Chapter 29 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad

Chapter 29 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad, 1912– 1916

I. The “Bull Moose” Campaign of 1912 • Republicans nominate Howard Taft • Progressives (Bull Moose) = Theodore Roosevelt – New Nationalism philosophy • Favored continued consolidation of trusts & labor unions • Increased regulatory agencies in Washington • Campaigned for woman suffrage & more social welfare • Democrats nominate Woodrow Wilson – New Freedom program • Called for stronger antitrust legislation • Banking reform • Tariff reduction

p 662

II. Woodrow Wilson: A Minority President • 1912 Election returns Wilson(D) Electoral 435 Popular 6, 296, 547 TR(P) 88 4, 118, 571 Taft(R) 8 3, 484, 720 – Democrats won a majority in Congress – Socialists (Debs) won ~6% of vote (900, 672 votes) • Progressivism was the real winner

Map 29 -1 p 663

III. Wilson: The Idealist in Politics • The second Democratic president since 1861 • Believed in self-determination and in the masses • Wilson’s burning idealism – Desired to reform ever-present wickedness – His moral righteousness made compromise – He had a strong and inflexible personaility

IV. Wilson Tackles the Tariff • Wilson’s attacked “the triple wall of privilege” – The tariff, the banks, and the trusts – Announced in 1 st State of the Union address • The Underwood Tariff – Appealed to the people – And ‘public opinion’ worked • He secured late in 1913 final approval of the bill he wanted • Provided for a substantial reduction of rates • In 1916 the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified – Income tax would replace tariffs

IV. Wilson Tackles the Tariff (cont. ) – The Underwood Tariff: • When challenged by lobbyists, – Wilson promptly issued a combative message to the people urging them to hold their elected representatives in line • Public opinion worked: – He secured late in 1913 final approval of the bill he wanted • Provided for a substantial reduction of rates: • Land mark in tax legislation: – By the ratified Sixteenth Amendment—Congress enacted a graduated income tax beginning with a moderate levy over $3, 000 – By 1917 revenue from the income tax shot ahead of revenue from the tariffs.

p 664

V. Wilson Battles the Bankers • Banks had a antiquated & inadequate system – Developed during the Civil War – The Aldrich report recommended • Third Bank of the United States with branches • The Federal Reserve Act (1913) – Federal Reserve Board appointed by POTUS • Oversee a nationwide system of 12 reserve districts • The board could issue ‘paper money’ – Able to get nation through WWI (1914 -1918) – Created a modern banking system • Like other developed nations

p 665

VI. The President Tames the Trusts • Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) – Investigated unfair trade practices • Unlawful competition, false advertising, mislabeling, adulteration, and bribery • The Clayton Anti-Trust (1914) – Made illegal price discrimination and interlocking directorates (holding companies) – Conferred long-overdue benefits on labor: • Exempted labor/agricultural workers from anti-trust laws • Legalized strikes and peaceful picketing

VII. Wilsonian Progressivism at High Tide • • The Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) Highway construction, agricultural extension La Follette Seaman’s Act (1915) The Workingmen’s Compensation Act (1916) – For federal civil-service employees • The Adamson Act (8 hour workday)(1916) • Reformer Louis D. Brandeis to SCOTUS • Wilson didn’t try to improve treatment of blacks

VIII. New Directions in Foreign Policy • Wilson against imperialism and dollar diplomacy • The Jones Act (1916) – Promised Philippines independence when stable • His Japanese situation (1913) – Law prohibited Japanese from owning land – Feds encouraged loophole to lease land for 3 years • The Haiti political situation (1914 -1915) – Political rebellion, cruel dictator killed – Wilson dispatched marines (for 19 years) • Dominican Republic (1916) – Under American control for next 18 years • U. S. bought Virgin Islands from Denmark (1917)

p 667

IX. Moralistic Diplomacy in Mexico • Mexican revolution (1913) – Increased immigration to the U. S. – U. S. sent weapons • The Tampico Incident (1914) – U. S. sailors captured, released, but not saluted • War avoided by negotiations • “Pancho” Villa attacks Americans – In Mexico and New Mexico (Jan – Feb 1916) – General John J. (“Black Jack”) Pershing • Leads invasion of Mexico and attacked Villa troops

p 669

p 670

X. Thunder Across the Sea • Europe’s ‘powder keg’ explodes – Francis Ferdinand (A-H heir to throne) assassinated – An explosive chain reaction followed • A-H, Serbia, Russia, Germany, France, GB at war • Central Powers vs The Allies: • Americans thankful for oceans to separate us – America felt strong, snug, smug, and secure • But not for long.

XI. A Precarious Neutrality – Both sides wooed the United States • The British enjoyed: – Cultural, linguistic, and economic ties with America – The advantage of controlling the transatlantic cables • The Germans and the Austro-Hungarians – Had fewer, but more recent immigrants in the U. S. • Most Americans – Were anti-German from the outset, tool autocratic – Heavily influenced b y British propaganda – Upset b/c German spy left sabotage plans on el (1915) – Earnestly hoped to stay out of the horrible war

XII. America Earns Blood Money • 1914 U. S. business in a worrisome recession – British and French war orders helped business • Germany U-boat blockade of Grt Brit (1915) – Tried not to sink neutral ships – Lusitania sank, US passengers, 4200 cases of ammo • President’s Wilson’s Sussex ultimatum – Don’t sink passenger/merchant ships w/o warning • AKA = restricted submarine warfare • Germany accepts Sussex pledge – With a few differences

p 672

p 673

XIII. Wilson Wins Reelection in 1916 • Wilson renominated by Democrats – “He kept us out of the war” – Wilson never said we would not gol to war • Progressives nominated Theodore Roosevelt – T. R. refuses to run • Republicans nominated Tcharles Evans Hughes – Many wanted TR, ‘Old guard’ bitter about 1912 – Against lower tariff, trust attacks, Mexico & Germany • 1916 election results – Wilson wins 277 to 254 in the Electoral College

p 674

United States presidential election in California, 1916[1] Party Candidate Votes Percentage Electoral votes Democratic Woodrow Wilson 466, 289 46. 65% 13 Republican Charles Evans Hughes 462, 516 46. 27% 0 Socialist Allan L. Benson 42, 898 4. 29% 0 Prohibition J. Franklin Hanley 27, 713 2. 77% 0 No party Write-ins 187 0. 02% 0 Invalid or blank votes Totals — 999, 603 100. 00% 13

Woodrow Wilson (D) Charles Hughes (R)

p 676

9/8/2021 CH 23 - AN ERA OF SOCIAL CHANGE 38