Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Politics, Populists, and Progressives

Learning Target (20A)

  • Objective: Students will be able to identify factors that led to a realignment of political parties at the turn of the 20th century.

Politics in the “Gilded Age”

  • Electoral Participation:

    • High levels of voter participation.

    • Neither the Democratic nor Republican party dominated; control of Congress and the presidency shifted back and forth.

  • Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883):

    • Aimed to combat corruption and patronage in government positions.

    • Introduced merit-based hiring for government jobs following the assassination of President James A. Garfield.

  • Challenges to Congressional Power:

    • Congressional actions were often undermined by the Supreme Court:

    • Interstate Commerce Commission: Poor enforcement of regulations.

    • Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): Largely used against labor unions rather than monopolies.

The Populist Program

  • Origin:

    • Emerged from farmers’ alliances that sought political power in response to economic struggles.

    • Achieved some electoral success by winning several state legislatures.

  • Omaha Platform (1892):

    • Called for:

    • Public ownership of railroads and telegraph systems.

    • Looser monetary policy to increase money supply.

    • Graduated income tax to tax wealthier individuals at higher rates.

    • Popular election of senators as a means to increase direct democracy.

    • Presidential Nomination: Nominated James Weaver who garnered over 1 million votes.

The Panic of 1893

  • Economic Collapse:

    • Economic depression began in 1893 coinciding with Grover Cleveland’s reelection.

    • Resulted in high unemployment, widespread starvation, and homelessness.

  • Jacob Coxey’s Proposal:

    • Advocated for government public-works programs to mitigate the effects of the depression.

    • Led a march on Washington with an “Army” of unemployed, but they were arrested and sent to detention camps.

  • Cleveland's Stance:

    • Rejected government intervention to address social or economic challenges during the economic crisis.

The Solid South

  • Disfranchisement of Black Voters:

    • The Populist movement’s rise led to increasing disenfranchisement of Black voters through:

    • Poll taxes.

    • Literacy tests.

    • Intimidation and violence.

  • Convict Leasing:

    • Exploited system whereby 90% of leased convicts were African American, deepening racial exploitation and injustice.

  • Democratic Control:

    • Democrats maintained near-total control over Southern politics during the “Jim Crow” era, resulting in deteriorating race relations and an increase in lynching.

The Election of 1896

  • Democratic Nominee:

    • William Jennings Bryan, who adopted a Populist message characterized by his famous “Cross of Gold” speech advocating for a bi-metallic standard (the use of both gold and silver as currency).

  • Republican Nominee:

    • William McKinley, whose campaign was managed by Mark Hanna and supported by big businesses.

    • Conducted a “front porch” campaign that was effective.

  • Electoral Dynamics:

    • The disfranchisement of immigrant voters played a significant role in McKinley's victory.

Learning Target (20B)

  • Objective: Students will be able to identify the goals and accomplishments of Progressive Era reformers at the city, state, and federal levels of government.

Teddy Roosevelt’s “Square Deal”

  • Presidential Ascension:

    • Became president following McKinley's assassination in 1901 and pursued a progressive agenda aimed at addressing social and economic issues.

  • Support for Labor:

    • Advocated for labor rights, notably during the 1902 coal strike where he intervened on behalf of striking workers.

  • Trust-Busting:

    • His administration targeted monopolistic practices:

    • Enforced existing laws against large corporations, notably the Northern Securities Company and Standard Oil.

    • Supported regulations like the Hepburn Act (1906), which regulated railroad rates and included consumer protection laws.

Roosevelt’s Legacy

  • Conservation Efforts:

    • Established the U.S. Forest Service in 1905 and enacted the National Reclamation Act of 1902, resulting in the preservation of over 200 million acres of land.

  • Race Relations:

    • Roosevelt’s cautious approach to racial issues included the controversial invitation of Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House.

  • Successor Selection:

    • Handpicked William Howard Taft as his successor for the 1908 presidential election.

Diverse Progressive Goals

  • State-Level Initiatives:

    • States implemented progressive policies based on social science research spearheaded by reformers like Robert La Follette, who pushed the “Wisconsin Idea.”

    • Expanded democracy through mechanisms such as recall, referendum, initiative, and direct primaries, although disfranchisement of certain groups persisted.

    • The passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913 allowed for the direct election of senators, reflecting changing attitudes towards democracy.

  • Child Labor Advocacy:

    • The National Child Labor Committee, established in 1907, conducted investigations into child labor practices, leading to legislative reforms.

  • Muller v. Oregon (1908):

    • Supreme Court decision that upheld the law establishing a 10-hour workday for women, an important stride for labor laws.

Civil Rights and Labor Rights

  • W.E.B. DuBois and the Niagara Movement:

    • This movement called for full racial equality, reacting against the increasingly moderate approaches that had been undermined by rampant racial violence.

    • Resulted in the formation of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in 1909.

  • Labor Union Activity:

    • Labor unions experienced a surge in militancy following multiple setbacks; the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), founded in 1905, aimed to represent unskilled and immigrant laborers.

The Election of 1912

  • Campaign Focus:

    • Campaigns highlighted progressive principles, emphasizing reforms to improve social and economic conditions.

  • Candidates:

    • Taft: Held the Republican nomination.

    • Roosevelt: Created the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party, advocating for new nationalism.

    • Wilson: Nominated by the Democrats, supported progressive reforms.

    • Eugene Debs: Ran as a Socialist candidate.

  • Election Dynamics:

    • The Republican vote became split due to Taft and Roosevelt, allowing Wilson to win the Electoral College easily.

Progressivism Under Wilson

  • Economic Reforms:

    • Lowered tariffs and initiated an income tax under the 16th Amendment (1913) to finance government activities.

    • Federal Reserve Act (1913): Reorganized the nation’s banking system to provide greater stability and prevent financial panics.

    • Federal Trade Commission (1914): Established to oversee business activity and enforce regulations.

  • Workers’ Rights:

    • Laws related to workers’ rights were passed, although the right to organize remained largely unprotected.

  • Racial Policies:

    • Wilson's administration was marked by an undermining of racial progress; he appointed open racists to his Cabinet and supported segregation policies in federal offices and government institutions.