Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad Chapter 30

Election of 1912 The Characters William Taft Theodore Roosevelt Won Rep. nomination after T.R. “withdrew” Theodore Roosevelt Progressive Party (“Bull Moose” Party) Woodrow Wilson Democrat Eugene Debs Socialist Party

Taft - Republican

Roosevelt Progressive

Wilson - Democrat

Debs - Socialist

New Nationalism v. New Freedom Both favor more active role of govt in economic and social affairs New Nationalism-Roosevelt Govt takes larger role in business regulation, women vote and fed. Assist to the needy Powerful Fed. Government = regulation of economy and promote social justice New Freedom-Wilson Smaller reformed govt., support for small business, economic competition

Woodrow Wilson – 28th president

Wilson as President Smart, academic Cold in public Led by morals Inflexible Did not compromise Anti-imperialist

“Triple Wall of Privilege” War Tariffs Underwood Tariff Bill (1913) – Reduced tariff rates, but kept prices of goods low 16th amendment – income tax Banks, he felt money supply was problem Federal Reserve Act, 1913 Trusts, curb the power of monopolies Clayton Anti-Trust Act, 1914 Federal Trade Commission Act, 1914 Samuel Gompers

The Federal Reserve Act Created Federal Reserve Board 12 regional banks that issued Federal Reserve notes (dollar bills) Made currency and credit more “elastic”-mobilized in times of financial stress

The Federal Trade Commission Act Presidential Commission examined interstate commerce laws and companies Root out unfair trade practices such as false advertising, mislabeling, consumer fraud Root out unlawful competition

Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 Outlawed interlocking directories and pure discrimination “Magna Carta” of the labor movement Exempted labor unions and agriculture from Anti-Trust laws the act specified that “the labor of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce; nothing contained in the antitrust laws shall be construed to forbid the existence and operation of labor organizations... nor shall such organizations or the members thereof be held or construed to be illegal combinations In restraint of trade under the antitrust laws.”

Wilson’s Acts...at home La Follette Seamen’s Act 1915 Fair treatment and wages on ships Federal Farm Loan Act 1916 Low interest loans to farmers Warehouse Act of 1916 Loans on the security of staple crops Workingmen’s Compensation Act 1916 Adamson Act 1916 8hr work day for train workers in interstate commerce

“Black Progressivism”/ Louis Brandeis Wilson did not do well with “Black Progressivism” Louis Brandeis First Jewish Supreme Court Justice

NEW DIRECTION IN FOREIGN POLICY: Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy” Believed imperialism was immoral Wilson did not embrace Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy” or T.R.’s “Big Stick” Jones Act, 1916 Made Philippines a territory, promoted independence as soon as Philippines had stable government

Wilson…Abroad Repealed Panama Canal Tolls Act Haiti Virgin Islands Helping Haiti or Helping Ourselves? Virgin Islands Purchased from Denmark for $25 million

Moralistic Diplomacy in Mexico In 1913 Mexican rebels (prompted by U.S. ambassador) overthrew a government friendly to the United States and placed Victoriano Huerta. Wilson didn’t want to get involved but sent munitions to Huerta’s rivals President Wilson refused to recognize the new Mexican government. Mass immigration of Mexicans to US

TAMPICO INCIDENT Wilson ordered Marines to take Vera Cruz because of arrest of Americans. And to prevent arming of Mexicans Carranza and Huerto protested bitterly. It was finally mediated by the A.B.C. Powers. (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) Shortly after Huerto collapsed and was replaced by Carranza whom President Wilson reluctantly supported.

Pancho Villa Hoping to start a war with America, “the bandit” Pancho Villa killed 16 Americans in Northern Mexico and 19 Americans at Columbus, New Mexico. Wilson sent John Pershing after “the bandit” Pancho Villa. The Mexican terrorist was never found.

Great War and Initial Neutrality Serb patriot killed heir to the Austria-Hungary throne Germany and Austria-Hungary sent message to Serbia Serbia backed by Russia set eyes on Germany Germany attacked France through Belgium Great Britain joined with France Gavrilo Princip Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Europe Before WWI

American Neutrality Most Americans felt US interests were not in danger Both central and allied powers wanted US help Allies – told US of German atrocities Central – relied on German-Americans for sympathy Americans were anti-German Against Kaiser Wilhelm II, against U boats

American Economy Recession due to drain of hard currency as European nations needed debt repay Loss of overseas market for US products By 1915, US was providing munitions and food to France and England, which helped the economy

German Reaction 1915 –Germany announces submarine war area around British isles 90 ships sunk in first few months Sinking of Lusitania, luxury liner, 130 Americans dead Sinking of Arabic, 2 Americans dead Wilson demands Germany stop sinking unarmed passenger ships w/out warning diplomatic relations w Germany

Wilson’s Reaction 1916, Sinking of Sussex, killed 4 Americans Wilson issues the Sussex Ultimatum Unless Germany stops sinking merchant ships without warning, US will break diplomatic relations Germany agreed to stop sub. warfare but only if US convinced Britain to lift its blockade U.S did nothing FINAL STRAW: 1917 Unrestricted sub warfare and Germany trying to get Mexico to help

Election of 1916 Wilson: “He Kept us Out of War” Roosevelt refused to run as a progressive Republican’s nominate Hughes Pro-business; attacked Wilson’s foreign policy