CHAPTER 21
Progressivism at High Tide
“. . . making the world safe for democracy.”
President Woodrow Wilson
1909 - 1914
Colonial Possessions, 1900
United States Presence in Latin America, 1895-1934
Panama Canal Zone, 1914
Europe on the eve of World War I
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“We must love one another or die.” Poet W. H. Auden [September 1, 1939]
"And in the general hardening of outlook that set in . . . practices which had been long abandoned - imprisonment without trial, the use of war prisoners as slaves, public executions, torture to extract confessions . . . and the deportation of whole populations - not only became common again, but were tolerated and even defended by people who considered themselves enlightened and progressive." George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four [Also author of Animal Farm]
"Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it." Albert Einstein "It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth to justice and to expose lies." Noam Chomsky ". . . refuse to settle for simple explanations for complex problems. . . . Honest history answers our questions only by asking something of us in return." Text author Edward L. Ayers
Bibliography
David Kennedy, Over Here [1980] Walter LaFeber, The American Age [1989] Arthur S. Link, Woodrow Wilson: War, Revolution, and
Peace [1979] and Woodrow Wilson and the Progressive Era [1954]
William Appleman Williams, The Tragedy of American Foreign Policy [1988]
Movie: Reds [about John Reed]
Chapter Review
Distinguish between the progressive programs of Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. [Worth 104% – no assistance from professor]
Explain three progressive programs that gained prominence between 1910 and 1920.
Briefly describe the provisions of Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom.
Describe major social and cultural changes that occurred during the Wilson presidency.
Briefly describe the Wilsonian approach to foreign affairs.
Concepts
Woman Suffrage Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 “New Nationalism”
National government as “seward of the public welfare” Henry Ford’s $5 a day wage Prohibition Dollar Diplomacy Jack Johnson, 1908 1st African-American heavyweight champ Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1912 IWW “bread and roses” Lawrence, MA strike 1910-1911, Boy Scouts of America [Lord Baden-Powell] Louis D. Brandeis 1913 16th Amendment, 17th Amendment Federal Reserve System, monetary v. fiscal policy
Vaudeville stage Motion pictures 1911, Porfiro Diaz replaced by Francisco Madero
Madero replaced by General Victoriano Huerta Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata
1914, Franz Ferdinand Triple Alliance
Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary
I. Taft’s Presidency
Taft takes passive role as president Payne-Aldrich Tariff illustrates continuing problems Taft fights some Roosevelt conservation policies Roosevelt returns from safari angry and ready to intervene
II. Progressive Victories
Alice Paul and followers push for woman suffrage amendment
Supporters of prohibition want amendment also Opposition grows to immigration from southern and eastern
Europe Child labor reform dominates concerns over children
III. Labor Protest in a Changing Workplace
Larger corporations and factories distance workers from management
Some corporations try paternalism as way to fight unionism Serious strikes affect country Taft’s “dollar diplomacy” in Latin America and Far East
achieve mixed results
Industrial America, 1900-1920
IV. Republican Discord and Democratic Opportunity
Roosevelt loses nomination to Taft Woodrow Wilson receives Democratic nod Wilson campaigns on “New Freedom” and wins, with help of split
Republican party, pushing Congress to make needed changes Progressive party draws more interest than Socialist party
Election of 1912
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V. Wilson’s Presidency
Legislation establishes Federal Reserve System to regulate America’s money supply
Federal Trade Commission established to regulate trusts Social reform is not one of Wilson’s priorities
VI. Social and Cultural Change During the Wilson Years
Cultural changes accelerate, with Henry Ford’s mass production and generous wages holding down unionism
Electricity becomes more widespread, changing patterns of life
Art and literature mirror social ferment Americans make use of new leisure time
VII. New Freedom Diplomacy
Lacking international experience, Wilson works hard to improve relations around world
Mexican Revolution provides tense moments, but Wilson diffuses situation
Post-revolution immigration from Mexico changes face of Southwest
VIII. VIII. World War IWorld War I
Serb assassination of Austria-Hungary’s archduke takes Europe into war
Americans caught off guard by European events