Progressivism -- 1912 election and Woodrow Wilson

Who ran under the platform of New nationalism and who ran under the platform of new freeodm?

New nationalism \= T.Roosevelt

New Freedom\= Woody Wilson

What were the key features of New Nationalism?

Strong federal govt

Regulation of large corporations, tariff reform, graduated income and inheritance taxes, greater direct demoracy

No trust-busting -- big business inevitable but should be regulated

Emphasis on achieving social justice and protecting labour rights

What were the key features of New Freedom?

Small enterprise and entrepreneurship in an unregulated, un-monopolised markets

Shunned social welfare programmes—\> states' responsibility for child welfare or conservation

Labourers to be free of federal or corporate control —\> free competition will destroy monopoly

Trust-busting to produce free markets and boost small enterprise

What are some similarities between new nationalism and new freedom?

Need for reform —\> need for separation between politics and business
Support for capitalism
Opposition to socialism !! (Russian revolution in 5 years—\> socialism a growing concern)
Need for more democracy
Need for stronger (but not radical) labour unions

What was the Underwood-Simmons Tariff?

Pushed by Wilson

achieved most significant reductions in tariff rates since the Civil War

Popular in South and West -- Wilson argued that high tariffs created monopolies and hurt consumers

Why was the Pujo Committee established? What did it do?

Congress established Pujo Committee after the Financial Panic of 1907 —\> demonstrated to public the extent to which a handful of banks controlled the nation's wealth

What was the Federal Reserve Act?

1913 --
Established 12 regional banks controlled by a Federal Reserve Board (members appointed by President)
Could adjust interest rates and nation's money supply by expanding or contracting money in circulation as it was authorised to issue currency based on govt securities and loans

most significant domestic policy of Wilson's and still provides framework for regulation of USA's banks, credit and money supply

What was the Federal Trade Commission?

A government agency established in 1914 to prevent unfair business practices and help maintain a competitive economy.

Who was Louis Brandeis?

First Jewish justice of the Supreme Court, nominated by Wilson in 1916, progressive, opposed the dominance of corporations & monopolies, powerful member of the court who lobbied for his interests behind the scenes.

What was the Adamson Act?

1916
It limited railroad employees' workdays to 8 hours.

How did Wilson retreat on civil rights?

1) Opposed Federal Anti-lynching legislation.

2) Appointed Southern Segregation Supporters to his cabinet.

3) Allowed segregation of federal offices (a step backwards as this was the first time that the federal govt had been segregated since the Civil war)

What are some direct instances pf Wilson's racism?

Screening of "Birth of a Nation" in the White House

At the Paris Peace Conference post-WW1, blocked a Japanese proposal to include racial equality as a founding principle of the League of Nations

914 Wilson threw the Civil-rights leader William Monroe Trotter out of the oval office

What gains did the Republicans make in the 1914 Congressional elections? What impact did this have?

62 seat gain
Disintegration of TR's Progressive party —\> re-emergence of a united Republican front
Democrats would need to win over TR's following to retain the Presidency

In what ways did Wilson end up adopting New Nationalism following the 1914 Congressional Elections?

Federal Farm Loan Act 1916→ set up 12 federal Land Banks to provide long-term rural credits

Kern-McGillicuddy Act—\> workmen's compensation for federal workers

Keating-Owen Act—\> first federal child-labour law

Adamson Act —\> granted railroad workers 8 hour work days—\> used by Wilson to avert a railroad worker strike

Nomination of Brandeis to the Supreme Court in 1916

What party did Roosevelt form in 1912? Why?

The Progressive (or Bull Moose) party

TR not happy that Taft had been selected as the Republican Presidential nominee

How many votes did TR's Progressive party win in 1912?

Bull Moose party won 27.4% of the popular vote and 88 electoral votes from six states. This was extraordinary for a third party.

How many votes did the Democrat party win in 1912?

Defeated both Taft and Roosevelt
41% of the popular vote —\> lowest support for any President after 1860
First Democrat to win since 1892
First Presidential candidate to relieve over 400 electoral votes (Won 40 states)

How many votes did the Republican party win in 1912?

He received 23.17% of the popular vote and 8 electoral votes (lowest amount for any Republican or Democrat candidate

How many votes did the Socialist party win in 1912?

the highest number of votes for a Socialist Party presidential candidate in the United States- but only 6% of popular vote and no electoral votes
It was stated that if Roosevelt had not run then Debs would have gained an additional half a million votes.

Why did the Democrats win in 1912?

Roosevelt running had split the Republican vote