Woodrow Wilson takes the helm
Election of 1912
The Candidates
• Republicans: William Howard Taft.
• Democrats: Woodrow Wilson.
• Progressive Party (Bull Moose): Roosevelt.
A Conflict of Economic and
Political Philosophies.
Progressive Platform
• Consolidation of trusts
and labor unions.
• Stronger regulatory
agencies,
• Women’s suffrage.
• Social welfare laws.
(minimum wage, etc)
Democrat Platform
• Small enterprise with
unmonopolized and
unregulated markets.
• Fragment big business
by enactment of
antitrust laws.
• Competition.
Outcome of the Election
• Roosevelt splits the Republican vote by
pulling in 27% of the popular vote.
• Wilson wins but has only 41% of the vote.
• Eugene V. Debs pulls in over 900,000 votes
for the Socialist Party.
• Taft leaves politics (sort a) and will become
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921.
The Triple Wall of Privilege
The Tariff
• Underwood Tariff Bill - reduced import
fees and also enacted a graduated income
tax.
• Why were they in the same bill?
The Triple Wall of Privilege
The Banks
• Federal Reserve Act of 1913. Created the
Federal Reserve Board, twelve regional
districts, and Federal Reserve Notes.
• Made to be free of political influence.
The Triple Wall of Privilege
The Trusts
• Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914.
Used to battle unfair competition, false
advertising, mislabeling, adulteration and
bribery.
• Clayton-Anti-Trust Act of 1914.
Strengthened Sherman. Price
discrimination and interlocking directorates.
Legalized strikes and peaceful picketing.
Additional Progressive Reforms
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Seaman’s Act of 1915.
Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916.
Warehouse Act of 1916.
Workingmen’s Compensation Act of 1916.
Adamson Act of 1916.
Problems South of the Border
Viva Zapata !!!!!
• 1913. General Huerta takes control of
Mexico, spurring a northern migration.
• Venustiano Carranza and Pancho Villa are
supported by the US.
• Trouble in Tampico & retaliation at Vera
Cruz.
• Carranza seizes power in 1914.
• “Black-Jack” Pershing sent after Villa after
border murders. (1917)
The World Explodes in War
German Submarine Warfare Hits
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