Rise of populism and progressivism (1890-1912) Flashcards
1
Q
4
Describe the emergence of the populism
A
- Agragarian-based movement
- Preceded by Farmers Alliance, the Grange and KoL
- James B Weaver stood as candidate for left-wing People’s Party (Populist Party) in 1892
- Won 8.5% of vote, esp in West - substantial support for 3rd party
2
Q
6
Describe the aims of populism in 1892
A
- Bimetallism - replace Gold Standard with unlimited ‘free silver’ as basis of currency in addition to gold
- Regulation of railways, specifically high freight prices
- Much greater regulation of farm prices
- Graduated income tax
- Direct election of senators
- Maximum 8hr work day
3
Q
3
Describe the demise of the Bourbon Democrats
A
- 1894 mid-terms - historic defeats (largest swing in House history, losing over 100 seats)
- Laissez-faire approach and Gold Standard support led to rise of populism among traditional rural base
- Acceptance of JP Morgan loan showed that Cleveland sided with Wall St
4
Q
4
Describe the rise of populism within the Democrat party
A
- ‘silverities’ won a floor debate at the party’s National Nominating Convention in Chicago
- Democrats formally adopted free silver as policy
- 1896, Bryan recieved nomination to combat rise of populist party
- Populist Party declined to run own candidate to avoid splitting the vote
5
Q
3
Describe Bryan’s campaign
A
- Relied heavily on oratory due to lack of financial backing
- Made 600 speeches
- Evoked biblical connotations in famous ‘Cross of Gold’ speech denouncing the Gold Standard
6
Q
4
Describe the McKinley and Republican support base
A
- Far fewer AA voters since days of Lincoln following failure of Rc
- Assembled conservative coalition of businessmen
- Won support of WC who had prospered from industrialisation
- Won support of majority of press, including highly-influential New York Times
7
Q
6
Describe McKinley’s campaign in 1896
A
- Driven by master political strategist and fundraiser, Mark Hanna
- Ran ‘front porch’ campaign, remaining close to home
- Spent $3.5m
- Sent more than 1000 letters and team of 1500 speakers to voters
- Focussed on battleground states from Ohio to Wisconsin
- Smear campaign of Bryan
8
Q
4
Describe the smear campaign of Bryan
A
- Portrayed as reckless anarchist
- Demonised as religious fanatic
- printed fake dollar bills stating ‘in God we trust… for the other 53 cents’
- Illustrated claim that a dollar bill would be worth only 47% of original value under bimetallism
9
Q
3
Describe the results of the 1896 election
A
- Pop vote: McKinley 7m vs Bryan 6.5m (+500k)
- EC: McKinley 273 vs Bryan 176
- Bryan unable to win single state in populous NE where workers feared free silver
10
Q
3
Describe the successes of President McKinley
A
- Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush 1896-99 increased the amount of gold in circulation (30-40k speculators)
- Political position strengthened by the Spanish-American War
- Growing economy
11
Q
5
Describe the weaknesses of Presdient 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 2nd VP Roosevelt
- Assassinated September 1901
12
Q
In what years did Bryan run for the Presidency?
A
- 1896
- 1900
- 1908
13
Q
3
Describe the difference between populism and progressivism
A
- Populism - rural and regional
- Progressivism - urban, middle-class and national (+ wider social/political platform)
- But both advocated expanded govt intervention
14
Q
3
Describe the reasons for the emergence of progressivism
A
- Reaction to monopolistic capitalism of GA
- Put forward by muckracking journalism and reform-minded politicians
- Came from both sides of political divide
15
Q
1
Describe muckracking journalism
A
investigative journalism in which exposès would denounce child labour, poor living conditions
16
Q
11 - don’t need all
Describe the aims of progressivism
A
- Votes for women
- End to inner-city corruption
- Regulation of big business, anti-trust
- Improved worker rights
- Welfare reform
- Consumer protection
- Improved rights for AAs
- Direct election of Senators
- Primary elections
- Prohibition
- Regulation of banking industry
RRR - PP - CCC - WS
17
Q
5
Describe Theodore Roosevelt
A
- National hero who led rough-riders in Spanish–American War 1898
- Sought compromise after McKinley’s 1901 assassination
- Figurehead of progressive movement
- Supportive of targeted intervention, even if necessitating expansion of government
- Supportive of Gold Standard
18
Q
2
Describe historical intepretations of Theodore Roosevelt
A
- Proponents say he gave publicity and impetus to progressive movement, bringing Presidential office into arena of socio-economic reform
- Others view him as reactionary who supported reforms to prevent revolution
19
Q
4
Describe TR’s anti-trust measures
A
- Evoked anti-big business sentiment in 1st State of Union Address to Congress in Dec 1901
- Utilised Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890 more efffectively
- Department of Commerce and Labor Act 1903
- Hepburn Act 1906
20
Q
3
Describe the Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890
A
- Government held right to break up trusts
- Take them to court for anti-competition practices
- Rarely and ineffectively used
21
Q
4
Describe TR’s use of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890
A
- 1902 - instructed attorney general Knox to start proceedings against the Northern Securities Company, which controlled several railways in NE
- Involved taking on Rockefeller and JP Morgan
- 1904, SC decided company was illegal and subsequently dissolved
- Embarked upon 44 antitrust prosecutions, including American Tobacco and Standard Oil
22
Q
4
Describe the Department of Commerce and Labor Act 1903
A
- created new Department of Commerce with Cabinet secretary
- Granted power to collect data from any company that dealt in interstate commerce
- Vital to identifying monopolies or prices fixing
- TR put public pressure on Congress to pass Act
23
Q
3
Describe the Hepburn Act 1906
A
- expanded provisions of 1903 Elkins Act
- Gave ICC power to inspect books of railroad companies
- ICC could lay down maximum freight rates
ICC - Interstate Commerce Commission
24
Q
2
Describe the anthracite coal strike 1902
A
- Miners who went on strike for higher wages and 8hr day
- Stalemate reached
25
Q
3
Describe TR’s Square Deal
A
- TR summoned both sides to DC and claimed he would sent in troops to work in mines unless arbitration agreed
- Employers settled on higher wages and 9hr work day
- TR called settlement the ‘square deal’ - balanced competing interests - synonymous with domestic policies
26
Q
4
Describe the signficance of the square deal
A
- Previous governments had regularly taken side of employers
- TR emphasises importance of government in obtaining social justice
- Led to huge WC popularity
- However employers raised prices to cover pay rise and had not conceded much
27
Q
5
Describe TR’s Conservation
A
- 1905, appointed Gifford Pinchot as 1st Chief of US Forest Service
- Ordered 150m acres to be placed on federal reserves (national parks)
- Circa 120m acres taken in public domain between 1905-09
- 1908, organised National Conservation Conference - led to many state conservation efforts
- 1st President to take keen interest in environmental issues
28
Q
2
Describe TR’s consumer protection legislation
A
- Meat Inspection Act 1906 - federal programme of meat inspection
- Pure Food and Drug Act 1906 - started process of ending food adulteration
29
Q
1
Why was TR’s progressive legislative agenda limited
A
- Growing divide within Republicans between conservatives and progressives
30
Q
3
Describe the progressive policies of Taft
A
- Passed 16th amendment in Congress to allow for introduction of federal income tax in 1909
- Embarked on (99) anti-trust prosecutions, over double TR in half the time
- Famously took controversial legal action against US Steel in 1911
31
Q
4
Describe the conservative policies of Taft
A
- Sacked Pinchot in 1910 to placate big business
- Did not veto Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act 1909
- Adopted more cautious trade-orientated FP, especially in Latin America
- Progressive agenda limited to tax reform/big business regulation, rather than wider agenda of TR
32
Q
3
Describe Joseph Cannon
A
- ultra-conservative speaker Joseph Cannon that had stifled TR’s more progressive reforms
- Taft held personal dislike, but willing to tolerate to maintain large Republican House majority and consensus around his policies
- 1910, progressive Republicans partnered with Democrats to lead revolt against Cannon
33
Q
3
Describe opposition to Taft
A
- Now-progressive Democrats had unexpected success in 1910 mid-terms, gaining the House
- ‘fighting Bob’ Robert La Follete organised ‘National Reformist League’ to influence Republican policies based towards progressive reform
- TR bitter rival by 1910, launched comeback 1911-12
34
Q
3
Describe TR’s opposition to Taft
A
- Resented Taft’ reversal of his progressive agenda, especially Pinchot’s sacking
- In reality disagreements more in style than substance
- Unofficial campaigning by his supporters hijacked progressive insurgency of RLF, infuriating him
35
Q
4
Describe the 1912 Republican/Progressive campaign
A
- Taft won on first ballot (patronage helped)
- Yet mandate fatally weakened by party divisions
- July 1912, TR bullied RLF into standing down and won nomination for National Progressive Party
- Oct 1912, TR declared he felt as ‘strong as a bull moose’ after assassination attempt
36
Q
6
List the reasons for Republican dominance 1890-1912
A
- Adoption of progressivism
- Big Business support
- Democrat and populist failures
- Popular appeal of TR
- Economic recovery
- Electoral system - relegated Dem support to more sparsely populated South and West
37
Q
2
Describe the Payne-Aldrich Act 1909
A
- Average reduction of 5%
- raised tariffs on 220 items to high levels
38
Q
2
Who were the ‘goo-goos’?
A
- Reformers who wished to address corruption in municipal government
- Linked to progressives and mugwumps
39
Q
2
When did the primary system start?
A
- Oregon trialled in 1910
- North Dakota become first state to use primary for presidential election in 1912
