Political Development 2 (1890-1920) Flashcards
Between 1867 and 1912 how many new states were added to the USA?
12
Who supported the Republican party in the 1896 election? Why?
African Americans (though few as state laws restricted many of them from voting)
Urban workers/ Big businesses (due to the introduction of tariffs and protectionism)
What helped William McKinley get elected?
Mark Hanna election campaign and $7 million allocated to sponsorship
What deterred people from voting for the Democrats? Who lost the 1869, 1900 and 1908 elections?
William Jennings Bryan lost in these elections due to his populist centred policies e.g., Free Silver.
What is populism?
A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
What decade did populism appeal to the US citizens? Why?
In the 1890s due to the Granger Movement, Farmers Alliances and the Knights of Labour.
What was the Populist’s manifesto called?
The Omaha Platform
What were the policies of the Omaha Platform?
- To fight corruption within the government
- To form legal and civil services
- To nationalise railroads
- For land to be re-distributed and bought
- To graduate income tax
- ‘Free Silver’ (to make loans cheaper etc)
The Democrat Party could not oppose the Populists and the Republicans so therefore they adopted what and appointed who as their candidate?
The adopted the policy of populism and appointed William Jennings Bryan as their Democratic candidate.
Democrats who did not agree with WJB’s appointment and sided with re-appointing Cleveland and returning to laissez-faire policy, were known as?
Bourbon Democrats
What was the Dingley Tariff Act of 1897?
McKinley introduced this policy to raise taxes within the USA (by an average of 57%)
When was Progessivism a key focus for the USA?
1900-1917
What was Progressivism in the USA between 1900 and 1917?
It was an idealistic reaction against capitalism and corruption. It worked towards pro-suffrage for women, pro-workers rights and reform throughout the US.
What were 4 focuses of Theodore Roosevelt throughout his presidency?
1) Fighting corruption without completely removing big businesses
2) To take on mine owners in the 1902 coal strike
3) To block the creation of the Northern Securities in 1902 (railroad monopoly)
4) To use the Sherman Anti-trust act
What were the Northern Securities in 1902?
The Northern Securities Company was a short-lived American railroad trust formed in 1901 by E. H. Harriman, James J. Hill, J.P. Morgan and their associates. The company controlled many railroads throughout the US - railroad monopoly.
What was the Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890) ?
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act authorised the federal government to institute proceedings against trusts in order to dissolve them. Any combination “in the form of trust or otherwise that was in restraint of trade or commerce among the several states, or with foreign nations” was declared illegal.
