2. Populism, Progressivism, and Imperialism

• MCKINLEY 1897-1901

  -        Won without needed black vote

  -        Democrats were weakened by internal division

  -        Maintained protective tariffs
• ROOSEVELT 1901-1909

  -        Regulate business

  -        Sherman Anti-Trust Act

  -        Expanded areas of national parks and forests

  -        ‘Bull-Moose Party’

  -        Left economy booming and republicans sure to win again
• TAFT 1909-1913

  -         Continued anti-trust policies

  -        Respected congress

  -        Lacked political skill
• POPULISM: regulation of railroads and farm prices / rich taxed more / election of senators by citizens of states / 8-hour workday 
• PROGRESSIVISM: ban alcohol / reduced power of business / reduce crime / enfranchise women / conservation of the environment
• WILSON 1913-1921

  -        Only democrat between 1892-1932

  -        Saw monopolies as evil

  -        Only won due to divisions in rep. party

  -        Votes of Roosevelt + Taft > Wilson 

  -        NEW FREEEDOM – income tax / 16th-19th amendment (women’s vote / prohibition) 

  (Change until 1914 but none after that? – not highly progressive)
• IMMIGRATION:

  The ‘open door’ started to close

  In 1918, more laws were placed on immigration into the US…

  -       Concerns over the ‘quality of immigrants’

  -       Racist views from WASPs
• The Dillingham Commission:

  Formed in response to concerns around immigration and recommended immigration be reduced due to inferiority to WASPs
• 1917: communists seized power in Russia and people feared this would spread – The Red Scare took place where anarchists were violent
• Violent Society: many crime gangs were LED BY MIGRANTS (Mafia)
• Huge demand to cut migration: by 1929 immigration was limited to 150,000 each year
• NEUTRALITY IN WWI:

  -       Far away conflict which was fought for reasons they did not care about

  -       Tradition of avoiding ‘foreign entanglements’

  -       Disproval of war to aid European colonial powers
• US intervention changed the course of war and was the first time the US fought as part of an allied force
• JOINED THE WAR due to:

  -       Wilson thought there was no other choice

  -       Other influential voices such as Roosevelt

  -       Zimmermann Telegram: From Germany suggesting alliance between them and Mexico if US joined the war – intercepted by Britain

  -       Anti-German feeling

  Maintaining trade
• US was a Debtor Nation borrowing money from Europe
• 1917 US became a Creditor Nation with loans worth billions to pay for losses from the war
• Agriculture boomed as Europe couldn’t get any food and the US was neutral
• France and Britain relied on US for war supplies and loans
• Liberty Loans: raised funds
• War industries Board: Coordinate war production
• War Revenue Act: for increased federal spending
• IMPACT?

  -       Exports rose

  -       Steel industry boomed

  Full employment
• Sherman Anti-trust Act 1890

  Federal law, passed in 1890, to ensure fair competition business. Trusts were a method used by businesses t organise a monopoly; the Sherman Act used federal powers over interstate commerce to try and restrict these monopolistic practices.
• Imperialism: A countries desire to extend its power and control over foreign lands, either though diplomacy, economic means or outright military force
• What does ‘balance the ticket mean’?

  Journalists used the word ‘ticket’ for candidates running for president and vice president, and they were often described ‘balancing the ticket’ when appealing to voters, to even out everyone in your party.
• What was the Spanish America War?

  The Spanish American war begun in 1898 due to a revolt against Spanish rule by Cuban Nationalists. The rebels received support from American sympathisers and this support grew strong after the army used brutal methods to stop this revolt.
• The Progressive Party became nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party” after Roosevelt said he felt “strong as a bull moose” following his loss at the Republican nomination in 1912
• The nickname also derived from Roosevelt always being described with strength and vigour
• The Bull Moose ticket polled 27% of the popular vote, leading to the Republicans losing the election to the Democrats under Woodrow Wilson
• Roosevelt attempted to move the Republican Party towards progressivism and when he failed, he was willing to split the party to lead the National Republican Party
• The USA becomes a World Power

  •    At the turn of the 20th century, the USA emerged as a world power:

  •    The US asserted its dominance in the Spanish-American War (1898)

  •       American built the 3rd largest navy in the world.
• Big Stick Diplomacy: •    “Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far” - Roosevelt’s favourite African proverb (if you don’t get far at first with negotiation, you have a big stick)
• •    Roosevelt Corollary (1904): US has right to intervene in Northern Hemisphere if viewed necessary.
• •    In 1900 America was seen as a land of opportunity.

  •    Immigrants arrived in America in search of the American Dream.

  •    78% said the American Dream was freedom

  •    75% said the American Dream was having basic needs (house. Etc.)
• The American dream was the hope that if a person worked hard then even the poorest person could become wealthy and have a much better standard of living than if they stayed in their own country. 
• USA in WWI

  •    US intervention in WWI changed the course of the war

  •    In 1916 the war was in stalemate and neither side knew how to break through

  •    This was he first time that the US had fought as part of an allied force

  •    It took a log time for US troops to see battle. Soldiers had to be conscripted, trained and shipped to France.
• Election of 1896

  • first case of a 'well oiled political machine' with republican campaign
  • democrat party divided
  • Mckinley promised high tariffs
  • showed continued weakness of democrats, resilience of two-party system (populism withered away)
• problems in the Democratic Party:

  • divided by populist movement
  • Spanish American war boosted the republican party
  • party split in 1904 (Bryan Vs Cleveland)
  • election of 1908 was a failure
• Divisions and tension continued

  • rise in anger with immigrants from Europe and black movement to northern cities
  • arguments on isolationism
  • 1916 election was close - Wilson won on promise to stay out of war
• 16th amendment: congressional powers to impose income tax