1. Woodrow Wilson New Freedom
Was he a Progressive?

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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”

9. 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

10. 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

11. New Tax System

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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 % Nations banking resources

15. 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.

16. March 3, 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

17. 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.

18. 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)

19. 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

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