Wilsonian

Progressivism

(1913-1919)

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Promoted a program of “New Freedom”Promoted a program of “New Freedom” Stronger anti-trust legislationStronger anti-trust legislation Banking reformBanking reform Tariff reductionsTariff reductions Favored small enterprise and entrepreneurshipFavored small enterprise and entrepreneurship Promoted markets free of monopolies & regulationsPromoted markets free of monopolies & regulations Shunned social welfare programs in favor of competitionShunned social welfare programs in favor of competition

minority president who inherits a Democratic Congressminority president who inherits a Democratic Congress Virginian & Confederate sympathizer who believed in informed Virginian & Confederate sympathizer who believed in informed

masses (similar to Jefferson)masses (similar to Jefferson) Raised in a pious Presbyterian familyRaised in a pious Presbyterian family Believed the President should be dynamic and often went over the Believed the President should be dynamic and often went over the

heads of Congress straight to the peopleheads of Congress straight to the people A lover of humanity, but cold, unbending, intellectually arrogant, A lover of humanity, but cold, unbending, intellectually arrogant,

and unlikely to compromiseand unlikely to compromise

Assaulted the “triple wall of privilege”Assaulted the “triple wall of privilege” Tariffs, banks, and trustsTariffs, banks, and trusts

Underwood Tariff substantially reduced rates & caused Underwood Tariff substantially reduced rates & caused revenue to eventually shift to an income taxrevenue to eventually shift to an income tax

Federal Reserve Act (1913) Federal Reserve Act (1913) Created a Federal Reserve Board & 12 regional districtsCreated a Federal Reserve Board & 12 regional districts Empowered the Board to issue paper money (Federal Reserve Notes)Empowered the Board to issue paper money (Federal Reserve Notes)

Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 Created Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Created Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Crushed monopolies and fought unlawful competition, false advertising, Crushed monopolies and fought unlawful competition, false advertising,

mislabeling, and briberymislabeling, and bribery Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914

Fought price discrimination and interlocking directoratesFought price discrimination and interlocking directorates Exempted labor and agricultural organizations from anti-trust Exempted labor and agricultural organizations from anti-trust

legislationlegislation Explicitly legalized strikes and peaceful picketingExplicitly legalized strikes and peaceful picketing

Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) makes credit available to farmers Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) makes credit available to farmers at low interestat low interest

Warehouse Act (1916) authorizes loans on security of cropsWarehouse Act (1916) authorizes loans on security of crops Provided for highway extensionProvided for highway extension Workmen’s Compensation Act (1916) granted assistance to Workmen’s Compensation Act (1916) granted assistance to

federal civil-service employees during times of disabilityfederal civil-service employees during times of disability Adamson Act (1916) establishes 8-hour workday and provides Adamson Act (1916) establishes 8-hour workday and provides

extra pay for overtimeextra pay for overtime

Granted Philippines territorial status (Jones Act, 1916)Granted Philippines territorial status (Jones Act, 1916) Dispatched marines to Haiti to protect U.S. lives & Dispatched marines to Haiti to protect U.S. lives &

property (1915)property (1915) Sent marines to quell riots in Dominican Republic (1916)Sent marines to quell riots in Dominican Republic (1916) Allowed arms to flow to “Pancho” Villa in Mexico Allowed arms to flow to “Pancho” Villa in Mexico

against Huerta regime (1914)against Huerta regime (1914)