] - [ FDR's taxes & 2nd amendment infringement & prohibition phase 2? ] - [ Title 17 Health and Safety Code -- zoning/public school taxes? This is other half of 1st Plank, along with 14th Amendment ] - [ Post-1972 developments in the "War on (Some) Drugs" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Planks of Communist Manifesto not yet added to above: 7) Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of wastelands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. 90's version: Anti-Trust Acts; Dept. of Commerce & Labor; Dept. of Agriculture; Dept. of Interior (Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Mines, National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service) Accomplished: est. 1902; 1903; 1862; 1849. 8) Equal liability of all to labor for the national debt; establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. 90's version: "Two income families" (inflation, nat'l debt); Women's Suffrage; Affirmative Action; Socialist Unions; Int'l Workers of the World Accomplished: Women in workforce since 1920's (19th Amendment); Civil Rights Act of 1964; est. 1869; est. 1905. 9) Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a "more equitable distributiuon" of the population over the country. 90's version: National Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union Accomplished: 1870-1900's (Title 17 "zoning") 10) Free education for all children in public schools, abolition of children's factory labor, combination of education with industry. 90's version: State run, tax financed schools; socialized "progressive" education; Child Labor Act (children only work with state approval); abolition of private education. Accomplished: Horace Mann (1837-1848); John Dewey (1870-1910); est. 1848. ** end ------------------------------------------------ (This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the Radio Free Michigan archives by the archive maintainer. All files are ZIP archives for fast download. E-mail bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu)