Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad

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Chapter 29

• Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad
• 1912-1916

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1912 Election

• Democrats nominated Woodrow Wilson
• Platform New Freedom
• 3rd party formed- The Progressive Party (Bull
  Moose Party)
• TR nominated at Chicago convention
• Platform New Nationalism
• Based on Herbert Croly The Promise of American
  Life
• Wilson won with 435 EV (41 of popular vote) to
  TRs 88 EV and Tafts 8
• TaftTR1.25 million more votes than Wilson
• Real winner progressivism
• 1912 election death to Bull Moose party

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GOP Divided by Bull Moose Equals Democratic
Victory, 1912
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President Wilson

• Wilson intellectual and standoffish
• Idealistic about humanity, stubborn in own
  convictions no compromise
• Born in pre-Civil War Virginia somewhat
  sympathetic to Southern cause? self determination
• Jeffersonian, loved words and gave powerful
  speeches
• Role of president leader of Congress and the
  people

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Tariff Reform

• Triple Wall of Privilege tariff, banks and
  trusts
• Wanted a lower tariff? Underwood Tariff Bill
• Reduce tariff rate and establish a graduated
  income tax (after 16th amendment)
• Used public opinion to push through
• By 1917 more revenue from income tax than the
  tariff

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Bank Reform

• Needed a national banking system (problems with
  elasticity from 1907 Panic)
• 1908 commission headed by Senator Nelson Aldrich?
  Aldrich Plan
• People feared the Money Trusts!
• Congressional hearings on power of the Money
  Trusts by Congressman Arsene Pujo
• Modifications to Aldrich Plan needed
• Federal Reserve Act of 1913
• 12 regional reserve districts, board appointed by
  President, acted independent afterward
• Issue Federal Reserve Notes
• Expand and contract economy as necessary

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Trust Busting- Wilson Style!

• Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914
• Monopolies using unfair trade practices
• Consumer protection
• The Clayton Anti Trust Act of 1914
• Expand on Sherman Anti Trust Act
• Exempted labor unions and agricultural
  organizations (close loophole)
• Didnt necessarily stop the courts from attacking
  unions in coming years

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Wilsons Foreign Policy

• Wilsonanti imperialist
• Repeal of Panama Canal Tolls Act
• Passed Jones Act of 1916
• Changed policies with execution of Hatian
  president
• Marines occupied until 1934
• 1915 Dominican Republic

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The United States in the Caribbean, 18981941
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Pancho Villa with His Ragtag Army in Mexico,
ca. 1916His daring, impetuosity, and
horsemanship made Villa a hero to the masses of
northern Mexico. Yet he proved to be a violent
and ineffective crusader against social abuses,
and he was assassinated in 1923.
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WWI in Europe

• System of alliances in Europe
• Franz Ferdinand assassinated 1914
• Austria-Hungary allied with Germany
• Serbia allied with Russia (slavic)
• France allied with Russia? Germany attacked
  France through Belgium
• Great Britain sided with France and Russia
• Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman
  Empire, Bulgaria
• Allied Powers France, GB, Russia, Serbia, Japan,
  Italy, Belgium
• US determined to stay neutral

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US Neutrality

• GB and US share a common language? British
  propaganda
• 11 million people in US had direct ties to
  Central Powers? fatherland!
• Business profited from war
• Germany blockaded by GB, could only trade with
  Allies!
• February 1915 unrestricted submarine warfare
• May 7, 1915 Lusitania sunk (128 Americans)
• The Arabic and The Sussex
• Germany Sussex Pledge

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British Military Area (declared November 3, 1914)
and German Submarine War Zone (declared February
4, 1915)
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1916 Election

• Progressives tried to nominate TR refused
• Republicans nominated SC Justice Charles Evans
  Hughes (entice Progressives back to party)
• Platform against Democrat tariff, attack on
  trusts and the pacifism of Wilson? military
  preparedness
• Straddled the fence
• Wilson for the Democrats He kept us out of war
• Hughes won eastern states, Wilson won South and
  west
• Came down to California with 3,800 votes

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Presidential Election of 1916 (with electoral
vote by state) Wilson was so worried about being
a lame duck president in a time of great
international tensions that he drew up a plan
whereby Hughes, if victorious, would be appointed
secretary of state, Wilson and the vice president
would resign, and Hughes would thus succeed
immediately to the presidency.