1. Wilsonian Progressivism At Home And Abroad
Chapter 29
American Pageant, 13th ed.

2. The Emergence Of Woodrow Wilson
Democrats were thrilled about Republican split
Dems nominate Dr. Woodrow Wilson, a militant progressive
President of Princeton, instituted sweeping educational reforms
Governor of New Jersey; ignored party bosses

3. Woodrow Wilson
Eloquent with a strong moral streak; unwilling to compromise matters of principle
Appealed to the people
In 1912 Democrats nominated him when Bryan swung his support to Wilson
“New Freedom” platform: anti-trusts, banking reform, lower tariffs

4. The Bull Moose Campaign
Roosevelt not ready to give up the fight
New Progressive Party nominates him as their candidate
Roosevelt and Taft rhetoric

5. Which type of Progressivism to choose?
Wilson’s New Freedom
Favored small enterprise
Monopoly free markets
Favored competition
Anti-trust laws
TR’s New Nationalism
Active government role in economic & social reform
Consolidation of trusts
Favored women’s suffrage
Minimum wage laws
*In the course of campaigning TR was shot in Milwaukee by John Schrank; the bullet went through manuscript of speech & gave TR a superficial wound.
“You see, it takes more than that to kill a bull moose”~TR

6. Presidential Election of 1912

7. Meaning of Wilson’s Win?
Wilson wins with 41% of popular vote
Taft-TR combined had 1.2 Million more votes
Progressives (Wilson and Roosevelt) together got far more votes than Taft
Thus, Progressivism was the winner!
Wilson wins because Republicans split the vote
A minority President

8. Wilson: The Idealist In Politics
Wilson is second Democratic president since 1861
First Southerner (VA & GA) in the White House since Taylor
Moving orator, but cold personally
Student of government; professor of political science
Believed in being strong president
Intellectual
Liked Jim Crow

9. Wilson Tackles The Tariff
Triple wall of privilege: tariffs, banks & trusts
Addressed Congress with vigor & eloquence
The House passed the Underwood Tariff Bill
Reduction of rates
Began limited income tax on incomes over $3000
Thank you 16th amendment
“The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”

10. Wilson Battles The Bankers
US financial system is out of date
Most serious problem is the inelasticity of the currency
money reserves heavily concentrated in NY and a few other large cities
could not be mobilized easily to places under financial stress
The Republicans favored a Third Bank of the United States with 15 branches
Wilson opted for a decentralized bank in federal hands

11. Federal Reserve Act
Federal Reserve Act: most important piece of economic legislation between the Civil War and the New Deal
Federal Reserve Board monitored 12 regional districts each with a central bank
Banker’s banks

12. The President Tames The Trusts
Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914
Get rid of unfair trade practices & unlawful competition
Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914
Strengthened Sherman Anti-Trust Act by lengthening the list of unfair trade practices
Provisions on strikes and picketing – it’s ok

13. Wilson Progressivism At High Tide
Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916
Warehouse Act of 1916
Highway Construction
Ag extension work in state colleges
La Follette Seamen’s Act (wages on merchant chips)
Workingmen’s Compensation Act of 1916
Restriction on child labor on products in interstate commerce
Adamson Act of 1916 (8hr day on railroads)

14. Wilson’s Blind Spot
Wilson’s one failure in broadening the rights of the downtrodden was Blacks
He increased segregation in the Civil Service and generally had a very blind eye—even a hostile eye—toward concerns of blacks regarding civil rights
Proclaimed Birth of a Nation an important insight into history

15. New Directions In Foreign Policy
Wilson’s had a much different view of foreign policy than either Roosevelt or Taft
Attitude toward TR’s “big-stickism” and American imperialism = no, thanks
Attitude toward dollar diplomacy = no, thanks
Wilson looked at foreign policy issues through the lens of a moralist
Ironically, he intervened in foreign countries MORE than had Roosevelt of Taft.

16. Wilson Foreign Policy
Jones Act of 1916: Philippines was a territory & would be independent w/a stable government in place
Wilson continued Republican policy of intervening in Caribbean affairs
Sent the Marines into Haiti & Dominican Republic in 1915 to settle riots
Wilson purchased the Virgin Islands in the West Indies from Denmark in 1917

17. Caribbean Intervention

18. Moralistic Diplomacy In Mexico
American $’s at work in Mexico
Mexican people are poor & revolt
1913 General Victoriano Huerta becomes president; Wilson refuses to recognize him
Carranza and Pancho Villa (rivals of Huerta) were armed by US to overthrow Huerta

19. Moralistic Diplomacy In Mexico
Tampico incident 1914
US sailors arrested but released; wanted Mexico to have a 21-gun salute – refused
Wilson sends Navy to seize Vera Cruz
Carranza & Huerta are angered
Huerta is captured & drinks himself to death
Carranza is now el Presidente

20. Moralistic Diplomacy In Mexico
Villa is main opponent; captures & kills 16 Americans who were passing through Mexico (1915)
Villa goes to Columbus, NM & murdered 19 Americans
Both a taunt to Wilson & a challenge to Carranza

21. US Invasion of Mexico Wilson & Americans are outraged
General goes across the border to capture Villa
Pershing chases Villa across Northern Mexico but can’t find him
Mexicans love seeing the inept Americans floundering around in the desert
Wilson withdraws in 1917 as war for America looms in Europe

22. Road to WWI In a nutshell:
Gavrilo Princip (Serbian) killed Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungarian “empire” in Sarajevo, Bosnia in June 28, 1914
Austrians blame Serbia & send ultimatum backed by Germany
Serbia is backed by Russia, which border Germany & A-H
France mobilizes on Germany’s other side
Germans strike at France through Belgium
England enters the war against Germans
Japan eventually comes in against Germany, as well
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria
Allies: France, Russia, Britain, Japan

24. A Precarious Neutrality
US population overwhelmingly in support of Allies and staying out of the war
Wilson saw himself as the neutral arbitrator above the fray and hoped to be called upon to negotiate a peace
He calls for “peace without victory”

25. America Earns Blood Money
Orders from European nations quickly snap us out of recession and starts a business boom
US banks provide a great deal of financing to the Allies
Shipping causes strain with combatants
US trade is a much greater benefit to Allies than Axis
British Blockade

26. U-Boats Feb. 1915 German U-Boat war around the British Isles
Sank merchant ships headed to England without warning
German actions violate international law
Germans pledge no unrestricted submarine warfare
In the early months of 1915 German U-boats sink about 90 ships.

27. Lusitania
May 1915 Germans sink the British passenger liner the Lusitania.
1198 killed including 128 Americans
It was secretly carrying munitions in cargo compartment
US public outraged

28. Sussex Pledge
Americans on the east coast started drumming for war; but Midwest is very isolationist
Wilson does not want war
TR tried to push Wilson into the war
Wilson’s warning to Germany.
German Sussex Pledge
“We will not sink unarmed and unresisting passenger ships…without warning.”

29. Wilson Wins Reelection In 1916
Wilson faced a tough battle in 1916
Progressive renominate TR, but he refuses to run
Republicans nominate Charles Evans Hughes
Hughes is a poor candidate who tailors his rhetoric concerning the war depending on his audience
Wilson runs on the slogan, “He kept us out of war”
Wilson wins narrowly

30. Election of 1916

31. Citations
Wilsonian progressivism at home and abroad. (2011). Retrieved on February 13, 2011 from
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