U.S. History Since 1865
Lesson 3
Woodrow Wilson & Progressivism at High Tide
A. Election of 1812
1. Roosevelt decided to run again against Taft
a) created the Progressive Party – “Bull Moose Party”
2. T.R. & Taft split Rep. votes – Dem. Woodrow Wilson wins
B. Wilson’s Reforms: Tariff, Banking, & Trusts
1. Wanted to continue T.R.’s govt. reforms
a) spoke to congress – list of reforms he wanted
1) Underwood Tariff – lowered tariff 15% - raised income tax
2) Federal Reserve Act – 1913 – National Banking System – 12 banks
(a) first efficient banking & currency system
3) Clayton Anti-Trust Act – outlawed unfair competition
(a) Federal Trade Commission – regulated business
(b) wanted to regulate, not break up big business
C. Wilson, Reluctant Progressive
1. Did not support unions demands to end court injunctions
2. Did not support farm credits, child labor laws, or women’s suffrage
a) didn’t want to give “special” privileges to anyone
3. Before 1916 election – courted unions and farmers
a) Keating-Owen Child Labor Law – no regular employment if under 16
b) asked congress for 8 hr/day law for RR
c) said “DEMS opened their hearts for social justice”
4. In reality – kept us out of war in Europe – won reelection in 1916
Limits of Progressive Reform
A. Radical Alternatives
1. Socialist Party – middle class/native born – party of working class
2. Industrial Workers of World “Wobblies” – for most destitute workers
a) encouraged strikes and sabotage
b) wanted to start a general workers uprising
3. Birth Control – less unemployed if there were less people
a) Margaret Sanger – promoted family planning – stop human misery
1) contraception was illegal
2) U.S. Post office confiscated her publications – charge w/ obscenity
b) became linked w/ free speech – people began to fight for it
B. White Men Only
1. women and minorities did not benefit from the many reforms
a) Booker T. Washington – Af. Am. leader – Tuskegee Institute
1) taught vocational skills to Af. Am.
b) Plessy vs. Ferguson – separate, but equal is ok
1) nothing was ever “equal”
2. Wilson approved segregation in Post Office, Capitol, etc.
3. Race riot in Atlanta - 1906
a) white mobs chased and killed blacks – 250 died
4. W.E.B. DuBois – Aft. Am. must fight for Civil Rights and Justice
a) NAACP – coalition of blacks and whites – seek political rights and
equality for Af. Am. through the court system