Populism and Progressivism (1890 - 1912) Flashcards

1
Q

Successes of President McKinley

A
  • Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush increased the amount of gold in circulation
  • Political position strengthened by the Spanish-American War
  • Growing economy
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2
Q

Weaknesses of President McKinley

A
  • Big business friendly policies
  • Dingley Tariff Act 1897 (increased tariffs)
  • Currency Act 1900 (committed the US to maintaining the gold standard)
  • Strong disagreements with his vice-president Roosevelt
  • Assassinated September 1901
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3
Q

Successes of President Roosevelt

A
  • Anti-trust measures
  • Sided with the workers during the Anthracite coal strike 1902
  • Conservation
  • Consumer protection
  • Roosevelt brought federal government and presidential office into the domain of economic and social reform
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4
Q

Describe President Roosevelt’s anti-trust measures

A

Further enforced Sherman Antitrust Act 1890:
- Embarked on 44 anti-trust prosecutions

Department of Labour and Commerce Act 1903
- Created a new Department of Commerce
- Was given the power to collect data from any business dealing in interstate commerce
- In order to identify monopolies and price fixing

Hepburn Act 1906
- Established a federal government commission
- Given power to inspect books of railroad companies
- Could lay down max rates they could charge

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5
Q

Describe the anthracite coal strike of 1902

A
  • Roosevelt sided with the workers
  • Told employers that if they didn’t settle he would send in troops to work the mines
  • Employers raised wages and limited working day to 9 hours
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6
Q

Describe President Roosevelt’s conservation work

A
  • 150 million acres of forest to be placed on federal reserves
  • Strictly enforced laws on grazing, mining and lumbering
  • Organised 1908 National Conservation Conference
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7
Q

Describe President Roosevelt’s work in consumer protection

A
  • 1906 Act led to a federal programme of meat inspection
  • Pure Food and Drug Act 1906 started the end of food adulteration
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8
Q

Weaknesses of President Roosevelt

A
  • Growing divide in the Republican Party between conservatives and progressives
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9
Q

Strengths of President Taft

A
  • Antitrust measures (80 antitrust suits)
  • 8 hour working day for government employees
  • Mine safety legislation
  • Interstate Commission to set railroad rates
  • 1909, introduced federal income tax and corporation tax (later used to fund direct election of senators)
  • Respected rights of congress to oppose his ideas
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10
Q

Weaknesses of President Taft

A
  • Lacked political skill of Roosevelt
  • Failed to handle Republican Party progressive-conservative divide
  • Sacked Pinchot (the great conservationist appointed by Roosevelt)
  • Payne-Aldrich Act 1909 (failed to lower tariffs)
  • Lost the support of Roosevelt who considered him too conservative
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11
Q

Describe the impact that Roosevelt had on the 1912 election

A
  • Roosevelt formed the Bull-moose party
  • Split the Republican vote
  • Contributed greatly to 1912 Republican defeat
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12
Q

What were the main reasons populism emerged?

A
  • Bimetallism
  • Agricultural discontent
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13
Q

Describe bimetallism in 1890

A
  • The introduction of silver currency as well as gold
  • 1865-1890, world gold production decreased
  • 1860-1890, US silver production went from $150,000 to $57 million
  • Sherman Silver Purchase Act 1890 removed by President Cleveland in 1896
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14
Q

Describe agricultural discontent in 1890

A
  • High tariffs on foreign goods made it hard to sell abroad
  • Harvests deteriorated from 1880 due to poor weather
  • 1860-1890, 1 bushel of wheat went from $1.60 to $0.60
  • 1860-1890, 1 bushel of cotton went from $0.30 to $0.06
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15
Q

What were the aims of the Populist Party?

A
  • Regulation of railways & farm prices
  • Improve AA rights
  • Graduated income tax
  • Direct election of senators
  • 8 hour working day
  • Bimetallism
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16
Q

Give some reasons why populism was not important

A
  • Collapsed following 1896 election (short lived)
  • Had few electoral success (45 member served in Congress 1891-1902)
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17
Q

Give some reasons why populism was important

A
  • Progressives adopted many of the aims of the populist party
  • Third party influence of the Populists
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18
Q

What were the main reasons progressivism emerged?

A
  • Economic problems
  • Social problems
  • Need for political reform
  • Need to regulate big business
  • Media influence
  • Fear of revolution
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19
Q

Describe the economic problems that led to the establishment of progressivism

A
  • Recession in 1893
  • 12% unemployed in 1890’s
  • Falling standards of living
  • Failing small farms vs big agribusiness
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20
Q

Describe the social problems that led to the establishment of progressivism

A
  • Poor living conditions
  • 6 day, 72-hour working week
  • No welfare system
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21
Q

Describe the need for political reform that led to the establishment of progressivism

A
  • Growing dissatisfaction with the 2 main parties
  • Corruption
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22
Q

Describe the need to regulate big business that led to the establishment of progressivism

A
  • Monopolies and fixed prices
  • Increasingly hostile to robber barons
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23
Q

Describe the media influence that led to the establishment of progressivism

A
  • Increase in magazine and newspaper circulation
  • Spreading views and opinions
  • 1912, McClure’s magazine = 1 mill copies per edition
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24
Q

Describe the fear of revolution that led to the establishment of progressivism

A
  • Concern about the growth of socialism and radicalism
  • Growing trade unions and violent strikes
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25
Q

Describe the political aims of the progressives

A
  • Female suffrage
  • Direct election of senators
  • Regulation on big business and intervention on the side of the workers
  • More democratic election of public officials
  • Open primary election
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26
Q

Describe the economic aims of the progressives

A
  • Regulation of big business
  • Legislation to recognise trade unions, regulate working hours & provide compensation for injury at work
  • Insurance schemes for unemployed, elderly and sick
  • Legislation for consumer protection
  • Bimetallism
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27
Q

Describe the social aims of the progressives

A
  • Female suffrage
  • Creation of welfare state
  • Abolition of manufacture and sale of alcohol
  • Improved living standards for African Americans
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28
Q

Describe industrial growth 1890-1912

A
  • Modern oil production stated January 1901
  • 1913, Oklahoma producing 25% nations oil
  • 1904, largest 4% US companies producing 57% of total industry in the US
  • US Steel became the world’s first billion-dollar
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29
Q

Describe the Depression of 1893

A
  • Reading Railroad declared bankruptcy, started financial panic
  • ‘Industrial Black Friday’ - 24 businesses collapsed each day in May
  • Sparked a 4 year depression
  • 15,000 companies and 600 banks collapsed
  • National unemployment reached 20%
  • Cleveland passed the Repeal of the Silver Purchase Act in 1896 which began to improve the economy
  • Encouraged the rise of progressivism
30
Q

Describe agricultural discontent 1890 - 1912

A
  • Struggling farmers
  • Objected to power of bankers and corporations
  • Falling produce prices and rising grain storage prices made loans harder to repay
  • Formed Farmers’ Alliances which eventually led to the Populist party
31
Q

Describe the Pittsburgh steelworkers’ strike

A
  • 1892
  • Carnegie’s Homestead Steel Works cut wages and refused to accept union negotiations
  • Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers were hired to smuggle in strike breakers but were attacked by strikers
  • Company called in the Militia
  • After 5 months, strike collapsed due to lack of funding
  • Considerably set back union power
32
Q

Describe the Pullman strike

A
  • 1894
  • First national strike in the US
  • Pullman company cut wages but did not lower the rent of the houses where the employees were required to live
  • Rioting led Cleveland’s troops to open fire, killing 4 people
  • Strike ended in failure
  • Government had proved itself hostile to unions
  • The Omnibus Indictment Act, permitted legal banning of strikes and remained in force until the 1930’s
33
Q

Describe mass immigration 1890 - 1912

A
  • 1860 to 1900 = 14 million immigrants
  • 1900, NY had more Italians than Naples and twice as many Irish as Dublin
  • 1914, 1.4 million of NY’s 4.7 million population were Jewish
  • 1890, 1/10th San Francisco population was Chinese
34
Q

What were the theories as to why America moved to an expansionist policy?

A
  • Accidental empire
  • Progressive imperialism
  • Need for markets
  • The end of westward expansion
  • Preclusive imperialism
  • Monroe Doctrine 1823
  • Roosevelt Corollary 1904
35
Q

Explain accidental empire as a reason for American expansionism

A

Empire came about unintentionally die to several unrelated political moves

36
Q

Explain progressive imperialism as a reason for American expansionism

A

Motivated by a desire to improve the lives of non-americans

37
Q

Explain the end of Westward expansion as a reason for American expansionism

A

Westward expansion was a form of imperialism and and after the end of the frontier, it was inevitable that American attention would move abroad

38
Q

Explain preclusive imperialism as a reason for American expansionism

A

Taking colonies to prevent other countries doing so

39
Q

Explain the Monroe Doctrine 1823 as a reason for American expansionism

A

US would not tolerate European expansion in the Americas

40
Q

Explain the Roosevelt Corollary 1904 for American expansionism

A

US can intervene in Latin America if there is ‘wrong doing’

41
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Samoa

A
  • Strong German and Britain interest as a trading post
  • Samoan Civil War in 1898
  • 1899, Samoan monarchy abolished
  • US established a protectorate in the east and the west became a German colony
42
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Hawaii

A
  • To use as a stopping station on the way to China and Japan as well as the economic advantage of Hawaiin sugar
  • 1890’s, large american presence in Hawaii and Pacific Naval Base and Pearl Harbour
  • 1891, Hawaiian queen leads a rebellion. Marines arrived and rebels surrendered in three days.
  • July 1898, US annexed Hawaii
43
Q

Describe America’s involvement in the Philippines

A

US purchased from Spain for $20 million as part of Treaty of Paris 1898

3 reasons:
- US could ‘civilise’ through democracy and christianity
- Prevent being taken over by Britain, Germany or Japan
- Islands ‘incapable’ of ruling themselves

Strong resistance by Filipinos resulting in 4 year war of subjugation

44
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Puerto Rico

A
  • Originally Spanish owned
  • US invaded in 1898 during Spanish-American War
  • Ruled to belong to US under Organic Act of 1900
45
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Venezuela

A

US intervened during 1895 British-Venezuelan dispute over border in Guiana

46
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Dominican Republic

A
  • 1903, Republic defaulted on the repayment of $40 million of American loans
  • 1904, America took control of its customs revenue in order to take back the loan
47
Q

Describe America’s involvement in the Panama Canal

A
  • 1903, Panamanians stage a revolt for independence from Colombian rule
  • Revolt supported by US, sent a battleship and a regiment
  • Panama achieves independence
  • Accepts US offer of $10 million for a 16 km wide strip of land to build the Panama Canal through
48
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Nicaragua

A
  • Important because of proximity to the US and a high level of economic investment in the country
  • 1912, Nicaraguan pro-American president, Adolfo Diaz, threatened by revolution
  • US sent in 3,000 troops and made Nicaragua a protectorate
49
Q

Describe America’s involvement in China

A
  • No interest in expanding territorially into China
  • 1899, US introduced Open Door Policy
  • Later extended to state that the US government would protect the lives and property of US citizens living in China
50
Q

Describe America’s involvement in Japan

A
  • US helped negotiate end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905
  • Root-Takahira Agreement 1908, agreed to respect each others interests in China and maintain current situation in the Pacific
  • US agreed to Japanese right to annex Korea
51
Q

What are some causes for the Spanish-American war?

A
  • Yellow Press
  • De Lome letter
  • President McKinley
  • Cuban Rebellion 1895-1898
  • Monroe Doctrine
  • Economic interest
  • The ‘Maine’ incident
52
Q

Explain how the Yellow Press was a cause of the Spanish-American war

A

Sensationalist and patriotic press campaigns inflamed public opinion

53
Q

Explain how the De Lome letter was a cause of the Spanish-American war

A

A private letter from the Spanish minister in Washington DC, was published. It claimed McKinley was a ‘weak bidder for the admiration of the crowd’

54
Q

Explain how the President McKinley was a cause of the Spanish-American war

A

Had a strong interest in protecting cuban sugar and was fairly open to war

55
Q

Explain how the Cuban Rebellion 1895-98 was a cause of the Spanish-American war

A

Declining economy and increasing resistance in Cuba

56
Q

Explain how the Monroe Doctrine was a cause of the Spanish-American war

A

Cuba was in America’s sphere of influence

57
Q

Explain how ‘the Maine incident’ was a cause of the Spanish-American war

A

US battleship Maine exploded, killing 266 crew. Blame was placed on the Spanish and Roosevelt ordered a blockade of Cuba.

58
Q

What were the short term effects of the Spanish-American War?

A

Ended with a peace settlement, ‘Treaty of Paris 1898’. It stated:
- Cuban independence recognised but the US was allowed possession of Guantanamo Bay
- Spain seceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the US
- US purchased the Philippines from Spain for $20 million

59
Q

Describe what happened to Cuba in the years after the Spanish-American War

A
  • Teller Amendment 1898, gave Cuba independence
  • Platt Amendment 1901, gave US control over Cuban affairs and several naval bases
  • Cuban-American Treaty 1903, imposed new political system on Cuba and made its economy heavily dependent on the US
  • US forces occupied Cuba 3 time 1898 to 1912
60
Q

Describe segregation in the South

A
  • 1887, a railroad company in Florida was the first to introduce segregated carriages
  • This spread to other train companies and public places
  • Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
  • Cumming v. Board of Education, 1899
61
Q

Describe Plessy v. Ferguson

A
  • 1896
  • Plessy was light-skinned but 1/8th black
  • He challenged Louisiana state law by refusing to leave a white only train carriage
  • The local judge ruled against him and the case went to the SC
  • 7 of 8 SC judges ruled segregation was legal as long as it was ‘separate but equal’
62
Q

Describe Cumming v. Board of Education

A
  • 1899
  • Ruled that ‘separate but equal’ could be extended to education
63
Q

Describe black voting rights in the south

A
  • Georgia introduced a poll tax of up to $2 per voting citizen
  • 1898, Louisiana introduced the ‘grandfather clause’, declaring one could only vote if their father or grandfather had done so before 1st Jan 1867 (when AA gained the right to vote)
  • Some states ruled only those who owned their own homes could vote
  • 1890, Mississippi introduced a literacy test
  • By 1910, there was near elimination of black vote in the South
64
Q

Describe Booker T. Washington

A
  • Born a slave in Virginia
  • Later went to college and became a teacher
  • 1881, set up the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to provide vocational training for AA
  • Helped set up National Urban League to help AA adjust to industrial life and work
  • Speech in Atlanta, Georgia in 1895
65
Q

Describe the speech Booker T. Washington gave in Atlanta

A
  • 1895
  • Suggested AA focus on education and economic advancement
  • Wanted to work with the system rather than take it apart
  • Critics called this ‘the Atlanta Compromise’ and claimed it was too accommodating
66
Q

Describe W.E.B Du Bois

A
  • A lecturer in philosophy
  • Advocated for more active resistance to discrimination
  • Helped found the Niagara Movement in 1905
  • Helped found the NAACP in 1909
67
Q

Describe the Niagara Movement

A
  • Founded 1905
  • More active resistance
  • Some argued the movement was too academic and lacked funds
68
Q

Describe the negatives of the situation for AA by 1912

A
  • No AA in Congress of state legislatures
  • No right to vote in the South due to state laws
  • Lost the right to serve on juries
  • Segregation laws were formalised
69
Q

Describe the positives of the situation for AA by 1912

A
  • Chance of receiving a formal education increased
  • Increasing migration north
  • Civil Rights movement began to develop with the foundation of the NAACP in 1909
70
Q

Describe the 1896 election

A
  • Populist Party had a divisive say in the nomination of the Democrat candidate, William Jennings Bryan
  • Hanna spent $3 million supporting McKinley
  • Hanna sent 1,500 speakers to swing the vote in undecided areas
  • Bryan travelled over 28,000km and gave 600 campaign speeches
  • McKinley won 7 mill votes to Bryan 6.4 mill