Populism and Progressivism (1890 - 1912) Flashcards
Successes of President McKinley
- Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush increased the amount of gold in circulation
- Political position strengthened by the Spanish-American War
- Growing economy
Weaknesses of President McKinley
- 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
Successes of President Roosevelt
- 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
Describe President Roosevelt’s anti-trust measures
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
Describe the anthracite coal strike of 1902
- 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
Describe President Roosevelt’s conservation work
- 150 million acres of forest to be placed on federal reserves
- Strictly enforced laws on grazing, mining and lumbering
- Organised 1908 National Conservation Conference
Describe President Roosevelt’s work in consumer protection
- 1906 Act led to a federal programme of meat inspection
- Pure Food and Drug Act 1906 started the end of food adulteration
Weaknesses of President Roosevelt
- Growing divide in the Republican Party between conservatives and progressives
Strengths of President Taft
- 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
Weaknesses of President Taft
- 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
Describe the impact that Roosevelt had on the 1912 election
- Roosevelt formed the Bull-moose party
- Split the Republican vote
- Contributed greatly to 1912 Republican defeat
What were the main reasons populism emerged?
- Bimetallism
- Agricultural discontent
Describe bimetallism in 1890
- 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
Describe agricultural discontent in 1890
- 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
What were the aims of the Populist Party?
- Regulation of railways & farm prices
- Improve AA rights
- Graduated income tax
- Direct election of senators
- 8 hour working day
- Bimetallism
Give some reasons why populism was not important
- Collapsed following 1896 election (short lived)
- Had few electoral success (45 member served in Congress 1891-1902)
Give some reasons why populism was important
- Progressives adopted many of the aims of the populist party
- Third party influence of the Populists
What were the main reasons progressivism emerged?
- Economic problems
- Social problems
- Need for political reform
- Need to regulate big business
- Media influence
- Fear of revolution
Describe the economic problems that led to the establishment of progressivism
- Recession in 1893
- 12% unemployed in 1890’s
- Falling standards of living
- Failing small farms vs big agribusiness
Describe the social problems that led to the establishment of progressivism
- Poor living conditions
- 6 day, 72-hour working week
- No welfare system
Describe the need for political reform that led to the establishment of progressivism
- Growing dissatisfaction with the 2 main parties
- Corruption
Describe the need to regulate big business that led to the establishment of progressivism
- Monopolies and fixed prices
- Increasingly hostile to robber barons
Describe the media influence that led to the establishment of progressivism
- Increase in magazine and newspaper circulation
- Spreading views and opinions
- 1912, McClure’s magazine = 1 mill copies per edition
Describe the fear of revolution that led to the establishment of progressivism
- Concern about the growth of socialism and radicalism
- Growing trade unions and violent strikes
Describe the political aims of the progressives
- 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
Describe the economic aims of the progressives
- 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
Describe the social aims of the progressives
- Female suffrage
- Creation of welfare state
- Abolition of manufacture and sale of alcohol
- Improved living standards for African Americans
Describe industrial growth 1890-1912
- 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
Describe the Depression of 1893
- 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
Describe agricultural discontent 1890 - 1912
- 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
Describe the Pittsburgh steelworkers’ strike
- 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
Describe the Pullman strike
- 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
Describe mass immigration 1890 - 1912
- 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
What were the theories as to why America moved to an expansionist policy?
- Accidental empire
- Progressive imperialism
- Need for markets
- The end of westward expansion
- Preclusive imperialism
- Monroe Doctrine 1823
- Roosevelt Corollary 1904
Explain accidental empire as a reason for American expansionism
Empire came about unintentionally die to several unrelated political moves
Explain progressive imperialism as a reason for American expansionism
Motivated by a desire to improve the lives of non-americans
Explain the end of Westward expansion as a reason for American expansionism
Westward expansion was a form of imperialism and and after the end of the frontier, it was inevitable that American attention would move abroad
Explain preclusive imperialism as a reason for American expansionism
Taking colonies to prevent other countries doing so
Explain the Monroe Doctrine 1823 as a reason for American expansionism
US would not tolerate European expansion in the Americas
Explain the Roosevelt Corollary 1904 for American expansionism
US can intervene in Latin America if there is ‘wrong doing’
Describe America’s involvement in Samoa
- 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
Describe America’s involvement in Hawaii
- 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
Describe America’s involvement in the Philippines
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
Describe America’s involvement in Puerto Rico
- Originally Spanish owned
- US invaded in 1898 during Spanish-American War
- Ruled to belong to US under Organic Act of 1900
Describe America’s involvement in Venezuela
US intervened during 1895 British-Venezuelan dispute over border in Guiana
Describe America’s involvement in Dominican Republic
- 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
Describe America’s involvement in the Panama Canal
- 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
Describe America’s involvement in Nicaragua
- 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
Describe America’s involvement in China
- 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
Describe America’s involvement in Japan
- 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
What are some causes for the Spanish-American war?
- Yellow Press
- De Lome letter
- President McKinley
- Cuban Rebellion 1895-1898
- Monroe Doctrine
- Economic interest
- The ‘Maine’ incident
Explain how the Yellow Press was a cause of the Spanish-American war
Sensationalist and patriotic press campaigns inflamed public opinion
Explain how the De Lome letter was a cause of the Spanish-American war
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’
Explain how the President McKinley was a cause of the Spanish-American war
Had a strong interest in protecting cuban sugar and was fairly open to war
Explain how the Cuban Rebellion 1895-98 was a cause of the Spanish-American war
Declining economy and increasing resistance in Cuba
Explain how the Monroe Doctrine was a cause of the Spanish-American war
Cuba was in America’s sphere of influence
Explain how ‘the Maine incident’ was a cause of the Spanish-American war
US battleship Maine exploded, killing 266 crew. Blame was placed on the Spanish and Roosevelt ordered a blockade of Cuba.
What were the short term effects of the Spanish-American War?
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
Describe what happened to Cuba in the years after the Spanish-American War
- 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
Describe segregation in the South
- 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
Describe Plessy v. Ferguson
- 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’
Describe Cumming v. Board of Education
- 1899
- Ruled that ‘separate but equal’ could be extended to education
Describe black voting rights in the south
- 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
Describe Booker T. Washington
- 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
Describe the speech Booker T. Washington gave in Atlanta
- 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
Describe W.E.B Du Bois
- A lecturer in philosophy
- Advocated for more active resistance to discrimination
- Helped found the Niagara Movement in 1905
- Helped found the NAACP in 1909
Describe the Niagara Movement
- Founded 1905
- More active resistance
- Some argued the movement was too academic and lacked funds
Describe the negatives of the situation for AA by 1912
- 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
Describe the positives of the situation for AA by 1912
- Chance of receiving a formal education increased
- Increasing migration north
- Civil Rights movement began to develop with the foundation of the NAACP in 1909
Describe the 1896 election
- 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
