Woodrow Wilson New Freedom Was he a Progressive?

Background Father & grandfather= Presbyterian ministers youth during Civil War/ Reconstruction Strict upbringing College of New Jersey (later known as Princeton) Practiced law Became political Science Professor President of Princeton – reforms earned national prizes 1910 Governor of NJ (democrat) Workmen’s compensation Regulation of public utilities & Railroads What do you think his views are towards… (write on back under last question) African Americans Women’s rights Trusts Worker’s rights Political Machines Federal Bank Taxes Unions Gold and Silver

Wilson Married Ellen Axson. Couple has 3 daughters. Ellen dies in 1914 Wilson is severely depressed after her death Marries Edith Galt (1915) – First Female President. (Wilson had stroke)

And now the dirt…… The other woman…. Mary Allen Peck, (Bermuda) steamy letters….. Dyslexic, had to learn to adapt to read. Suffered from physical ailments; nausea, heartburn, constipation, and eventually his heart. Died of stroke

basics Believed in Strong executive branch Trusts should be broken Government should not get bigger; it should get smaller Attacked large concentrations of power in effort to give greater freedom to average citizen One term president Direct election of senator (not African Americans- he’s from South) Not Women's Right

Is he Progressive??? Social Justice Health General Welfare Workers Right Anti-waste Anti- gov. Corruption

New Freedom= domestic plan Triple Wall of Privilege Trusts Tariffs High Finance

New Freedom and Trusts “freedom today, is something more than being let alone. Without watchful…resolute interference of the government, there can be no fair play between individuals and such powerful institutions as the trust”

Clayton Anti-trust Act 1914 strengthen Sherman anti-trust act by declaring certain business practices illegal Corporations could not acquire stock of another corporation if doing so would create a monopoly If company violated the law, its officers could be prosecuted Labor unions and farm organizations had right to exist; and not subjugated to anti-trust laws strikes/ boycotts legal Law could do nothing to strikers unless they damaged property

Federal Trade Act 1914 Set up 5 member “watchdog” agency called Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Power to investigate possible violations of regulatory statues Require periodic reports from corporations End unfair business competition/ practices (inaccurate labeling) If unfair corporation would “cease and desist” Almost 400 in presidency

New Tax System

Underwood Tariff Believed high tariff rates created monopolies by reducing competition Underwood Tariff of 1913 reduce tariff rates for first time since Civil War Seemed unlikely to pass; many lobbyists (people hired by manufacturers) to present their interests to government officials) told gov. officials to vote no Wilson told voter’s to monitor their Senators votes (Bully Pulpit)

Federal Income Tax Tariff rates dropped from 40% to under 30% Low tariffs meant federal gov. had to replace the revenue that tariffs supplied 16th Amendment (1912) legalized a federal income tax (taxed profits and earnings) Graduated income tax (larger incomes at higher rate) Farmers exempt 1% to 6% on incomes over $500,000 By 1917 Gov. received more money from income tax then ever from tariffs

Federal Reserve System Need to … money supply credit availability 1913- split nation into 12 regions w/ National & District Banks (States too if met requirements) Federal Reserve banks could Issue paper money in emergency Use new currency to make loans to customers By 1923- 70% Nations banking resources

Women’s Suffrage Luke Warm Suffrage was not a National Issue Democrats in general did not endorse it Opposed 1917 protests by women Too concerned with World War I Speech Senate in January, 1918, public endorse rights vote Joining his daughter, Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre contacted members of Congress with personal and written appeals. August 18, 1920, the 19 Amendment was ratified by a two- thirds majority of the states.

March 3, 1913 -- the day before Woodrow Wilson's inauguration, Inez Milholland, draped in flowing white robes leads a parade of an estimated 5,000 suffragists. This image became emblematic of the fight for women's rights in America. The marchers were attacked verbally and physically but refused to give up. Image courtesy of HBO films suffragette history website

Keating-Owens Act Set new standards for child labor. Restricted ages: - 14 for manufacturing - 16 for mining. The Law is ruled unconstitutional. State/Local laws help limit child labor.

The Amendments 16th Amendment – Federal Income Tax (1913) 17th Amendment – Direct Election of Senators(1913) 18th Amendment - Prohibits Alcohol (1919) 19th Amendment – Women’s Suffrage (1920)

African American Rights/ Civil Rights Campaigning promised to treat blacks equally & speak against anti-lynching As President said lynching is under State jurisdiction Appointed cabinet member that extended segregation (joseph Daniels) Proposed to do away with common drinking fountains Segregation of government employees increased

Twilight of Progressivism Outbreak WWI 1914 demanded US involvement Local issues not as important Dominated second term