The Democratic Party, Woodrew Wilson And The New Freedom 1896-1917 Flashcards
What were the problems with the Democratic Party between 1890-1912?
• William Jennings Bryan had divided party- alienating voters from demands of ‘free silver’
• improved economic conditions following war against Spain made populist movement decrease
• party division in (1904),
-in national nominating convention Grover Cleveland and Bryan had lots opposition, leading to Alton Parker gaining nomination (didn’t have biography recorded)
•(1908) election, Jennings Bryan had adopted more progressive views , but failed to win any state in northeast, becoming defeated for 3rd time
What were the successes of the Democratic Party between 1890-1912?
• Bryan having more progressive views= start introduction of progressive views in party
• mid term election (1910) democrats won control of House of Representatives during, known as Republican disaster
• Woodrow Wilson, political outsider, progressive , son of minister of southern prestybteriN church was presidant of Princeton university in New Jersey (1902-1910) gaining him an high reputation. Then (1910) governed of New Jersey, made him a strong candidate to run for the democrats in (1912) presidential election
• Woodrow Wilson reconciled with William Jennings Bryan
What occurred in the build up to the 1912 election?
• Theodore Roosevelt failed to win Republican nomination, so took leadership of new national progressive party [divided Republican Party]
• Woodrow Wilson: a Democratic Party nominee, had unified the party & attacked republicans for high protective tariffs and big business
• William Howard Taft was republican nominee
•eugene debs was leader of socialist party
What were the results of the 1912 election?
Wilson won 42% of popular votes, and 435 electro college vote
Roosevelt won 27% popular vote, and 88 electoral college votes
Taft won 23% popular vote, and 8 electoral college vote
[Eugene Debs (socialist party) won over 900,000 popular votes]
What was socialism in America like in 1900-1920s?
-created from expansion of industrial economy
- influenced workers to organize trade unions & strikes [homestead strike, Pullman strike (1894), coal strike (1902)
Was Divided:
• Eugene debs led political socialism , demanding radical change to social and economic systems (led industrial workers of the world)
•Samuel Gompers led moderate socialism , were willing to collaborate with business as long as jobs & wages of members protected (led American federation of labor)
[socialism was overshadowed by the strength of the progressive movement, so it wasn’t able to maintain an strong political force]
What is “new freedom”
A slogan used in Woodrow Wilson’s (1912) presidential campaign
Which had different progressive ideas to Theodore Roosevelt
[was a label for Wilson reforms after election]
What areas did Woodrow Wilson provide reform for?
•Banking
•economic & finance
• social
• African Americans
•constitutional
What banking reforms occurred during Woodrow Wilson presidency?
-(1913) federal reserve act: establish strong central bank under public regulation & control
•all national banks joined 1 of 12 reserve banking districts supervised by federal reserve board. Where they had to invest 6% of capital into reserve bank to join
• allowed federal reserve banks to lend money at rediscount rate
[cause banks less dependent on gold reserves ]
-(1923) 70% nations banks part of federal reserve bank
How did the federal reserve bank operate during inflation & deflation?
-Inflation rise= banks increase rediscount rate= decrease borrowing = decrease money circulation
-deflation rise=banks lower rediscount rate=increase borrowing money= increase money circulation
What are rediscount rates?
The interest rate which banks borrow money from the federal reserve bank
What economic and financial reforms occurred during Woodrow Wilson presidency?
[Progressive]
-federal trade commission (1914):inspect & regulate corporate bussines methods & prevent unfair practices
(Administered nearly 400 cease and desist) BUT not strong enough
-Clayton anti-trust act(1914): gave power to those enforcing antitrust acts. Extended power of Sherman anti trust act (almost 100 antitrust case against big business)
-(1913)underwood tariffs act (reduced duties & freed items tarring entirely ,; food wool)
-(1916) revenue act: continue plan of taxing rich and redistribution wealth
/
— (1917) lead to government receiving more money in income tax than with tariffs
What social reforms did Woodrow Wilson do?
-(1916) federal child labour act: dealt with 2 million deprived children under 16
BUT… (1918) ruled as unconstitutional by Supreme Court
-(1916) workmen compensation act: made federal employees absent from work from injury/ illness receive financial assistance
-(1916) Adamson act: use federal power to regulate inter-state trade to bring 8hour work day for railroad workers
-limits:
Wa little sympathy for trade unions: (1913) coal miners strike, company evicted worker from company housing, so slept in tents, but were shot by guardsmen, killing 26 poeple
What reforms did Woodrow Wilson do for African Americans?
Racial matter
Appeased conservative southern democrat voters
But disappointed northen white and black supporters as he placed segregationists in charge of federal agencies (increase segregation)
(Opposed federal anti-lynching legislations)
What constitutional reforms did Woodrow Wilson do during his presidency?
Wilson worked closely with congress
[had direct telephone link with legislators]
House of Representatives and senate under democratic control
Amendmants
-(1913) ratified 16th amendmant that gave congress power to impose income tax [aid small bussines]
-(1913) ratified 17th amendment, made it compulsory all states elect senators by popular vote
-(1919) ratified 18th amendment enforcing prohibition
-(1820) ratified 19th amendment: securing women’s votes
What occurred in the 1916 election?
-Charles Evan’s hughes was Republican candidate , a moderate appealing to conservatives & progressives. Who campaigned against pacifist Wilson and wanted ally ship with Britain
-Woodrow Wilson democrats candidate propose isolation and neutrality
(had slogan “he kept us out of war”)
Results:
9.1 million votes for Wilson
8.5 million votes for hughes
-Wilson won only by 13 votes in electoral college
(Was very close)
