Wilson domestic policy (1912-20) Flashcards
1
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3
Describe the 1912 election campaigns
A
- Wilson’s ‘New Freedom’ - tariff reduction and banking reform
- TR’s ‘New Nationalism’ - social insurance programmes and 8hr work day
- Taft ran subdued ‘progressive conservatism’ campaign
2
Q
3
Describe the 1912 election results
A
- 4 way contest between Wilson (Dem), TR (Pro), Taft (Rep), Debs (Soc)
- Wilson would win in landslide with 435/531 EC votes, despite lowest pop vote since 1860 (lower than any Bryan result)
- Taft’s certain victory before 1910 turned into 3rd place with only 2 states carried
3
Q
4
Describe the significance of the 1912 election
A
- landslide for progressivism
- dramatic rejection for Taft’s conservative Republicanism
- Wilson first President to win over 400 electoral votes
- Only Dem Pres from 1896-1932 - one of two elected Dem Pres from 1860-1932 (+ Cleveland)
4
Q
5
Describe the rise of socialism by 1912
A
- Rising industrial action e.g. railroad industry Pullman Strike 1894
- Many European imms influenced by socialist ideas
- Debs won 6% vote in 1912
- IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) demanded huge changes to socio-economic system
- Moderate socialists like Samuel Gompers more willing to work with big business as long as wages and employment was guaranteed
5
Q
3
Describe the 1916 election campaign
A
- Wilson used campaign slogan ‘He kept us out of war’ to capitalise on public mood
- Republicans picked moderate SC justice Charles Evan Hughes who could appeal to both progressives and conservatives
- TR declined to run for progressive party again, instead endorsing Hughes
6
Q
3
Describe the 1916 election results
A
- Elec college: Wilson 277, Hughes 254
- Narrow victory due to reformation of Republican vote
- Led to collapse of progressivism as partisan movement
7
Q
4
What did President Wilson do for banking?
A
- Federal Reserve Act 1913:
- 12 banking districts were created, each under the supervision of a Federal Reserve Board
- All banks that wanted to participate in this system had to invest 6% of their capital and surplus into the reserve bank
- This means money is no longer dependent on the amount of gold - greater monetary control potential
8
Q
2
What were the successes of President Wilson’s banking reforms?
A
- Banks could use rediscount rates to control the amount of money in circulation
- By 1923, 70% of the national banking resources were part of the federal reserve system
9
Q
3
What were the limitations of President Wilson’s banking reforms?
A
- 30% of national banking resources were not part of the federal reserve
- conservative opposition as threatened state rights
- Regional/smaller banks largely existed outside system - effect on 1929
10
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6
Describe Wilson’s economic policies
A
- Rebalance of government for federal intervention
- Underwood Tariff Act 1913
- Federal Trade Commission Act 1914
- Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914
- Federal Farm Loan Act 1916
- Revenue Act 1916
11
Q
2
Describe the FTC
A
- Formed 1914 to investigate corporations and stop ‘unfair’ practices
- Established regulatory body for business that covered every possible dubious business activity
12
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1
Describe the successes of the FTC
A
- Under Wilson the FTC administered 400 cease-and desist orders to companies engaged in illegal activity
13
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2
Describe the weaknesses of the FTC
A
- ‘unfair’ practices not defined
- needed to be strengthened
14
Q
2
Describe the Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914
A
- strengthened Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890
- made certain practices illegal
15
Q
3
Describe the practices made illegal by the Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914
A
- price discrimination to foster monopolies
- ‘tying arrangements’ which forbade retailers from handling rivals’ products (e.g. purchase of fridge and transport tied together)
- interlocking directorates - when a board member of one company is also on the board of a rival company
16
Q
3
Describe how Wilson rebalanced the government to facilitate greater intervention
A
- Department of Commerce annd Labor split
- William Wilson appointed first secretary of Department of Labor - a former union leader who played a key arbitrary role in settling disputes
- reorganised Department of Agriculture to develop better credit and distribution networks for farmers
17
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2
Describe the Federal Farm Loan Act 1916
A
- gave farmers low cost, long-term loans to inc farming capacity
- occurred at time of increased food demand due to WW1
18
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6
Describe the Underwood Tariff Act 1913
A
- 16th amendment (introduced under Taft) permitted introduction of federal income tax - ratified 1913
- Reduced average tariffs from 40% to 27%
- reduced some duties to 0
- industries: food, iron/steel, agricultural machinery - helped farmers
- 1% income tax only applied to those earning over $3k (circa 3x good industrial wage)
- Major source of revenue
19
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3
Describe the Revenue Act 1916
A
- Lower rate of income tax raised from 1% to 2%
- raised top rate from 7% to 15%
- by 1917, had provided more govt revenue than tariffs ever had
20
Q
2
Describe opposition to federal income tax introduction
A
- few congressmen initially realised potential of income tax
- Opposition from wealthy industrialists
21
Q
5
Describe the Ludlow Massacre 1913
A
- Coal strike over abysmal conditions and low pay
- Colorado National Guard members formed anti-strike militia that killed 26
- Watershed moment in labour relations
- Wilson sent federal troops to break up the strike only after 10 days of violence
- Criticised for delayed intervention
22
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4
Describe Wilson’s social policy
A
- Federal Child Labor Act (Keating-Owen Child Act) 1916
- Workmen’s Compensation Act 1916
- Adamson Act 1916
- Volstead Act 1920
23
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3
Describe the Federal Child Labor Act (Keating-Owen Child Act) 1916
A
- barred goods made by children from interstate commerce
- addressed 2m children under 16 in work and deprived of edu
- ruled unconstitutional by SC in 1918
24
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2
Describe the Workmen’s Compensation Act 1916
A
- Provided financial assistance for federal employees absent from work due to illness of injury
- Financial security improved employment
25
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2
Describe the Adamson Act 1916
A
- laid down max 8hr work day for railroad workers
- prevented future deadly strikes
26
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3
Describe the successes of Wilson’s AA policy
A
- Won NAACP support in 1912
- on basis he would treat black people equally and criticise lynching
- non-interventionist policy struck political compromise
27
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3
Describe the weaknesses of Wilson’s AA policy
A
- Placed segregationists in charge of federal agencies and into Cabinet
- opposed anti-lynching legislation, arguing it was state matter
- 1915 - screened ‘birth of a nation’ at White House
28
Q
3
Describe an example of a racist in Wilson’s Cabinet
A
- Josephus Daniels - Sec of Navy
- notorious white supremacist
- counted among leaders of Wilmington Massacre 1898
29
Q
2
Describe the constitutional policy of Wilson
A
- 17th amendment (ratified 1913) - direction election of Senators
- 19th amendment (ratified 1920) - female enfranchisement
30
Q
3
Describe the 17th amendment (direct election of senators)
A
- Reflected popular dissatisfaction with the corruption that characterised Senator selection in many states
- Delivered on progressive goal to reduce undue influence of big business
- Prevented vacancies caused by changes to party leadership at state level
31
Q
2
Describe a limit with the 17th amendment
A
- By time of adoption, many states had already introduced mechanisms to direct election
- e.g. legislatures appointed winners of party primaries
32
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2
Describe the 19th amendment (female enfranchisement)
A
- milestone in decades-long campaign
- propelled American democracy by giving equal voice to women
33
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1
Describe a limit to the 19th amendment
A
- Many women were still disenfranchised for generations due to discriminatory state legislation on ethnicity
34
Q
4
Describe the role of the state in WW1
A
- State grew rapidly - away from American norms
- Established War Industries Board (WIB)
- Previous divided railroad system centralised under control of Director-General William G McAdoo
- Lever Food and Fuel Control Act 1917
35
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5
Describe the War Industries Board (WIB)
A
- set quotas and efficiency targets
- allocated scarce resources
- fixed prices
- yet still allowed big firms to make profit
- e.g. US Steel made $0.5bn in 2 years - accusations of war-profiteering
36
Q
2
Describe the centralised railroad system under McAdoo (Sec of Treasury)
A
- centralised system vital for movement of goods and troops
- McAdoo standardised accounting practices, raised wages and increased passenger rates
37
Q
4
Describe the 1917 Lever Food and Fuel Control Act and agriculture in WW1
A
- under Herbert Hoover (US Director of Food Administration)
- set wheat prices at $2.20 per bushel to encourage production
- Established government corporation to buy US and Cuban sugar to maintain supplies
- Organised voluntary campaigns to avoid rationing e.g. Meatless Thursdays
