1890-1920 Politics Flashcards
Key ideas of Populism
- Regulation of railways
- Government regulation of farm prices
- Graduated income tax
- Direct election of senators
- 8 hour working day
- Alter basis of currency
Effect of high tariffs
Demands for wage increases (Homestead Strike 1892)
Increased productivity costs
Dissolve of prosperity
Farmers: collapse
Homestead Strike 1892
Henry Clay Frick cut wages and refused to accept union negotiations
Pinkerton (300) armed
3 agents and 10 strikers killed
Workers forced to accept longer days and lower wages
Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890
To protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies.
Benjamin Harrison
Republican, 1889-1893
Grover Cleveland
Democrat, 1893-1897
Economic depression
1893-1897: panic hit stock market , maintained gold reserve
1894 Midterms
Divided into Bourbon Democrats and Populists
Impact of the McKinley tariff
Increased inflation, Cleveland attempted to lower rate
1890, Wilson-Gorman tariff replaced
Pullman Strike of 1894
Widespread railroad strikes (20) and boycotts disrupting railroad traffic.
Layoffs, wage cuts, finings
Claim that strikes violated Sherman Anti-trust Act (troops)
Cut more than 2000 workers and reduced wages by 25%
Omnibus Indictment Act
Permitted legal banning of strikes till the 1930’s
William McKinley
Republican, 1897-1901
1896 Republican Convention
Marcus Alonzo Hanna ensured nomination by paying voters, planning campaigns and paying the media to oppose Bryan
When did the Republican dominance era begin
1897-1912 with William Jennings Bryan by 600,000 votes (57%-51%)
Dingley tariff 1897
Increased tariff rate from 40% to 50%
Currency Act 1900
Committed the US to maintain the gold standard
1900 election
Supported by success of American war v Spain for Cuba and strength of the economy
Foundation of Populist movement
Founded in 1891
Candidate in 1892 election (8.5%)
Aimed to improve conditions for farmers and agrarian workers.
Consisted of farmers, working people and supporters of silver
Folded into Democratic Party in 1896
Influence of Populism
1890, entered coalition governments in several southern and western states
Sent Populists to both Houses of Congress
More than a million votes in first presidential election
1894 Midterms, split Democrats
Don’t ever introduce silver as a form of currency
Ideas of Progressivism
Political
- Changes to constitution (women’s vote, direct election)
- Greater role for federal government
- Radical reform of the management of towns controlled by corrupt officials
- Changes to political parties
Social
- Female emancipation
- Welfare benefits
- Prohibition
- Reforms to help African Americans
Economic
- Greater role in regulating business
- More government control of banks, insurance companies and the stock market
- New legislation to ensure employers recognised trade unions
- Laws to provide consumer protection
- Change currency to introduce silver coinage
Ideas of Socialism
Political (Eugene Debs): demanded radical changes to the whole social and economic system.
Moderate (Samuel Gompers): ready to collaborate with business, as long as the jobs and wages of their members were safeguarded.
Impact of socialism
Due to split, meant could not be impactful
Most influential: 1892 Homestead Strike and 1894 Pullman Strike, 1912 election (6%) and WWI (joined trade unions)
1908 State of the Union
Teddy Roosevelt’s message to the country as a state of intention, to take on big business, inheritance and income taxes.
Regulation of big business and railroads.
More effective system of dealing with labour disputes.
8 hour working day, compensation for injuries at work.
Stock market regulation.
Impact of Teddy Roosevelt
Hosted Booker T. Washington
Expanded power of presidency dramatically
Marked beginning of worker protection
Ended excessive trusts
Consumer protection (Pure Food and Drug Act 1906 & Meat Inspection Act 1908)
Anthracite Coal Strike 1902
Employers locked out miners who went on strike for better wages and an 8 hour day
Roosevelt dealt with, raised wages and 9 hour working day
Teddy Roosevelt use of anti-trust measures
Inconsistent
Encouraged 44 protections
1904, SC declared Northern Securities Company illegal: controlled several railroads and created excess profits
Department of Commerce & Labour Act 1903
Cabinet Secretary given lower to collect data from any business that dealt in interstate commerce which would be vital in identifying the need to regulate business if it showed monopoly or price fixing.
Hepburn Act 1906
Gave a federal government commission the power to inspect books of railroad companies and to lay down the maximum rates they could charge, in attempt to protect the public from exploitation.
The Square Deal
Teddy Roosevelt reform package with aims to reduce inequality.
Consumer protection
Conservation of natural resources
Corporate regulation
Impact: substantial
-legislation passed and over 230 million acres of land received protection
-unions gained strength
-increased standard of living
William Taft
Republican, 1909-1913
Impact of William Taft
- twice as many anti-trust suits to Roosevelt (80)
- 8 hour day for government employees
-miner safety
-interstate commission to set railroad rates
-department of labour
-federal income tax & corporation tax
-constitutional amendments in 1913
Republican National Convention 1912
Taft v Roosevelt: weakened Party divisions
1912 election
Turning point, left-wing
Wilson easily won against Roosevelt, Taft and Eugene Debs
Woodrow Wilson
Democrat, 1913-1921
[Political] Impact of Woodrow Wilson
- Extended role of federal government
- Constitutional Amendments
[Economic] Impact of Woodrow Wilson
Increased regulation of big business and banks to prevent panics, etc and this was monitored by Departments .
Invested into farmers with loans and low costs
Federal Reserve Act 1913
Maintained balance between interests of big businesses and needs of the wider community.
Federal Reserve Board
Centralised system to allow banks to run their own affairs with only limited government interference.
Federal Reserve Bank
Could lend money to member banks at rediscover ages, the supply of money was longer and appointed the majority of directors.
Federal Farm Loan Act 1916
Provided low costs to farmers.
Federal Highway Act
Gave federal money to help with the construction of highways
Underwood tariff 1913
Significantly reduced many duties and freed certain items, attacked big business and gave aid to smaller business men and farmers.
Income tax (16th Amendment)
Intended to replace government income when tariffs reduced/abolished.
Adamson Act 1916
Laid down maximum 8 hour working day for railroad workers
[Social] Impact of Woodrow Wilson
- Federal Child Labour Act 1916
- Workmen’s Compensation Act 1916
- Adamson Act 1916
- Increased segregation
- Opposed federal anti-lunching legislation
1913 Ludlow Coal Strike
Colorado, company refused demands and evicted workers.
National Guard called and 26 people killed
Federal Trade Commission
Forced to investigate corporations and stop unfair practices. It was a regulatory body for business that covered ever possible dubious action. Many felt it was too weak but established an important principle of federal regulation.
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
Gave more powers to those enforcing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Made certain businesses illegal by price discrimination, ‘tying arrangements’ and the creation of interlocking directorates.
The New Freedom 1912
Woodrow Wilson progressive policies.
Reduce tariff on imported goods
Reform of the national banking system
Strengthening of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to combat trusts and create open competitiveness
Extremely successful as shown with amount of acts he was able to pass.
Teddy Roosevelt
Republican, 1901-1909
