Ch. 29 Wilsonian Ch. 29 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Progressivism at Home and

AbroadAbroad

1912-19161912-1916

The Election of 1912The Election of 1912

The Emergence of The Emergence of Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson

a.a. BackgroundBackground• Before he was elected president in 1912,

Woodrow Wilson had been state governor.• As governor of New Jersey, Woodrow Wilson

established a record as passionate reformer.

b.b. Election of 1912Election of 1912a.a. Candidates:Candidates:

• Dem: Woodrow Wilson “New Freedom”Dem: Woodrow Wilson “New Freedom”• Progressive (Bull Moose) Party: Theodore Progressive (Bull Moose) Party: Theodore

Roosevelt “New Nationalism”Roosevelt “New Nationalism”• Rep: Howard TaftRep: Howard Taft• Socialist Party: Eugene V. DebsSocialist Party: Eugene V. Debs• Results: Progressive VictoryResults: Progressive Victory

Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson in the in the

White HouseWhite HouseA.A. Lowering the TariffLowering the Tariff

1913 Underwood-1913 Underwood-

Simmons BillSimmons Bill

B.B. Reforming the Reforming the

Banking SystemBanking System

B.B. Taming TrustsTaming Trusts

A.A. Federal Trade Commission Act 1914Federal Trade Commission Act 1914

B.B. Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914

Other Progressive ReformsOther Progressive Reforms

1. Farmers1. Farmers• Federal Farm Loan Act 1916Federal Farm Loan Act 1916

2.2. LaborersLaborers1.1. Seamen’s Act 1915Seamen’s Act 1915

2.2. Workingmen’s Compensation Act 1916Workingmen’s Compensation Act 1916

3.3. Keating-Owen Act 1916Keating-Owen Act 1916

3. Race Relations3. Race Relations

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy Wilson as an Anti-ImperialistWilson as an Anti-Imperialist

• Wilson, unlike his two previous predecessors, didn’t pursueWilson, unlike his two previous predecessors, didn’t pursuean aggressive foreign policy, as he stopped “dollaran aggressive foreign policy, as he stopped “dollardiplomacy,” persuaded Congress to repeal the Panama Canal diplomacy,” persuaded Congress to repeal the Panama Canal Tolls Act of 1912 (which let American shippers not pay tolls Tolls Act of 1912 (which let American shippers not pay tolls for using the canal), and even led to American bankers’ for using the canal), and even led to American bankers’ pulling out of a six-nation, Taft-engineered loan to China. pulling out of a six-nation, Taft-engineered loan to China.

• Wilson signed the Jones Act in 1916, which granted full Wilson signed the Jones Act in 1916, which granted full territorial status to the Philippines and promised territorial status to the Philippines and promised independence as soon as a stable government could be independence as soon as a stable government could be established. (Filipinos finally got their independence on July 4, established. (Filipinos finally got their independence on July 4, 1946)1946)

Wilson-ImperialistWilson-Imperialist• When disorder broke out in When disorder broke out in Haiti Haiti in 1915, Wilson sent in 1915, Wilson sent

AmericanAmericanMarines, and in 1916, he sent Marines to quell violence in theMarines, and in 1916, he sent Marines to quell violence in theDominican Republic.Dominican Republic.

• In 1917, Wilson bought the In 1917, Wilson bought the Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands from Denmark. from Denmark.

Thunder Across the SeaThunder Across the Sea In 1914, a Serbian nationalist killed the Austro-In 1914, a Serbian nationalist killed the Austro-

Hungarian heir to the throne (Archduke Franz Hungarian heir to the throne (Archduke Franz Ferdinand). The domino-effect began whereFerdinand). The domino-effect began whereAustria declared war on Serbia, which was Austria declared war on Serbia, which was supported by Russia, who declared war on supported by Russia, who declared war on Austria-Hungary and Germany, which declared Austria-Hungary and Germany, which declared war on Russia and France, then invaded neutral war on Russia and France, then invaded neutral Belgium, and pulled Britain into the war and Belgium, and pulled Britain into the war and igniting World War I. igniting World War I.

Americans were thankful that the Atlantic Ocean Americans were thankful that the Atlantic Ocean separated the warring Europeans from the U.S. separated the warring Europeans from the U.S.

A Precarious NeutralityA Precarious Neutrality Wilson, whose wife had recently died, issued a neutralityWilson, whose wife had recently died, issued a neutrality

proclamation and was promptly wooed by both the Allies proclamation and was promptly wooed by both the Allies and the German and Austro-Hungarian powers. and the German and Austro-Hungarian powers.

The Germans and Austro-Hungarians counted on their The Germans and Austro-Hungarians counted on their relatives in America for support, but the U.S. was mostly relatives in America for support, but the U.S. was mostly anti-German from the outset, as Kaiser Wilhem II made for anti-German from the outset, as Kaiser Wilhem II made for a perfect autocrat to hate. a perfect autocrat to hate.

German and Austro-Hungarian agents in America further German and Austro-Hungarian agents in America further tarnished the Central Powers’ image when they resorted to tarnished the Central Powers’ image when they resorted to violence in American factories and ports, and when one violence in American factories and ports, and when one such agent left his briefcase in a New York elevator, the such agent left his briefcase in a New York elevator, the contents of which were found to contain plans for sabotage. contents of which were found to contain plans for sabotage.

America Earns Blood MoneyAmerica Earns Blood Money

Just as WWI began, America was in a Just as WWI began, America was in a business recession. American trade was business recession. American trade was fiercely protested by the Central Powers, fiercely protested by the Central Powers, that were technically free to trade with the that were technically free to trade with the U.S., but were prohibited from doing so by U.S., but were prohibited from doing so by the British navy which controlled the sea the British navy which controlled the sea lanes. lanes.

The Allies and Wall Street’s financing of The Allies and Wall Street’s financing of the war by J.P. Morgan pulledthe war by J.P. Morgan pulledthe U.S. out of the recession. the U.S. out of the recession.

America Earns Blood MoneyAmerica Earns Blood Money So, Germany announced its use of submarine warfare So, Germany announced its use of submarine warfare

around the British Isles, warning the U.S. that it would around the British Isles, warning the U.S. that it would try not to attack neutralships, but that mistakes would try not to attack neutralships, but that mistakes would probably occur. probably occur.

Wilson thus warned that Germany would be held to Wilson thus warned that Germany would be held to “strict accountability” for any attacks on American “strict accountability” for any attacks on American ships.ships.

German subs, or U-boats, sank many ships, including German subs, or U-boats, sank many ships, including the Lusitania, a British passenger liner that was carrying the Lusitania, a British passenger liner that was carrying arms and munitions as well. arms and munitions as well.

After Germany seemed to break that pledge by sinking After Germany seemed to break that pledge by sinking the Sussex, it issued the “Sussex pledge,” which agreed the Sussex, it issued the “Sussex pledge,” which agreed not to sink passenger ships or merchant vessels without not to sink passenger ships or merchant vessels without warning, so long as the U.S. could get the British to stop warning, so long as the U.S. could get the British to stop their blockade. their blockade.

Moving toward war with GermanyMoving toward war with Germany

Moving Closer to war with GermanyMoving Closer to war with Germany

Sinking of Sinking of LusitaniaLusitania

Arabic Pledge 1915Arabic Pledge 1915

Sussex Pledge 1916Sussex Pledge 1916

Election of 1916Election of 1916 The Democratic ticket, with Wilson at its head The Democratic ticket, with Wilson at its head

again, went underagain, went underthe slogan “He kept us out of war,” and the slogan “He kept us out of war,” and warned that electing Hughes would be leading warned that electing Hughes would be leading America into World War I. America into World War I.

Ironically, Wilson would lead America into war Ironically, Wilson would lead America into war in 1917. in 1917.

The Progressive “Bull Moose” party died when The Progressive “Bull Moose” party died when Teddy Roosevelt refused to run as the party's Teddy Roosevelt refused to run as the party's presidential candidate in 1916. presidential candidate in 1916.

Wilson won the election with much of his Wilson won the election with much of his support coming from the working class.support coming from the working class.