Populism and the Progressive Era, WWI, and the Roaring 20’s (1880-1929)

Populism

movement by farmers to increase political power and work for pro-farmer legislation.

Farmers Problems

Farming Technology. increased production leading to lower prices for crops. (Agricultural Surplus). High tariffs decreased demand oversees. Deflation hurt ability to pay mortgages, buy supplies, and decreased profits of crops sold.

Morrill Land Grant Acts

(1862 & 1890) land grant for the establishment of military, engineering, and agricultural colleges. University of Florida is one example.

The Grange

nations first national farm organization. Formed "cooperatives" to better negotiate higher prices and better shipping rates with railroads. It failed but continued in The Farmers Alliance "cooperatives" (many failed due to corruption)

Granger Laws

Railroads and grain warehouses were charging unreasonably high rates to deliver agricultural goods. Laws established maximum rates in some instances, and create regulatory agencies to administer and enforce the laws. The railroads often ignored these laws.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

regulated the railroad industry, particularly its monopolistic practices. Required railroad rates be "reasonable and just," but did not empower the government to fix specific rates. It required railroads to publicize shipping rates and prohibited short haul/long haul fare discrimination, a form of price discrimination against smaller markets, particularly farmers.

The Peoples Party (Populist Party)

called for free coinage of silver to increase money supply, end of tariffs and nation banks, graduated income tax, regulation of railroads, and direct election of senators by the people.

Gold bugs

thought U.S. economy should be based on Gold supported by big business, "Silverites" (based on silver) or "bimetallisms" supported by farmers.

Greenbacks

(based on paper currency not backed by silver or gold).

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

1890, Provided for freer coinage of silver. Required the U.S. government to purchase nearly twice as much silver as before and added substantially to the amount of money already in circulation. a compromise with the advocates of free silver.

Free Silver

became a popular issue after the Panic of 1873, and was a major issue in the next 25yrs. It threatened to undermine the U.S. Treasury's gold reserves. After the panic of 1893 broke, President Cleveland called a special session of Congress and secured (1893) the repeal of the Sherman act.

The Election of 1896

Democrat/Populist William Jennings Bryan vs. Republican William McKinley. Bryan's "Cross of Gold Speech". Bryan was a dynamic speaker who campaigned tirelessly in "whistle stop" tour

Why do farmers/populists want bimetallism?

Coining silver currency = more $ in circulation =

INFLATION (more dollars chasing same amount of goods, goods cost more/money will buy less). Therefore: farmers who were in debt could pay back loans at "lower cost" and bring in more % for products. Banks would lose out, who are owned by wealthy "gold bugs".

William Jennings Bryan

(1860-1925) The "Great

Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech

You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!

1896 Election Results

Republican (McKinley) Democrat Bryan

Electoral vote total (447): 271 (61%) vs 176 (39%)

Popular vote total (13,923,102): 7,104,779 (51%) vs 6,502,925 (47%) vs minor 315,398 (2%)

Decline of Populism

McKinley wins close election, big business and industry triumphs over agriculture concerns and populists. U.S. moves towards Urbanization and away from Rural farming communities, and would never look back. In 1900, U.S. officially adopts the Gold Standard, and populism declines.

Progressivism

Many Americans believed the government should take a more active role in solving societies problems. Major focus was to improve the lives of workers (labor).

Direct election of U.S. Senators

originally elected by state legislatures. (17th amendment)

Muckrakers

crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption. (ex. Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" exposed the dark side of the meat packing industry)

Ida Tarbell

"Muckraker" or "investigative journalist". Investigated and wrote about John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company, and how they used strong-arm tactics against rivals, railroad companies and others that got in its way. Her writing led to the break-up of the oil monopoly.

Child Labor Laws

were designed to prevent the overworking of children in the newly emerging industries. The goal of these laws was to give working class children the opportunity to go to school and to mature more naturally.

Women's Suffrage Movement

women's fight to gain the right to vote.

National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA)

formed in 1869. Its founders, who opposed the Fifteenth Amendment unless it included the vote for women, were Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Alice Paul

Formed the National Woman's party.

19th Amendment

gave women the right to vote.

Theodore Roosevelt

(1901-1909) "New Nationalism" -Govt. should regulate monopolies.

Square Deal

reforms to maintain an efficient society to compete with other nations.

Arbitration

Government acting as a third party in solving disputes between business and labor. Ex. Coal strike of 1902. T.R. viewed strike as example of groups pursuing private interest at the expense of the nation.

Consumer Protection

Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act.

Conservation

Added 100 million acres of protected forest and created many parks and nature reserves.

William Howard Taft

(1909-1913) Established the Children's Bureau to investigate child labor and Bureau of Mines to monitor activities of mining companies. Only president to go to Supreme Court.

Election of 1912

Taft (Rep), Wilson (Dem), and T.Roosevelt (Progressive Party) Wilson wins electoral college as a result of the Taft/T.R. split.

Woodrow Wilson

(1913-1921) "New Freedom" trusts and monopolies should be destroyed.

Tax Reform

(income tax)- 16th Amendment made it legal for the federal government to tax the income of individuals directly.

Federal Reserve Act

Banks kept portion of deposits in regional Fed bank. Restored faith in banks, regulated interest rates, and controlled the money supply.

Federal Trade Commission

Created to guard against business using unfair trade practices that hurt competition.

Nationalism/Militarism

Intense pride of homeland. Big reason for tensions in Europe leading to war. Build up of large armies and navies as a source of national pride.

"Entangling Alliance System"

Triple Entente and Triple Alliance

Triple Entente

Britain, France, and Russia

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy.

"Central Powers"

Italy drops out

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

first declaration of war followed. (took place in the Balkans - region of southeast Europe WWI 1914-1918

Reasons for American Neutrality

Desire to stay out of a foreign war and European affairs. Wilson stated "We must be impartial in thought as well as action.' Millions of German, Italian, and Irish Americans support Germany, but most felt a bond with Great Britain and France because of historic links, democratic tradition, and language. U.S. business had stronger links to the Allies.

Women's Peace Party

Forerunner to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,) formed 1915. called for the extension of suffrage to women and for a conference of neutral countries to offer continuous mediation as a way of ending war.

Propaganda

the British spent huge amounts of money to sway U.S. opinion through the press by depicting German war atrocities.

Committee of Public Information

enforce censorship and to run a propaganda campaign promoting the war.

1915

Germany declares "unrestricted submarine warfare" against any ships around Britain. U-Boat sinks Lusitania killing 1,200 including 128 Americans.

Sussex Pledge

(1916) Germany promises U.S. they will not sink merchant ships in attempt to keep U.S. neutral. Rescinded by Germany in 1917.

Wilson's reasons for declaring war

Zimmerman Telegram (If Mexico would attack U.S., Germany would help Mex. Regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.) German unrestricted sub. warfare continues. 6U.S. merchant ships sunk. "Make the world safe for democracy". War declared on April 6, 1917.

General John J. Pershing

Commanding General of all U.S. forces in Europe. Over 2 million U.S. soldiers would serve under his command. Insisted U.S. units would not be commanded by U.K. or French officers but would operate separately.

Selective Service Act

A system of conscription (draft) created by Congress with Pres. Wilson's support. The Lottery - According to Selective Service troops would be raised by lot.

Conscientious Objectors

One who on the basis of religious or moral principles refuses to bear arms or participate in military service. Some served in non-combat roles others put in prison.

German and Italian Americans

got persecuted throughout WWl. Some violence, harassment, and business boycotted.

War Industries Board

controlled the flow of raw materials, ordered the construction of new factorles, and directed the production of war materials,

Liberty Bonds (Victory Bonds) "War Bonds"

Government borrows money from citizens to pay for war.

Victory Gardens

Citizens asked to ration (cut back, make last) food such as "Wheatless Wednesday" and Meatless Tuesdays, and plant gardens so more food is available to the troops. Also, conservation of fuel was encouraged by lowering thermostats and restricting driving.

Espionage Act and Sedition Act

(1917)- Placed expanded penalties and prison terms against spies (espionage) and made it illegal to express opposition to the war (sedition); thus curtailing civil liberties and free speech.

Schenck v. US

Schenck protested against the draft. Supreme Court upheld "Sedition Act" as anything presenting a"clear and present danger" to the public interests was illegal. (Can't shout fire in a crowded theatre) Freedom of speech could be curbed in wartime.

Role of women during WWI

work in industrial jobs on the home front, and serve in military in the Army Nursing Corps and in clerical (office) jobs over at home and over seas. (proved they could do men's jobs, but mostly returned to domestic life after war)

Role of Hispanic and Mexican immigrants

Labor shortage brings over 100k to the U.S. to provide workers on farms and ranches.

Trench Warfare

Army's lived in trenches dug into the earth for miles. Resulted mainly from the introduction of new technology of warfare like rapid fire machine guns, aircraft, and heavy artillery. "No mans land" was the area between the opposing army's trenches.

Mustard Gas

yellowish poison gas used to force enemy out of trenches.

Doughboys

nickname for American soldiers.

Convoy system

Battleships and other warships surround troop ships and supply ships to protect them from U-boats.

African American's

200k served in military but few were in combat. Most served in supporting roles such as trench digging or burying bodies.

"The Great Migration"

Wartime jobs and higher wages brought ½ million African American's to Northern cities. This greatly altered the racial makeup of man Northern Cities and "race riots" broke out where whites felt their jobs were being threatened.

Armistice

"cease fire" declared on November 11, 1918.

Wilson's 14 point plan

Sought to prevent future war by disarmament, free trade, freedom of the sees, open diplomacy, and a general association of nations or League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

Wilson's plan seen by U.K. and France as too generous. Germany punished with $33 billion in reparations and "war guilt" clause. Map of Europe re-drawn. League of Nations would be created.

U.K., France, U.S. and Italy

Treaty terms decided by Big Four

Wilson vs. Congress

Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations to avoid foreign entanglements in the future.

Impact of War

Prices rose (inflation) and cost of living went up. Many labor unions called for strikes and many became violent. African Americans competing for jobs with white men returning from war cause racial unrest.

Theoretical economic system

involving collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.

Communism (system of government)

which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

Marxist-Leninist

the version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat such as the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and creation of the Soviet Union (USSSR)

The Red Scare

Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia. Russia becomes the U.S.S.R. under Vladimir Lenin. American citizens feel threatened that the"workers revolution" may spread to U.S. Strikes and increase in union membership fuel that speculation.

April 1918

30 bombs are send through the mail and 8 explode. One was sent U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. Most think it's a communist plot.

The Palmer Raids

F.B.l. established under J. Edgar Hoover. Many suspected headquarters of radical organizations suspected of being communists or anarchists are raided, thousands are detained, and over 600 suspects are deported.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Italian immigrants were convicted and executed for a crime they may not have committed.The rise of Nativism (anti-immigrant sentiment) in theU.S. contributed to them being accused of beingAnarchists (anti-government).

Eugenics Movement

emphasized human inequality. Believed in superiority of "original" Americans of white protestant northern European descent.

National Origins Act of 1924

set immigration quotas in favor of allowing much larger% of immigrants from northern Europe. Western Hemisphere not included leading to many Mexican to move to take cheap farm jobs.

The Scopes (monkey) Trial

(Science vs. Religion) Called "trial of the century" Teaching evolution in schools was illegal in most states. Battle between creationism (Williams Jennings Bryan) vs. evolution (Most famous lawyer in U.S. Clarence Darrow).

Fundamentalism

Bryan and many Americans believed the U.S. was losing its traditional values and should move towards this or strict interpretation of bible. Results:, Scopes found guilty and fundamentalism loses ground.

18th Amendment

makes alcohol illegal, 1920. Was supported by "temperance (dry) movement."

Volstead Act

passed by Congress gives enforcement power to treasury department.

Gangsters such as Al Capone

in Chicago illegally distribute alcohol and run "speakeasies" or illegal drinking establishments. Widespread crime and violence make citizens question prohibition.

Women in the 1920's (Flappers)

some young women went against common culture and drank, wore revealing clothes, short hair, and social freedom.

Motion Pictures

became the most popular form of entertainment. (stars ex. Errol Flynn)

Baseball

"America's Pastime" The first real superstar was Babe Ruth "the sultan of swat"

Radio

Brought Americans music, entertainment, news, and mass marketing.

The Cotton Club

Harlem nightspot (speakeasy) where many A.A. entertainers started.

Jazz

distinctive American contribution to music. Bold solos and improvisation. Louis Armstrong- Considered the pioneer and greatest of the Jazz artists.

A.A. Writers

Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston (Floridian) write about African American life and experiences. This brought A.A. culture attention and convinced many that A.A. are and can be great contributors to society as a whole.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Founding father of the NAACP, battled against lynching's, and championed education efforts for A.A. Formal education was the way to equality. Felt that the Black Star Line (Ship to take A.A. to Liberia in Africa) "Marcus Garvey is, without doubt, the most dangerous enemy of the Negro race in America and in the world. He is either a lunatic or a traitor." Du Bois feared that Garvey's activities would undermine his efforts toward black rights

Marcus Garvey

founded the (UNIA) Universal Negro Improvement Association to educate, and Black Star Line to relocate A.A. to Africa.

Henry Ford

Assembly line. Lower cost per car = increased sales. Made automobile affordable to middle class. Birth of suburbs.

Consumer Goods Industry

created many new cheaply mass produced products for the home.

Consumer credit

Many goods bought on installment plans."Buy now, pay later."

Mass Advertising

magazines, newspapers, billboards, and radio ads bombarded consumers with their "must have" products for a more easy, convenient, fashionable, and fulfilling lifestyle.