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.
What was William Howard Taft’s leadership style ?
Taft was more conservative and quiet than Roosevelt. He maintained the high tariffs within the US and used the Sherman Anti-trust Act to break up the US Steel monopoly.
What was the Republican Candidate Crisis in June 1912?
Roosevelt or Taft for the position - Roosevelt loses and bullies La Follette (Republican Senator) to allow him to stand as a National Progressive Candidate (R nicknamed Bull Moose)
Despite the disruption within the Republican Party, who was the new President of the USA in 1912 ?
Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)
Between 1868 and 1912 there is only one Democratic president. Who was he?
Grover Cleveland
Why were the Democrats a split party?
Differing views on populism
Why were the Republicans a divided party?
Differing views on Progressivism.
Wilson was strong on what concept and why?
The ‘free silver’ concept would bring inflation to the US therefore increasing the worth of crops and aiding struggling farmers in the southern states.
What are 2 examples of socialism growing between 1900 and 1906?
1902 - Coal Strike
1905 - Eugene Debs formed the Industrial Workers of the World IWW (socialist political party) that aimed for RADICAL change.
Woodrow Wilson relied on the southern states. Why?
He was a southerner and therefore popular in the south
What were the the reforms of WW1 known as?
The New Freedom
What did the New Freedom aim to do?
Return freedom to small businesses and more open competition instead of big cartels.
What policy did Wilson force the passing of in 1913?
The Underwood-Simmons Tariff
What did the Underwood-Simmons Tariff do?
It slashed tariffs by about 20% and introduced graduated income tax.
What did the Federal Reserve Act do?
Created Federal banks and all national banks were to join 1 of the 12 Federal banks
What commission was set up in 1914?
The Federal Trade Commission
What did the Federal Trade Commission do?
Inspected/ regulated corporate businesses
Clayton Anti-Trust Act was an extension of what other act ?
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
How many cases did the Clayton Anti-Trust Act enable ?
100 cases
1916 Adamson Act introduced…
8 hour day for railroad workers
16th Amendment
State power over income tax
17th Amendment
US Senators have to be elected by popular votes.
18th Amendment
Prohibition
19th Amendment
Female Suffrage (vote)
Summarise 1910-1917
Divisions existed in USA due to attitudes towards African Americans and immigrants (New Freedom did nothing to help this). The Republicans were revived by 1914 – gained in mid-terms. 1916 election Woodrow Wilson gained 9.1 M votes, Republican Charles Evans Hughes 8.5 M. Woodrow Wilson won the 1916 election due to his neutrality in WW1. Forced to declare war on Germany in 1917; unrestricted submarine warfare
