Chapter 29: Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad 1912-1916 Flashcards
- Were Wilsons progressive legislative achievements in his first term consistent with his New Freedom campaign? Why or why not?
were consistent with his New Freedom campaign. Wilson’s New Freedom plan favored a more active government role in economic and social affairs, with small enterprise, free functioning, unmonopolized markets. He campaigned for fragmentation of big industries through antitrust laws. Soon after becoming president, Woodrow Wilson pushed the House to pass the Underwood Tariff Bill, which reduced import fees. He also passed the Workingmen’s Compensation Act of 1916, which gave assistance to federal civil-service employees, later he restricted child labor.
- How was Wilson’s progressive presidency similar to Theodore Roosevelt’s, and how was it different? Were the differences ones of personality or policy?
Unlike Roosevelt, Wilson had a more hands off approach to foreign policy. Wilson greatly disliked Roosevelt’s foreign policy because of imperialism the “big stick,” so he tried to refrain from using it at first. His methods changed, however, when violence in Haiti forced him to become involved. He sent marines to protect Americans and their property in Haiti, similarly to when Roosevelt sent in soldiers to Panama, only for different reasons. Wilson also sent marines to the Dominican republic for eight years and even bought the Virgin Islands and the West Indies, expanding America’s reach just as Roosevelt had. The presidents were similar in actions and eventually policy, but originally they were different in both personality and policy. The differences became fewer in foreign policy as Wilson began to stretch his hand over the Caribbean.
- Why did Wilson fail in his attempt to develop a more moral, less imperialistic policy in Latin America? Were his involvements really an attempt to create a new mutual relationship between the United States and the neighboring republics, or was it just an alternative form of American domination?
Woodrow Wilson wanted to develop a more moral, less imperialistic policy in Latin America, but failed. In Haiti, political disorder ran rampant, becoming bloody and violent. Because Americans lived and owned land there, Wilson sent marines to protect them. Later, in 1916, he further disposed of a gentle foreign policy when he sent marines to stop riots in the Dominican Republic for eight years. He then purchased the West Indies and the Virgin Islands. Wilson also indirectly meddled in Mexican affairs when he refused to recognize its government. If Wilson wanted to have a less domineering presence in Latin America, he should have refrained from getting as involved. In theory, and possibly even in Wilson’s intentions, his meddling was an attempt to better his relationship with Latin American countries, but in reality, it was just an alternative form of American domination. His actions caused America to have a negative relationship with Mexico for the future.
- Was the United States genuinely neutral during the first years of World War I, or was it biased in favor of the Allies and against Germany? Was it possible for the U.S. to remain neutral? Why or why not?
The United States was not genuinely neutral during the first years of World War 1; they were only neutral politically. Many Americans sided with the Allies in spirit because the German Kaiser, Wilhelm the Second, was a perfect picture of autocracy. Their brutal actions against Belgium as well as violence in America’s factories and ports only furthered American bad opinions. While it was possible for them to have remained neutral, it became more and more difficult for America to remain so as time went on, because both sides tried with extreme fervor to recruit the Americans. Also, German actions could be viewed as a declaration of war on the United States because citizens were harmed.
