1890-1920 The ideas and influence of Bryan, Roosevelt and Taft; Populism, Progressivism and Wilson’s New Freedom Flashcards
Why did the Populist Party emerge in 1890s?
Many did not benefit from the economic growth of the USA. In 1893, there was a depression that bankrupted many businesses. Moreover, most farmers felt that they were not benefiting from American prosperity. A Populist movement emerged which consisted of farmers, working people and supporters of silver. This new party was opposed to ‘big business’, especially in north-west America, which was getting increasingly bad press.
Why was there agricultural discontent in the 1890s?
This was partly because of falling prices, especially in wheat and cotton.
In 1860, wheat was sold at $1.60 a bushel and had fallen to 60 cents by 1890. In the same period, cotton fell from 30 cents a bushel to 6 cents. Moreover, high tariffs on foreign goods meant that foreigners would not buy US agricultural products and the USA faced increasing competition for European markets from Australia, Russia and Canada. To make matters worse, harvests deteriorated from the later 1880s due to poor weather conditions.
How did the Populist Party form, in 1892?
In July 1892, the Populist Party was formed at a convention in Omaha from an alliance of silver and farming interests to fight against the traditional Democrat and Republican candidates. This was very much a ‘people’s party’ and they chose James B. Weaver to stand for president in that year. Although they did not do very well compared to the two main parties, Weaver did poll one million votes.
What were the aims of the populist party?
The Party fought the 1892 presidential election with the following programme:
The regulation of railways, particularly the freight prices that many felt were artificially high.
Far more government regulation of farm prices.
A graduated income tax would take away dependence on tariffs as the main source of government income. This would ensure that the rich were taxed more heavily and encourage more exports, especially for farmers.
The direct election of senators to ensure that all citizens would be able to choose two senators from each state who went to Congress and directly represented their interests.
A maximum eight-hour working day.
To alter the basis of the currency, which was traditionally based on gold.
Who was William Bryan?
The Populist Party had sufficient support to have a decisive vote in the nomination of the Democratic candidate to fight the presidential election campaign of 1896.
They chose William Jennings Bryan who was a supporter of silver coinage and farming interests and wanted to improve conditions for the urban working class.
What happened in the 1896 presidential election?
The 1896 election was the first where modern campaigning methods and financing were employed, including dirty tricks. McKinley was the popular Governor of Ohio who won much support because he supported a strong tariff to protect American industry.
Mark Hanna sent 1,500 speakers into electoral areas where voters seemed undecided about which candidate to vote for and paid for millions of pieces of campaign literature. Most of the national newspapers, including the influential New York Times, supported McKinley.
Bryan was unable to call upon such financial support and used more traditional methods of campaigning. He travelled over 28,000 km and gave 600 campaign speeches.
McKinley won 7,036,000 of the popular vote to Bryan’s 6,468,000, and 273 of the electoral college votes to the 176 of his rival.
McKinley’s victory was not due simply to the backing of Hanna. Bryan was unable to win a single state in the populous Northeast where workers feared the free silver idea as much as their bosses. The economy of 1896 was also on the upswing
the upswing. Had the election occurred during the economic depression1893, the results may have differed.
How important was Populism?
Since the 1890s historians have vigorously debated the nature of Populism. Some historians see a close link between the Populists of the 1890s and the Progressives of 1900-12 but, for the most part, the link was reactionary.
‘Progressives’ feared popular democracy as represented by Populism and most of the leading Progressives such as Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson strongly opposed it. Some historians see the Populists as forward-looking liberal reformers and others view them as reactionaries trying to recapture an idyllic and utopian past based on farming.
The Populist Party never recovered from the events of 1896.
By 1900, membership had fallen and Populist activists had either retired from politics or joined one of the major parties. However, it did have importance in the politics of the USA:
The Progressives adopted many of the aims of the Populist Party.
The Party also had electoral successes. Besides electing eleven governors and numerous other state and local officials, approximately 45 members of the Party served in the US Congress between 1891 and 1902.
What was the progressive movement?
Progressivism was a loose grouping of many individuals and organisations, with no easily identifiable leaders and no clear set of aims. It was not confined to one of the main parties as, at presidential level, Theodore Roosevelt and Taft, who were both Republican, and Wilson, a Democrat, were seen as Progressives.
One of the first historians of Progressivism, De Witt thought that the Progressive Movement was concerned with the regulation of big business, political reform and social reform. More recently, Chambers defined Progressivism as interventionism - the belief that direct intervention at state and federal level could bring about improvements to society.
Over time the movement developed in different ways - from political reform and the regulation of working hours through to votes for women and major constitutional changes. The Progressives were responsible for a number of significant achievements including amendments to the Constitution, radical reforms and changes to the role of the federal government which would have far-reaching implications for the twentieth century.
How did economic problems lead to Progressivism?
A recession struck in 1893, leading to high unemployment in industrial cities, which remained at twelve per cent for the rest of the 1890s. Businesses cut wages to sustain profits, which led to a fall in living standards. Many banks collapsed during the recession, which meant many people lost their savings.
Moreover, agriculture continued to decline due to falling prices. The small farmers of the North-east could not compete with the large-scale farming of the West.
How did social problems lead to Progressivism?
Many Americans lived in desperate poverty. Living conditions were terrible in many cities where there was overcrowding totally inadequate sewage disposal and a lack of clean water. Working conditions were also often very poor with no restriction on working hours, with a six-day, 72-hour working week commonplace. Moreover, there was no welfare system in the USA - no unemployment or sick pay or compensation for accidents.
How did the need for political reform lead to Progressivism?
There was growing dissatisfaction with the two main political parties. The Democrats, strong in the South, were deeply conservative. The Republicans, who dominated Congress, seemed to have become the party of big business and banks. Moreover, Progressives were opposed to corrupt party machines and big business domination of the political process.
How did the fear of revolution lead to Progressivism?
Some Americans were concerned about the growth of socialism and radicalism and felt that unless there was reform there could well be revolution. Trade unions grew in strength with more and more workers supporting more militant actions such as strikes which often turned violent, such as the 1892 steelworkers strike in Pittsburgh. Many of those who feared revolution were from the middle class. Indeed, Progressivism is often seen as a middle-class movement. Most Progressive leaders were middle-class professionals such as lawyers and doctors who were desperate to bring about reform to create a more efficient and stable society.
How did the need to regulate Big Business lead to Progressivism?
In the late nineteenth century large businesses, in particular trusts, became so powerful that they threatened to establish monopolies in particular industries, which meant they could fix prices without fear of competition. There was increasing hostility towards individuals such as Rockefeller, Morgan and Carnegie who seemed to put their own profits before the interests of the masses. There was a growing demand for government regulation to control big business, especially trusts, although Progressives could not agree on how they should be brought under control.
What were the political aims of the Progressive movement?
Changes to the Constitution including allowing women to vote and ensuring that senators were more accountable by making them directly elected rather than being chosen by state legislatures.
A much greater role for federal government in the economy and society in particular to regulate big business and intervene on the side of the workers.
Radical reform of the management of towns and cities which were often controlled by corrupt officials. The Progressives wanted a more open and democratic system for electing mayors and other public officials.
Changes to the political parties which seemed to be dominated by a few wealthy businessmen who controlled candidate nomination at local, state and even presidential levels. One demand was for the open primary election.
What were the economic aims of the Progressive movement?
The Progressives wanted the government to play a much greater role in regulating business, to ensure that it was run in the interests of the whole community and not just a few rich individuals. They believed that government should have much more control of banks, insurance companies and the stock market.
They also wanted new legislation which would ensure that employers recognised trade unions, regulated hours of work and provided compensation for injury at work as well as introducing insurance schemes for unemployment, sickness and old age.
Finally, they wanted to change the currency, which was based on gold and introduce a silver coinage which Progressives believed would help to raise prices for farmers and reduce the power of the trusts and big business.
