Wilson Politics 1890-1920

‘new freedom’

used to describe Wilson’s domestic reform programme which wanted better economic conditions for labour, farmers & small businesses, reduced tariffs and regulation of trusts

the triple wall of privilege

• trusts

• banks

• tariffs

Federal reserve Act

1913 - created the first central banking system in the US, 12 banking districts under the supervision of the Federal Reserve Board

Federal Reserve conditions

• all banks participating had to invest 6% of their surplus in the reserve bank

• federal reserve could lend money to members at rediscount rates - supply of money no longer fully dependent on gold in the federal reserve

• MORE CENTRALISED SYSTEM

by 1923, banks join the federal reserve

70% of all US banks

Federal Trade Commission

1914 - investigated corporations and stopped unfair practices

• under Wilson the FTC issued 400 cease-and-desist orders

• established an important principle of federal regulation of business

Clayton Anti Trust Act

1914 - gave more powers to those enforcing the Sherman Anti Trust Act

• Gompers called it a ‘magna carta’ for the labour cause

Underwood Tariff

1913 - significantly reduced many duties on wool, iron, steel, food etc

• seen as an attack on business

• loss of gov. revenue compensated by income tax

income tax/16th amendment

initially only paid by those with an income over $4,000

Revenue Act

1916 - expanded income taxation into business profits and estates as well

by 1917, gov was receiving more money on income tax than it ever had from tariffs

Federal Child Labour Act

1916 - dealt with 2 million children under 16 in work

made goods from child labour barred in interstate commerce

BUT found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1918

Workmen’s compensation Act

1916 - ensured federal employees absent from work due to illness/injury received financial assistance

Adamson Act

1916 - maximum 8hr day for railroad workers

Coal Miners’ Strike, Colorado

1913 - Wilson shows little support to trade unions, and sends federal troops to break down the strike

treatment of African Americans

• on racial matters Wilson appeased Conservative Southern democrats

• placed segregationists in charge of federal agencies, expanding racial segregation in governmen/washington

• screened 1915’s Birth of a Nation in the White House

• his actions upset NAACP, who hoped Wilson would help

1916 election

a narrow win for Wilson, campaigned on the slogan ‘he kept us out of the war’

Republicans seemed less divided than the 1912 election with the splinter party, now had a moderate candidate

evidence Wilson was not that progressive

• after 1914, few reforms took place for the next 6 years

• little done on the welfare front

• opposed anti-lynching legislation & did not oppose segregation