PART 2; populism, progressivism and imperialism 1890-1920 Flashcards
Monroe Doctrine
1823
- announced by president James Monroe and secretary of state John Quincy Adams
- stated us foreign policy was to avoid becoming involved in European wars unless american interests were involved, the american ‘continents’ were not to be colonized by any European powers, any such attempts at colonization would be regarded as ‘unfriendly’ acts.
isolationistm
a policy which the usa detached itself from foreign affairs. a policy of non-involvement and not-intervention in pother govs internal affairs and wars.
interventionism
a policy by which usa became involved in foreign policies
Imperialsim
a system of rule in which a rich and powerful nation controls other nations
continentalism
conquering all of usa - eats to west united - complete continent.
US Involvement in foreign affairs
mexico
1863
- during civil war Emperor Napolean 111 of France sent army to mexico city and Archduke Maximilian took crown - puppet emperor. Wanted imperial rule of Mexico - threat to Monroe Doctrine
1866 - USA Seward demanded that the french withdraw and sent 50,000 troops to the borders - worried and threatened
neither us military force nor the mystique of the Monroe doctrine was needed to crush empire - he’d lost interest and had no support
Mexicans fought guerrilla warfare and mobilized Mexican opinion
1867 - Maximilian executed.
US Involvement in foreign affairs
alaska
- acquisition of Alaska was opportunist not planned
- no major dispute - Seward interested in idea but change in russian policy opened way (Russian-American company was huge drain on resuoces)
- Russia feared usa would seize territory anyway - wanted finance while could and improve relationship.
USA PURCHASED alsaska in 1867 for 7.2 mill
- some couldnt understand why - russia wanted to sell the ‘sewards ice-box’ as it had few resources/settlers
- usa wanted it as a getway to north asia and ships could fuel their and prepare for journey across pacific and keep good relationship with Russia.
- denounced by some politicians and press as a foolish/expensive mistake
- critics called it sewards folly
- attitudes changed when saw economic value e.g established strong commercial links with west coast ports and helped industries e.g fishing, mining
william seward
former governor of NY state and senator
- ran for president in 1860 but accepted place in lincolns cabinet
- wounded in lincolns assassination 1865 but survived and continued as secretary of state under johnson
- role in purchase of Alaska in 1867 showed his support for manifest destiny
populism
at its root, populism is a belief in the power of regular people and in the right to have control over their gov rather then a small group of political insiders or wealthy elite.
why did populists emerge in 1890s
- OPPOSE BIG BUSS
- farmers, working people and supporters of silver
- many didn’t benefit from economic growth of the time e,g, depression of 1893 left many bankrupt.
- farmers felt like they weren’t benefiting for, prosperity
- SILVER - traditionally followed gold standard (value of money based on amount of nations gold reserve) but bitetallists wanted both gold and silver coinage.
- world production of gold was decreasing between 65-90 and silver growing
- led to Sherman Silver Purchce Act 1890 - gov would buy 4,500,000 onces of silver each month for coinage. (many didnt like it, abhorrent and undermined economy, isolated from Europe) so removed in 1896
AGRICULTURAL DISCONTENT - farmers unhappy due to falling price in wheat and cotton. e.g. in 1860-90 wheat price fell by 60%. Moreover high tariffs on foreign goods meant people werent buying us products, loosing out to comp and harvests deteriorated in late 1880s due to poor weather.
when and why were populists formed
july 1892 - formed at a convention in Omaha from an alliance of silver and farming interests to fight against the traditional democrat and republican candidates
- peoples party and led by James Weaver
what were the populists aims?
- regulation of railways (high prices)
- gov have more regulation on farm prices
- graduated income tax to take away dependence on tariffs as main source of gov income
- direct election of all senators (fairer in congress)
- max 8 hour working day
- alter basis of currency (gold and silver)
Bryan and the 1896 election
Bryan vs Mckinley
- Bryan = democrat, populist - finally had sufficient support to have a decisive vote
- Bryan wanted to improve conditions for urban working class, farming interests and silver coinage
- was first election using modern campaign methods and financing were employed including dirty tricks
- Mckinley won as he was the popular governor of ohio who had much support from working class because he supported a strong tariff to protect american industry and most national newspapers supported him.
- Mckinley had financial support from wealthy businessmen e.g. Mark Hanna, who spent 3mill on him and smeared bryans reputation as he couldn’t call upon financial support and used tradition methods
Mckinely = 273 seats Byran = 176
populist imapct on US politics
- progressives adopted many aims of the populist party
- the party also had electoral sucesses - besides electing 11 governors and numerous other state & local officials
- approx 45 members of party served in congress between 1891-1902
progressivism
a wide ranging movement expressing discontent and demands for social and political reform. Where populism was rural and regional. progressivism was urban, middle-class and national.
why did progressivism emerge in the 1890s
- ECONOMIC PROBLEMS - recession struck in 1893 leading to; high unemployment in industrial cities (12%for most of ’90s), business cut wages, so living standards fell, banks collapsed in recession so people lost savings, agriculture declined due to falling prices and small farms couldn’t compete wit large-scale western farming.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS - Many lived desperate poverty. living conditions were terrible being overcrowded and inadequate sewage disposal and lack of clean water. Long 6 day, 72 hour working weeks in poor conditions (no restrictions, no welfare state)
THE NEED FOR POLITICAL REFORM - Growing dissatisfaction with two main parties - the democrats, strong in south, were deeply conservative. The republicans, dominated congress, became party of BB and banks. Progressives opposed corrupt party machines and business domination of politics.
NEED TO REGULATE BIG BUSINESS - BB were so powerful they threatened to establish monopolies and could fix prices without fear of competition. Increasing hostility to robber barons - growing demand for regulations of business although progressives couldnt agree on how this should happen.
FEAR OF REVOLUTION - some concerned about growth of socialism and radicalism - felt without reform there’d be revolution. Trade unions grew in strength with more workers supporting militant action (violent strikes e.g steelworker strike Pittsburgh)
Aims of progressive movement
political
- changes to constitution including allowing women to vote and ensuring senators were more accountable by making them directly elected not chosen by state legislatures
- greater role for federal gov in the economy and society (bb and support for workers)
- radical reform of the management of towns and cities which were often controlled by corrupt officials - more economic and democratic system
- change to the political parties which seemed to be dominated by a few wealthy businessmen who controlled candidate nomination at local, state and presidential level - deemed for the open primary election (chose candidates)
Aims of progressive movement
economic
- wanted gov to play a greater role in gov in regulating business, ensuring it was run in interest of entire community not individuals.
- gov should have more control of banks, insurance companies and stock markets
- wanted new legislation ensuring employers recognised trade unions, regulated working hours and gave compensation
- provide consumer protection against adulterated food, rigged prices and monopolies
- change currency - silver coinage to raise prices for farmers and reduce power of business
Aims of progressive movement
social
- female emancipation - 1890 the National American Suffrage Association set up campaigning for womens votes
- shcoked by poor standards in living conditions and poverty - wanted safety net to help poor through funded welfare benefits like germany and france
- supported the abolition of manufacture and sale of alcohol. In 1895, the anti saloon league was founded as a pressure group for prohibition
- reofms for blacks who’d moved north to escape poverty and were still treated like second class citizens
how progressive was Mckinley
- William mckinley (1896-1901)
Not really progressive - did introduce the Dingley Tariff act 1897 to push tariffs higher but did things against progressive aims e.g. Currency act 1900 - committing to gold standard and did nothing to prevent consolidation of business into corporations - simply lucky country was doing well and he had wealthy supporters
how progressive was Theodore roosevelt
- theodore roosevelt (1901-8)
very progressive president
- determinded to make the Sherman anti trust of 1890 more effective - led to 44 anti-trust prosecutions (e.g standard oil)
- set up commerce department and got it regulated by congress to regulate monopoly/price fixing.
- 1906 hepburn act power to inspect books
- involved in industrial disputes e.g. coal strike of 1902
- lots for conservation - planting 150million acres of forest and National conservation conference set up
- pure food and drugs act of 1906 - ended food adulteration
these acts met many of the progressive aims
how progressive was william howard taft
1909-12
- continued roosevelts anti-trust policies, initiating 80 anti-trust suits
- introduced 8 hour day for gov employees as well as mine safety regulation
- gave power to the interstate commission to set railroad rates
- introduced federal income tax and corporation tax
- brought in direct election of senators (not appointed by state legislators)
- payne aldrich act - did little to lower tariffs
BUT
lacked political skills of roosevelt and failed to handle the progressive-conservative divisions among republicans
- earned opposition of many progressives by sacking the great conservative gifford pinchot
- criticised for defending payne aldrich act
- roosevelt opposed him as he seemed reluctant to carry out reforms - roosevelt said party no longer represented wishes of the people
how successful was progressivism
for
yes as most presidents introduced aims of progressivism to help society and political reform - all aims either touched or met
- thanks to presidents like roosevlt and taft, gov became more involved in economy and society
- measures took to stop corruption e.g sherman anti trust act
- senators became directly elected not chosen by state legislation (political aim)
- acts brought in to protect against adulterated food e.g pure food and drugs act - (economic aim)
- public protected from exploitation (Hepburn act) pol and social aim
- did more for environment - national conservation conference - aim
- brought in working hour restrictions so people had a better quality of life - social/pol aim
- 1890s-1900 cities were electing progressive mayors
- living/working standards rose
- acts led to larger role of federal gov
how successful was progressivism
against
- no improvement to the lives of women or african americans e.g. segregation and couldnt vote - only really helped white men
- roosevelt introduced laws that restricted business and wilson passed laws supporting competition- two clashed
- even though many laws were created they were often refused by courts/congress
- prohibition failed
- some presidents were weak and did little (mckinley - expect roosevelt)
- didn’t really stop corruption, companies just went around reforms
who won the 1912 election
Woodrow Wilson - DEMOCRAT with 42% of popular vote
1912-21
also a progressive
race between wilson (dem), taft (rep), roosevelt (progressive) and Eugene debs (socialist)
why did wilson win the 1912 election and beat the republicans
- 1912 elction - turing pount in US politics marking an unexpected recov from den against divided republicans and new progressivism
- by roosevelt failing to get republican nomination and taking leadership of the National Progressive party he caused the party to split and challenged former ally Taft
- Wilson pushed forward a progressive agenda and unlike Roo was a unifier - able to attack republicans as a party of BB and high protective tariffs
- country rejected taft/rep - he was overshadowed by the rival progressive candidates - wasn’t enough to make up for taft 3mill votes, leaving wilson the clear winner
- debs also contender getting 6% of total vote - double last 2 elections - shows the difficulty for democrats to win mass support from industrial workers
- but socialist party also divided (political/moderate socialism) and overshadowed by progressivism - still took glory away from main parties
- bryan campaigned in last 3/4 elections - known for being very controversial in beliefs e.g. free silver - north didn’t like this
Wilson and the new freedom and limitations
banking and financial
BANKING
- The federal reserve act 1913 - maintained a balance of interests for BB and wider society
-created 1st central banking system, 12 banking systems under federal reserve board so amount of money no longer depended on the amount of gold
- enable banks (reserves) to control money supply - stop threats of in/deflation
by 1923 70% of nations banking resources were part of federal reserve system
LIMITATIONS - If workers in bank were corrupt they were all affected and 30% not part of scheme
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
- introduced series of financial and economic reforms e.g. first ever income tax 1913 - gave gov main source of income
- reorganised the department of agriculture to assist those involved in farming ensuring better credit and distribution networks
-federal farm loan act 1916 - provided low cost loans for farmers
- revenue act 1916 - tax rich and distribute wealth
LIMITATIONS - Only paid by those with imcome over 4,000 - at time this was x 4 the average industrial wage
