Chapter 29 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad

Election of 1912 Woodrow Wilson Democrats Background: Progressive Governor of New Jersey President of Princeton University Reformer , Idealist , Elitist? , stubborn when believed was correct

Election of 1912: Democrats Woodrow Wilson Platform: “New Freedom” Anti-Trust Legislation Banking reform Tariff reductions Shunned social-welfare proposals

Election of 1912: Progressives or “Bull Moosers” Theodore Roosevelt Platform: “New Nationalism” Trusts and Labor unions controlled by regulatory agencies Program of social welfare Women’s suffrage Minimum wage Social insurance To you, men and women who have come here to this great city of this great State formally to launch a new party, a party of the people of the whole Union, the National Progressive Party, I extend my hearty greeting. You are taking a bold and a greatly needed step for the service of our beloved country.

Election of 1912: Republicans William H. Taft Platform: To continue moderate Progressivism

Election of 1912: Results Winner: Woodrow Wilson Wilson was a “minority” President…no “mandate” from the people Why? Taft and Roosevelt split the vote Taft became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Socialist Debs got almost a million votes  The election of 1912 produced a Democratic victory over the split vote for President Taft's Republican ticket and Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Party. The Governor of New Jersey and former Princeton University president was accompanied by President Taft to the Capitol. The oath of office was administered on the East Portico by Chief Justice Edward White

“Triple Wall of Privilege” “Triple Wall” Wilson wanted to attack: The Tariff The Banks The Trusts Underwood Tariff Substantially reduced the tariff rates The 16th Amendment Graduated Income Tax

Researching Banking Reform The nation’s financial structure, as created under the Civil War National Banking Act had proven to be glaringly ineffective, as shown by the Panic of 1907, so Wilson had Congress authorize an investigation to fix this. The investigation, headed by Senator Aldrich, in effect recommended a third Bank of the United States. Democrats heeded the findings of a House committee chaired by Congressman Arsene Pujo, which traced the tentacles of the “money monster” into the hidden vaults of American banking and business. Louis D Brandeis’s Other People’s Money and How the Bankers Use It (1914) furthermore showed the problems of American finances at the time.

The Federal Reserve Act Created Federal Reserve Board 12 regional banks that issued Federal Reserve notes Allowed for flexible money system

The Federal Trade Commission Act Presidential Commission examined interstate commerce laws Root out unfair trade practices , such as false advertising and bribery 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 from Anti-Trust laws (as had been called by Supreme Court’s interpretation of Sherman Act) Legalized strikes and peaceful picketing 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.”

Wilsonian Progressive Acts Federal Farm Loan Act Federal Government credit for farmers at low interest rates Warehouse Act of 1916 Government loans on the security of staple crops La Follette Seaman’s Act of 1915 Living wage for merchant ships Workingman’s Compensation Act of 1916 Disability insurance for civil service employees Adamson Act 8 hour work day for federal employees

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

New Directions in Foreign Policy Wilson did not embrace the “Dollar Diplomacy” and “Big Stick” Jones Act Made Philippines a territory, promoted independence as soon as Philippines had stable government , July 4th 1946

Wilson did act as an “aggressor” a couple of times When California banned Japanese ownership of land, Wilson sent Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan to plead with legislators and tensions cooled. When disorder broke out in Haiti in 1915, Wilson sent American Marines, and in 1916, he sent Marines to quell violence in the Dominican Republic. In 1917, Wilson bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark.

Moralistic Diplomacy in Mexico In 1913 Mexican rebels overthrew a government friendly to the United States and placed Victoriano Huerta and Carranza and Pancho Villa in positions of power in Mexico. President Wilson refused to recognize the new Mexican government.

Moralistic Diplomacy in Mexico Wilson ordered Marines to take Vera Cruz because Mexicans affronted Americans. Carranza and Huerto protested bitterly. It was finally mediated by the A.B.C. Powers. Shortly after Huerto collapsed and was replaced by Carranza whom President Wilson reluctantly supported.

Moralistic Diplomacy in Mexico Meanwhile, “Pancho” Villa, combination bandit/freedom fighter, murdered 16 Americans in January of 1916 in Mexico and then killed 19 more a month later in New Mexico. Wilson sent General John J. Pershing to capture Villa, and hepenetrated deep into Mexico, clashed with Carranza’s and Villa’s different forces, but didn’t take Villa. World War I was starting in Europe

World War I The War To End All Wars

Nationalism Devotion to interests, culture of one’s nation Nationalism leads to competition, antagonism between nations Many fear Germany’s growing power in Europe Various Ethnic groups resent domination, want independence Russia sees self as protector of all Slavic peoples

Imperialism Militarism Germany industrializes, competes with France, Britain for colonies Development of armed forces, their use in diplomacy Cost of building, defending empires leads to more military spending Great Britain traditionally had the most powerful navy in Europe. Germany began to expand her navy, which created tension between the two nations

INTRICATE AND SOMETIMES SECRET ALLIANCES IN EUROPE LED TO OBLIGATIONS BUT ALSO DIVIDED LOYALTIES IF ATTACKED AUSTRIA-HUNGARY HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH GERMANY WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH ITALY. OTTOMAN EMPIRE WAS ALLIED WITH GERMANY AGAINST RUSSIA. SERBIA HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH GREAT BRITAIN WHO HAD AN AGREEMENT PROTECT BELGIUM’S NEUTRALITY

Alliance System To protect themselves from each other, countries formed alliances These alliances held that if one nation was attacked, the other nations would defend it Triple Entente or ALLIES – France, Britain, Russia Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire are CENTRAL POWERS Alliances give security; nations unwilling to tip balance of power

European Alliances, WWI

An Assassination Leads to War June 28, 1914, Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne travels to Serbia. He was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a member of an organization called Black Hand, who wanted independence for the region from Austria- Hungary. This assassination touches off a war as it helped lead countries to avenge the murder and fulfill their alliance obligations.

Alliances Bring Many Countries into War Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, expects a short war Alliance system pulls one nation after another into war Russia came to the aid of Serbia Germany then declared war on Russia France declared war on Germany Germany attacked Belgium (ally of France) Britain entered the war to help Belgium & France

ALLIES FRANCE UNITED KINGDOM (AND ALL OF HER COLONIES) ITALY RUSSIA JAPAN ROMANIA SERBIA GREECE PORTUGAL THE WAR BEGAN WITH THE ALLIES VERSUS THE CENTRAL POWERS AND SIX NEUTRAL NATIONS NEUTRAL NATIONS SPAIN SWITZERLAND NORWAY SWEDEN BELGIUM DENMARK CENTRAL POWERS AUSTRIA-HUNGARY GERMANY BULGARIA TURKEY

The Fighting Starts Germany’s Schlieffen Plan: Hook movement through Belgium, defeat France before Russia mobilizes; then defeat Russia Fight one front Belgium held off Germany for three weeks – France and Britain mobilize to Belgium border Britain and France on the defensive; forced to retreat to Marne River Allies halt the German advance and both sides dig in for a long siege

Trench Warfare By Spring 1915, 2 parallel systems of trenches cross France 400 miles from North Sea to Switzerland “No man’s land” barren expanse of mud between opposing trenches Scale of killing horrific, fighting inconclusive 1.2 million casualties Armies fight to gain only yards of ground Only 7 miles of ground will change hands

THE AREA BETWEEN THE TRENCHES WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE “NO MAN’S LAND” THE AREA BETWEEN THE TRENCHES WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE

A Precarious Neutrality Wilson, whose wife had recently died, issued a neutrality proclamation and was promptly wooed by both the Allies and the German and Austro- Hungarian powers. The Germans and Austro- Hungarians counted on their relatives in America for support, but the U.S. was mostly anti- German from the outset, as Kaiser Wilhem II made for a perfect autocrat to hate. German and Austro- Hungarian agents in America further tarnished the Central Powers’ image when they resorted to violence in American factories and ports, and when one such agent left his briefcase in a New York elevator, the contents of which were found to contain plans for sabotage.

HOW DID MOST AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT JOINING THE WAR IN EUROPE? MOST PEOPLE WANTED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL BECAUSE: THEY FELT THAT IT WAS NOT OUR FIGHT EUROPE WAS TOO FAR AWAY WAR WAS EXPENSIVE DIVIDED LOYALTIES SINCE WE TRADED WITH BOTH GERMANY AND GREAT BRITAIN (AND FRANCE) AND DID NOT WANT TO SEVER TIES WITH EITHER ONE BY FIGHTING AGAINST THEM

I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier This popular song of 1915 conveys the antiwar sentiment that swept America after the European war began in 1914.

Americans Question Neutrality Socialists, pacifists, many ordinary people against U.S. in war Naturalized citizens concerned about effect on country of birth Many feel ties to British ancestry, language, democracy, legal system U.S. has stronger economic ties with Allies than with Central Powers Allies are depicted as victims of German aggression Many join French & British militaries

Really Neutral??? President Wilson declares America should be “neutral in fact as well as in name and impartial in thought as well as in action”. Americans trade 23 billion with Allies and only 29 billion with Central Powers. Largely this occurred because of close socio-cultural connection with allies and easier trade routes to England. (Morgan Loans) Lafayette Escadrille

The History of The Lafayette Escadrille The Lafayette Escadrille was a French unit comprised mainly of American soldiers who volunteered to fight before the United States entered World War I.  The group was originally known as the American Escadrille , but changed name to maintain neutrality.

Really Neutral??? Moral Diplomacy Wilson believed in freedom of the seas, open trade, self determination for ethnic groups, no secret alliances, arms reductions and Constitutionalism. Because Wilson pressed freedom of the seas his Secretary of State, William J. Bryan resigned.

destroyers built over a Really Neutral ??? Wilson’s acts towards war before election: Council on National Defense Act Federal board to prepare for war National Defense Act of 1916 Increased army size 1916 Navy Act Expanded Navy 1916 Revenue Act Surtax on high incomes/ tax on corporate profits for war 1916 Navy Act: authorized 50 destroyers built over a three year period.

German Submarine warfare To break England’s control of the Atlantic, Germany depended on their new weapon: the Submarine (U-Boat in German).

Warnings issued to Travelers “Neutral Seas” may Not Be Safe

War on The High Seas Left: The Luistania Right: The Sussex On May 7, 1915 the Germans sank the Lustiana with 128 Americans on board. This outraged many Americans. Wilson, who believed in freedom of the seas, did not want war. Instead, after the Germans sank the British liner The Arabic he got the Germans to agree to the Arabic pledge which stated not to sink ships without warning. After the French ship The Sussex was sunk, Germany agreed to the Sussex pledge which said the same thing as long as England did the same. England would not agree or stop their naval blockade of Europe.

Tough Times For Central Powers Central powers feeling impact of England’s naval blockade Russia ready to leave war ( Bolshevik Revolution ) Germany public is getting war weary Perhaps Central Powers need one last devastating blow…especially if neutral America joins cause of Allies

1916 Presidential Election Democrats: Woodrow Wilson Campaign Slogan: “He Kept us Out of War” Republicans: Charles E. “Evasive” Hughes

Wilson wins because of Solid South and Midwest areas voting for him