Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad, 1912-1916

1. Wilsonian Progressivismat Home and Abroad,1912-1916 APUSH PowerPoint by Allen Kim

2. The Emergence of Dr. Thomas Woodrow Wilson • Militant progressive • Well educated • New Jersey governor • Democrat nominee who called for “New Freedom” program; stronger antitrust legislation, banking reform, and tariff reductions.

3. The "Bull Moose" Campaign of 1912 For the election of 1912, Theodore Roosevelt was nominated back in a “third party”, later called the Bull Moose party of the Republicans. It divided votes for Republicans so democratic Wilson had a better chance.

4. Woodrow Wilson: A Minority President • First democratic president since Cleveland. • Won the election of 1912 by a 41 percent of popular votes. • His rival TR came closely but lost.

5. Wilson: The Idealist in Politics Wilson felt that the chief executive should play the most important role in leading the Congress. He knew that reform was badly necessary and would not tolerate foolish senators and lower minds. All out assault on “the triple wall of privilege“: the tariff, the banks, and the trusts.

6. Wilson Tackles the Tariff • Underwood Tariff Bill provided for a reduction of rates. It reduced import fees. • Graduated income tax.

7. Wilson Battles the Bankers • Problems in American finance shown by the panic of 1907, ineffectiveness of the Civil War National Banking Act and Louis D. Brandeis’ “Other People’s Money and How the Bankers Use It”(1914). • Federal Reserve Act of 1913 created the Federal Reserve Board.

8. The President Tames the Trusts • The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 gave power to the president to investigate trusts and root out unfair trade practices. • The Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 reinforced and lengthened the Sherman Act.

9. Wilsonian Progressivism at High Tide • The Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916. • The Warehouse Act of 1916. • The La Follette Seamen’s Act of 1915. • Workingmen’s Compensation Act of 1916. • The Adamson Act of 1916. • Did not help blacks. • Major progressivism shown for the reelection f 1916.

10. New Directions in Foreign Policy • 1914- repealed the Panama Canal Tolls Act of 1912. • Jones Act of 1916. • Eased tensions with Japan in issues in California. • Began to gain territories in the Caribbean, going against his ideas of anti imperialism.

11. Moralistic Diplomacy in Mexico • Conflict between the U.S. and Mexico. • Situation was mediated by the ABC Powers- Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. • Huerta fell and U.S. began assault but stopped shortly after.

12. Thunders Across the Sea Major powers in Europe began to attack one another in early 1914. Central powers: Germany and Austria-Hungary(later Turkey and Bulgaria) Allies: France, Britain, Russia, Japan

13. A Precarious Neutrality • Both sides wanted the U.S. to become their ally but Wilson decided to stay neutral. • Many Americans were anti German, especially when a briefcase of a German man was discovered with plans for industrial sabotage. • America needed to stay neutral for its own well being.

14. American Earns Blood Money • America prospered with the war going on in Europe. • Britain made blockades on Germany so that it cannot trade with the U.S. • German began using U-Boats (submarines) to sink merchant ships (Lusitania) • America warns but Germany kept on the harassment (Sinking of Sussex leading to the Sussex pledge)

15. Wilson Wins Reelection in 1916 • “He kept us out of war”- campaign slogan of Wilson. • Wilson barely wins with the final vote of 277 to 254 in the Electoral College.