Populism, progressivism and imperialism 1890-1920 Flashcards
1
Q
Why did the populist party emerge in the 1890s?
A
- There were many who didn’t benifit from the economic growth in USA
- 1893 - depression
+ farmers did not feel that they were benefiting from the American prosperity
+ populist movement - farmers, working people, supporters of sliver
2
Q
Reasons for the emergence of populists
Sliver
A
- Sliver
+ Traditionally gold standard however, bimetallists felt sliver should be used as well
+ World production of gold decreased 1865-90 while rapid growth in sliver
1860 - $150k 1890 - $57m
+ however, this would isolate US from Europe and increase gov interference in business
1890 - Sherman Sliver Purchase Act
1896 - Cleveland removed this
3
Q
Reasons for emergence of populists
Agriculture discontent
A
- Agriculture discontent
+ discontent among farmers
+ falling prices in wheat and cotton - 1860 - wheat bushel $1.60 1890 wheat bushel 60 cents
+ high tariffs on forgein goods - forgein people did not buy USA goods
4
Q
Formation of the populist party 1892
A
- July 1892
- peoples party
- James B. Weaver - 1m votes
5
Q
What are the aims for the populist party?
A
- regulation of railways, particularly the freight prices that many felt were too high
- far more gov regulations on farm prices
- a graduated income tax - rich taxed more
- direct election of senators to ensure all citizens would chose 2 senators from each state - max 8 hour day
- alter the basis of the currency
6
Q
Bryan and 1896 election
A
- William Jennings Bryan
- supporter of silver coinage, farming interests and wanted to improve conditions for the Urban WC
- Mark Hanna spent $3m supporting
- Bryan was unable to call upon such financial support - travelled over 28,000 km and 600 speeches
- McKinley - 7m pop - 273 ec
- Bryan - 6.4 m pop - 176 ec
7
Q
How important was populism?
A
- Some histrions see it as a link between the populists of the 1890s and progressives in 1900-12 (progressives feared popular democracy)
- membership of the populist party by 1900 had fallen
8
Q
progressivism
A
- Loose grouping of many individuals and organisations with no easily identifiable leaders and no clear aims
- Roosevelt & Taft reps but seen as progressives
9
Q
Why did progressivism emerge?
A
- Economic problems
+ recession struck 1893 - high unemployment in cities 12%
+ fall in living standards, banks collapsed
+ agriculture declined due to falling prices - social problems
+ poverty, lack of clean water
+ 72 working week
+ no welfare system - need for political reform
+ growing dissatisfaction with 2 main parties
+ progressives were opposed to corrupt party machines and big buis dominate politics - need to regulate big business
+ increasing hostility towards robber barons
+ growing demand for gov regulation
10
Q
What were the aims of the progressive party?
- political
A
- poltical aims
+ change to the conclusion including allowing women to vote and ensuring the senators were more accountable
+ much greater pole for federal government in the economy and society in particular to regulate big bus
+ radical reform of the management of towns and cities where often controlled by corrupt officials
+ changes to the political parties
11
Q
What were the aims of the progressive party?
Economic aims
A
- Economic aims
+ gov to play a much greater role in regulating the business
+ gov should have more control of the banks
+ new legislation - employers recognise trade unions, regulated hours of work
+ change the currency - introduce silver
12
Q
What were the aims of the progressive party?
Social aims
A
- Social aims
+ female emancipation - 1890 National American Suffrage Association set up
+ gov to provide a safety net to help those who were poor
- welfare state
+ prohibition
+ reforms to help AA who moved N
13
Q
Roosevelt
How progressive was Roosevelt?
A
- felt that the federal gov had a role in the economy and should intervene where and when necessary
- criticised by liberals for being too cautious and by his party for being too radical
14
Q
Progressive measures - anti - trust measures
A
- Anti-trust measures
+ Roosevelt was determined to make the Anti-Sherman Trust act 1890 more effective
_ taking on powerful business men e.g. Rockefeller
_ 1904 USASC decided the Northern Securities Company was illegal
+ 1903 Department of Commerce and Labour Act - reduce monopiles occurring
+ 1906 Hepburn act - protect the public from exploitation
14
Q
Progressive measures - anti - trust measures
A
- Anti-trust measures
+ Roosevelt was determined to make the Anti-Sherman Trust act 1890 more effective
_ taking on powerful business men e.g. Rockefeller
_ 1904 USASC decided the Northern Securities Company was illegal
+ 1903 Department of Commerce and Labour Act - reduce monopiles occurring
+ 1906 Hepburn act - protect the public from exploitation
14
Q
Progressive measures - anti - trust measures
A
- Anti-trust measures
+ Roosevelt was determined to make the Anti-Sherman Trust act 1890 more effective
_ taking on powerful business men e.g. Rockefeller
_ 1904 USASC decided the Northern Securities Company was illegal
+ 1903 Department of Commerce and Labour Act - reduce monopiles occurring
+ 1906 Hepburn act - protect the public from exploitation
15
Q
Progressive measures - Labour relations
A
- Labour relations
+ Roosevelt was prepared to intervene in industrial disputes such as Anthracite coal stroke 1902
+ Roosevelt had expanded the role of the gov to obtain fair-paly and justice
16
Q
Progressive measures - Conservation
A
- Conservation
+ Roosevelt ordered 150m acres of forest to be placed on federal reserve and strictly enforced laws on grazing
+ 1908 Roosevelt organised the National Conservation Conference
17
Q
Roosevelts achievement
A
yes
+ action against big buis and continued support for conservation measure (120m acres public domain)
no
- unable to persuade Congress to pass more in the way of progressive reform
18
Q
Taft’s achievements
A
yes
+ continued Roosevelts anti-trust acts (80 anti-trust acts suits under Anti-Sherman act)
+ Introduced 8 hour day for gov employees
+ introduced income tax and corporation tac
no
- respected rights of Congress to oppose his ideas and determined to act within the limits of the constitution
- lacked political skills
19
Q
Opposition from Roosevelt
Taft
A
- Concerns about taft’s reluctance to carry out further reform were communicated to Roosevelt in 1910
- 1912 Roosevelt now claimed that the Republican party no longer represented the wishes of the people and left to form a new party (progressives) - weakened the Rep party
20
Q
Economic developments
- Industrial growth
A
Industrial growth
- Iron production 1860 - 920,000 to 10.3m 1900
- modern oil production - 70,000 - 110,000 per day. 1907 Oklahoma was leading oil producing 25% nations oil
- Trusts and monopiles - 1904 4% US companies produced 57% total industry of USA
21
Q
Economic developments
- Depression of 1893
A
Depression 1893
- Depression sparked a stock market crash
- crisis sparked 4 year depression - national 20% unemployment
- Depression alienated many people from both the economic and the political process - led to a rise in progressivism
22
Q
Economic development
- Agricultural discontent
A
Agricultural discontent
- Farmers in S&W did not share the prosperity and expansion experienced by the industry
- farmers joined into Farmers Alliance, creating unity for themselves through co-operation and mutual self-respect
23
Economic development
- Trade Unions
Trade Unions
- Labour unions representing different crafts were set up
- American Federation of Labour (AFL) created to represent these labour unions, speaking on behalf of all member unions and encouraging mutual support between unions
- 1886 1,400 strikes involving 500,000 members
24
Trade Unions
- Pittsburgh steelworks' strike 1892
- Carnegie's Homestead Steelworks cut wages 1892 and refused to accept union negotiation
- However, 5 months without wages, strikers were starving and their action collapsed
- This defeat set back union power considerably
25
Trade Unions
- The pullman strike of 1894
- Paralysed the railway system
- pullman company had cut wages but refused to lower rents for the house where employees were required to live
26
Effect of mass immigration
- Between 1860 - 1900 14m immigrates arrived in the USA
- 1914 - NY 1.4m Jews / 4.7m pop
- immigration was a major reason why the USA was able to progress as quickly as it did with industrialisation - formed unskilled work force
- migrant was grateful for a job
27
Reactions to mass immigration
- While many immigrants were welcomed by employers as cheap and willing labour
- immigrants were often used as strike-breakers
- 1887 American Protective Association was set up to put pressure on the gov to limit immigrations
- 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
28
Economic and social conditions
African Americans
- Segregation in the South
+ 1887, railroad company introduced segregated railway carriages
+ segregation was reinforced by the Plessy v. Ferguson case 1896
- voting rights
+ Many southern states were also determined to ensure that AA did not exercise their right to vote
+ extra qualifications
_ Poll tax - most AA were too poor to have such money
_ 1898 grandfather clause
_ literacy tests in order to register to vote which effectively excluded many illiterate AA
+ by 1910 very few AA were able to vote in the S
29
Booker T Washington
- Belived AA need to acquire skills through education
- Achievements:
+ role model for AA because of the way e progressed from slave to college
30
W.E.B. Du Bois
- supported Booker T Washingtons but gradual change but by 1900 he was supported more active resistance to discrimination
31
The Niagara movement
Du Bios helped to found the Niagara movement in 1905
- The movement rejected Washington's cautious approach and put the emphasis on protest to demand civil rights
32
The position of AA in 1912
- AA were second class citizens, especially in the South
- Right of AA in congress or even in state legislatures
- Right for AA to vote has been removed in the S
- Segregation laws had formalised and increased the separation of races in the S
- Chances of receiving a formal education did increase
33
Foreign and imperial policies
The USA had pursued a policy of isolationism with very little interests in imperial expansion
- However, the US became more involved abroad from 1890-1914
34
Motives for imperialism
- Accidental empire
- Accidental empire
+ The USA never sought an empire at all and the decisions to annex the Philippines was due to the vote from V. President Hobart
35
Motives for imperialism
- Progressive imperialism
- Progressive imperialism
+ US imperialism was motivated b a desire to improve the lives of non Americans
_e.g. removal of yellow fever in Cuba and the building of hospitals and schools
+ Imperial power because it wanted to dominate the world by creating countries in its own image
36
Motives for imperialism
- need for markets
- Need for markets
+ USA belived that this need for markets could be met by the OPEN DOOR POLICY (September 6th 1899)
rather than actual territorial expansion
37
Motives for imperialism
- Preclusive Imperialism
- Preclusive Imperialism
+ countries take colonies to prevent others from doing so
+ Monroe Doctrine
38
US FP - Samoa
- Samoa
+ Preclusive imperialism
+ USA was aware of increasing German and British interest in the area
+ USA established a protectorate
39
US FP - Hawaii
- Hawaii
+ 1898 USA annexed Hawaii
+ important as a stopping station on the way to Japan and China and US missionaries had settler there
+ 1890s 3,000 American sugar growers
+1887 Peral Harbour established
+ 1890 McKinley tariff removed on raw sugar
40
US FP - Philippines
- Philippines
+Treaty of Paris 1898 (ended Spanish American war) USA was allowed to purchase Philippines for $20m
_ preclusive imperialism
- USA fight 4 yrs costing around $600m to ensure Philippines did not become independent
41
US FP - Latin America
- Latin America
+ Puerto Rico
_ Before Spanish American war it had a a degree of independence but 1898 it was invaded by American troops - Organic Act 1900 - PR was administered by USA
+ Venezuela
_ 1895 Britain and Venezuela were in dispute of the border with Guiana. UK backed down after America threatened to send troops - Arbitration decided in favour of Venezuela
42
US FP - Spanish American War 1898
- Spanish American war
+ 1898
+Cuba was on US doorstep (according to Monroe doctrine) BUT Cuba was controlled by Spain
+ Cuba wanted independence
+ Spain refused then accused America of being a weaker bidder - McKinely was very offended
43
US FP - Spanish American War 1898
- Spanish American war
+ 1898
+Cuba was on US doorstep (according to Monroe doctrine) BUT Cuba was controlled by Spain
+ Cuba wanted independence
+ Spain refused then accused Spain of being a weaker bidder - McKinley was very offended
_ then the Mine incident occurred
_ American battleship blew up - US thinks it was due to a mine
44
What were the reasons for US involvement in the Spanish American War?
- Partly inspired by an aggressive and patriotic press campaign that inflamed public opinion - Yellow press
- Economic motives - partly due to protect US business interests in Cuba but also to offer a deliberate distraction from the Depression 1890
- Intervention was inevitable given the misrule of the Spanish, geological closeness of Cuba and the Monroe Doctrine
- Real fears in USA that they would not be able to control an independent Cuba - threaten American interests on the Island
45
Defeating Spain in the Spanish American War
- April 1898, US forced double attacked the Spanish forces
- combination of land forces and the Navy blockade forced the Spanish Troops to surrender after less than a week
46
Results of the Spanish American war
- Treaty of Paris 1898
+ Cuban independence was recognised but the USA were allowed Guantanamo Bay
+ Spain lost the past parts of its American empire by ceding Puerto Rico
+ USA purchased the Philippines for $20m
+ Spain also ceded the Pacific Island
47
US FP 1901-12 Latin America (Cuba)
- Cuba
+ After SA war, debate about what the USA should do with Cuba
+ 1901 Platt Amendment (USA can annex a country if USA is at threat)
+1903 - treaty signed which imposed a new political system and made it economically dependent on the USA
48
US FP 1901-12 Latin America (Panama canal)
- Panama Canal
+ USA had long supported the building of the canal
+ French company originally started the build but then an American company took over - Colombia demanded $15m from gov & $10m from new American company - Roosevelt refused
+ 1903 Panamanians staged a revolt from Colombia - USA helped and sent battleships - eventually Panama achieved independence and Colombia accepted $10m for the land to build canal
49
US FP 1901-12 Latin America - Nicaragua
- Nicaragua
+ Important to USA as it had the possibility of a canal site and high level of economic investment in the country
+ 1909 president of Nicaragua threatened these interests as he cancelled the economic privileges that the USA minors had
+ Taft send marines to install a pro-American president Diaz
+ USA provided huge loans and in return the USA controlled Nicaraguan National Bank
+ 1912 - US troops sent in to stop the threat of a revolution - USA controlled it for a further 10yrs
50
US FP 1901-12 - Latin America Dominican republic
- DR
+ US police power
1903 DR defaulted on the repayment of American loans ($40m)
+ 1904 Roosevelt took control of custom revenues and used it to pay off his debt
51
US FP 1901-12 Far East - China
- China
+ USA had no desire to expand territorially into China
+1899 Open Door Policy
1900 Boxer rebellion broke out - US sent troops to help rescues forgein embassies
52
US FP 1901-12 Far East - Japan
- Japan
+ substantial immigration into both Hawaii and USA
_ 1900 legislation put a stop to this
+ 1904-05 Japan defeated Russia - Roosevelt helped negotiate the end of the war Treaty of New Hampshire
+ 1908 Root-Takahira Agreement signed to improve US & Japan relations
53
Progressive reforms 1912-20 - Banking
- Banking
+ Federal Reserve act 1913 - maintain balance between big buis and needs of a wider community
_ enabled the reserve banks to control money supply
_ 1923 70% of the nations banking resources were in the reserve
54
Progressive reforms 1912-20 - Anti trust measure
- Anti trust measures
+ Federal trade commission
_ investigate corporations and stop unfair practices
_ FTC administered 400 cease-and-desist order - still in effect today
+ Clayton Anti-trust act 1914
_ gave more powers to enforcing the Sherman Anti-trust act
55
Progressive reforms 1912-20 Economic and financial reforms
- Economic and financial reforms
+ Underwood Tariff
_ October 1913
_ significantly reduced many duties and freed certain items from them entirely
+ Income tax
_ replace the gov income lost when Underwood tariff came into place
_ 1917 gov was receiving more money from income tax than it ever did on tariffs
56
Progressive reforms 1912-20 Social reforms
- Social reforms
+ Federal Child Labour Act 1916 - 1918 unconstitutional
+ 1916 Workmen's compensation act - 8hr day
+ Wilson had little sympathy to trade unions
57
Progressive reforms 1912-20 African Americans
- African Americans
+ Wilson placed segregationists in charge of federal agencies
+ 1912 Wilson won the NAACP support by promising to treat blacks equally
58
1916 Election
Wilson 2nd term
- Wilson - desire for neutrality
- Progressive party tried to nominate Roosevelt but he declined and this ultimately lead to the downfall of the party
59
How progressive war Wilson?
- he introduced a series of economic and welfare reforms
-introduced significant changes to the constitution
- continued anti-trust legislation
- introduced income tax and federal reserve
- However, after 1914 there were little reforms for the next 6yrs
60
Wilson and moral diplomacy
- Wilson and William Jennings Bryan thought that the USA had a responsibility to improve the lives of forgein people through US example
- Moral diplomacy - desire to do good would govern US policy
- Wilson gave $20m reparations to Columbia
61
Wilson idealism
- Wilson declared that the future co-operation in Latin America would only be possible with gov. Goal: to support the orderly processes of just gov based upon law and not irregular forces
- Some success:
+ he fought against special concessions - repeal 1912 law exempting US costal shipping from paying tolls in p
Panama canal
- US interests built highways, bridges, airfields, hospitals and schools throughout Latin America
62
The Onset of war, 1914
- USA adopted a policy of neutrality which maintained until April 1917
- 1916 election - Wilson campaigned to keep the USA out of it
63
Reasons for neutrality WW1
- Public opinion
+ prevaling mood that the war had nothing to do with the US
- Wilsonianism
+ Wilson sought himself with neutrality
+ 1914 Decleration of Neurtality
64
Tensions of concerning neutrality WW1
- Pro British feeling
+ favoured British
- Anti-German feeling
+ Germany posed a threat to US interests and it would be better helping the Allies
+ Anti-German propaganda
- Trade
+ 1914 USA trading with most major nations
+ $549m good to Britain
+ 1916 trade with Germany was 1% of 1914 trades
65
Unrestricted submarine warfare, Feb-Aug 1915
- Feb 1915 Germany decaled British water a war zone
- Wilson responded by warming Germany that he would hold them accountable for any American lives on ships sunk by Germany
66
An end to war?
- Wilson was increasinly considering a post war world where there would be no war
- 1916 Wilson gave a speech in which he would outlined the factors that lead to war such as secret diplomacy - lead to distrust between nations
67
End to war? failure of peace initiatives
- April 1915, the USA entered the war
+ Wilson realised if they did not enter the war they would lose credibility as a peacemaker
68
Reasons to enter the war?
- Resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare
+ Jan 1917 Ger gave 8hr notice that they are going to sink all ships in the British water war zone - several US ships sunk
- German activities within the USA
+ Wilson did not trust Ger-Amer and some were spies - internal traitors
- Zimmerman telegram
+ Jan 1917 Heinrich told Mexican gov to go to war with USA and they would receive Texas and Ger support - USA felt threatened
- Declaration of war
+ April 1917, Wilson asked for Congress' authority to make war on GER
69
USA War economy
- Paying for the war
+ $33.5b + $7b to allies
+ gov collected $10.5b taxes
- War industries
+ 1917 creation of war industries board
+ US steel made $0.5b in 2yrs
- Railroads
+ raised wages and raised passenger prices
- Agriculture
+ 1917 Lever food and fuel control act
_ set wheat prices $2.20 per bushel
_ set up campgain to eat sensibly - ration less
70
US War workers
- National War Labour Board 1918
- War Labour Policies Board set wages and standards of employment
- women
+ 6,000 women engaged in aircraft manufacture
+ Labour unions refused to accept women as they thought it would bring down wages
71
US War African Americans
- Migration of African Americans
+ 1914-18 500,000 migrated North
+ less racism when abroad in Europe - changed their prospective
- Patriotism of AA
+ 360,000+ AA volunteered to fight
- Suppression
+ American politicians feared AA would not support the US in war when they clearly faced prejudice and discrimination at home
72
Wilsons 14 points
- Wilson wanted a peace settlement that would bring lasting peace
- proposed 14 points
+ main: set up League of Nations
73
The peace conference
- Paris 1919
- Wilsons idea of everlasting peace based on fairness and moral principles did not necessarily receive sympathetic audience
- Wilsons main priority was the creation of the League of Nations
74
USA and the League of Nations - why did Wilson fail?
- Wilson was ill - went against doctors orders and toured the US - then collapsed - Campagin over
- Wilson refused to compromise - there was a compromise bill but Wilson told Dems to oppose it
75
USA by 1920 - economy
- Economy
+ by 1920 - US was the words leading industrial nation
+ Countries effected by the war bought supplies off USA
+ US manufactures and farmers took over Europe
+ by 1920 USA produced 70% worlds oil
+ small farmers were struggling with competition from Canada and NZ
76
USA by 1920 - Society
- Society
+ diverse and multicultural
+ waves of immigration (exploitation & poverty)
+ AA (esp. S) were 2nd class citizens due to discrimination, segregation and intimidation
+ Native Americans lost land and way of life
77
USA by 1920 - Politics
- Politics
+ expansion of the role of president and the federal government esp. Roosevelt and Wilson
+ USA went from isolationism to involvement in WW1
