Wilsonian Progressivism At Home And Abroad Chapter 29

Wilsonian Progressivism At Home And Abroad Chapter 29 American Pageant, 13 th ed.

The Emergence Of Woodrow Wilson n n Democrats were thrilled about Republican split Dems nominate Dr. Woodrow Wilson, a militant progressive President of Princeton, instituted sweeping educational reforms Governor of New Jersey; ignored party bosses

Woodrow Wilson Eloquent with a strong moral streak; unwilling to compromise matters of principle n Appealed to the people n In 1912 Democrats nominated him when Bryan swung his support to Wilson n Ø “New Freedom” platform: anti-trusts, banking reform, lower tariffs

The Bull Moose Campaign n Roosevelt not ready to give up the fight New Progressive Party nominates him as their candidate Roosevelt and Taft rhetoric

Which type of Progressivism to choose? n TR’s New Nationalism Active government role in economic & social reform Ø Consolidation of trusts Ø Favored women’s suffrage Ø Minimum wage laws Ø n Wilson’s New Freedom Favored small enterprise Ø Monopoly free markets Ø Favored competition Ø Anti-trust laws Ø *In the course of campaigning TR was shot in Milwaukee by John Schrank; the bullet went through manuscript of speech & gave TR a superficial wound. “You see, it takes more than that to kill a bull moose”~TR

Presidential Election of 1912

Meaning of Wilson’s Win? n n n Wilson wins with 41% of popular vote Taft-TR combined had 1. 2 Million more votes Progressives (Wilson and Roosevelt) together got far more votes than Taft Ø n n Thus, Progressivism was the winner! Wilson wins because Republicans split the vote A minority President

Wilson: The Idealist In Politics n n n n Wilson is second Democratic president since 1861 First Southerner (VA & GA) in the White House since Taylor Moving orator, but cold personally Student of government; professor of political science Believed in being strong president Intellectual Liked Jim Crow

Wilson Tackles The Tariff n n n Triple wall of privilege: tariffs, banks & trusts Addressed Congress with vigor & eloquence The House passed the Underwood Tariff Bill Reduction of rates Ø Began limited income tax on incomes over $3000 Ø Thank you 16 th amendment “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration. ” Ø

Wilson Battles The Bankers n n US financial system is out of date Most serious problem is the inelasticity of the currency money reserves heavily concentrated in NY and a few other large cities Ø could not be mobilized easily to places under financial stress Ø n n The Republicans favored a Third Bank of the United States with 15 branches Wilson opted for a decentralized bank in federal hands

Federal Reserve Act n n n Federal Reserve Act: most important piece of economic legislation between the Civil War and the New Deal Federal Reserve Board monitored 12 regional districts each with a central bank Banker’s banks

The President Tames The Trusts n Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 Ø Get rid of unfair trade practices & unlawful competition n Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 Ø Strengthened Sherman Anti-Trust Act by lengthening the list of unfair trade practices Ø Provisions on strikes and picketing – it’s ok

Wilson Progressivism At High Tide n n n n Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 Warehouse Act of 1916 Highway Construction Ag extension work in state colleges La Follette Seamen’s Act (wages on merchant chips) Workingmen’s Compensation Act of 1916 Restriction on child labor on products in interstate commerce Adamson Act of 1916 (8 hr day on railroads)

Wilson’s Blind Spot n n n Wilson’s one failure in broadening the rights of the downtrodden was Blacks He increased segregation in the Civil Service and generally had a very blind eye—even a hostile eye—toward concerns of blacks regarding civil rights Proclaimed Birth of a Nation an important insight into history

New Directions In Foreign Policy n n Wilson’s had a much different view of foreign policy than either Roosevelt or Taft Attitude toward TR’s “big-stickism” and American imperialism = no, thanks Attitude toward dollar diplomacy = no, thanks Wilson looked at foreign policy issues through the lens of a moralist Ø Ironically, he intervened in foreign countries MORE than had Roosevelt of Taft.

Wilson Foreign Policy n n Jones Act of 1916: Philippines was a territory & would be independent w/a stable government in place Wilson continued Republican policy of intervening in Caribbean affairs Ø n Sent the Marines into Haiti & Dominican Republic in 1915 to settle riots Wilson purchased the Virgin Islands in the West Indies from Denmark in 1917

Caribbean Intervention

Moralistic Diplomacy In Mexico n n American $’s at work in Mexico Mexican people are poor & revolt 1913 General Victoriano Huerta becomes president; Wilson refuses to recognize him Carranza and Pancho Villa (rivals of Huerta) were armed by US to overthrow Huerta

Moralistic Diplomacy In Mexico n Tampico incident 1914 Ø n n US sailors arrested but released; wanted Mexico to have a 21 -gun salute – refused Wilson sends Navy to seize Vera Cruz Carranza & Huerta are angered Huerta is captured & drinks himself to death Carranza is now el Presidente

Moralistic Diplomacy In Mexico n n n Villa is main opponent; captures & kills 16 Americans who were passing through Mexico (1915) Villa goes to Columbus, NM & murdered 19 Americans Both a taunt to Wilson & a challenge to Carranza

US Invasion of Mexico n n n Wilson & Americans are outraged General goes across the border to capture Villa Pershing chases Villa across Northern Mexico but can’t find him Ø n Mexicans love seeing the inept Americans floundering around in the desert Wilson withdraws in 1917 as war for America looms in Europe

Road to WWI n In a nutshell: Ø Ø Ø Ø Gavrilo Princip (Serbian) killed Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungarian “empire” in Sarajevo, Bosnia in June 28, 1914 Austrians blame Serbia & send ultimatum backed by Germany Serbia is backed by Russia, which border Germany & A-H France mobilizes on Germany’s other side Germans strike at France through Belgium England enters the war against Germans Japan eventually comes in against Germany, as well n Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria n Allies: France, Russia, Britain, Japan

A Precarious Neutrality n n n US population overwhelmingly in support of Allies and staying out of the war Wilson saw himself as the neutral arbitrator above the fray and hoped to be called upon to negotiate a peace He calls for “peace without victory”

America Earns Blood Money n Orders from European nations quickly snap us out of recession and starts a business boom Ø US banks provide a great deal of financing to the Allies Shipping causes strain with combatants n US trade is a much greater benefit to Allies than Axis n British Blockade n

U-Boats n n n Feb. 1915 German U-Boat war around the British Isles Sank merchant ships headed to England without warning German actions violate international law Ø n Germans pledge no unrestricted submarine warfare In the early months of 1915 German U-boats sink about 90 ships.

Lusitania n May 1915 Germans sink the British passenger liner the Lusitania. Ø Ø Ø 1198 killed including 128 Americans It was secretly carrying munitions in cargo compartment US public outraged

Sussex Pledge n n n Americans on the east coast started drumming for war; but Midwest is very isolationist Wilson does not want war TR tried to push Wilson into the war Wilson’s warning to Germany. German Sussex Pledge Ø “We will not sink unarmed and unresisting passenger ships…without warning. ”

Wilson Wins Reelection In 1916 n n n Wilson faced a tough battle in 1916 Progressive renominate TR, but he refuses to run Republicans nominate Charles Evans Hughes is a poor candidate who tailors his rhetoric concerning the war depending on his audience Wilson runs on the slogan, “He kept us out of war” Wilson wins narrowly

Election of 1916

Citations n n n Wilsonian progressivism at home and abroad. (2011). Retrieved on February 13, 2011 from www. theindependentschool. com/cmsassets/. . . /3817 -630860. ch 29. ppt Images http: //www. blog 4 history. com/2010/05/woodrow-wilson-americanprogressive/ http: //www. woodrowwilsonhouse. org/timeline/Image. Display. asp? ID=46 http: //www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic-art/96883/36667/Venustiano. Carranza-1910 http: //www. freedomarchives. org/La_Lucha_Continua/Pancho_Villa. html