Chapter 29 – Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad (1912-1916) President Wilson ushers in his own brand of progressivism while dealing with complex foreign policy issues. A NJ Conservative turned Progressive Repubs split between Old Guards and Progressives Dems sense their chance to win White House Woodrow Wilson, conserv > progressive President of Princeton University Governor of NJ Gov. Wilson proves himself a fiery progressive reformer Fought against the NJ Dem political machine Passed anti-corruption laws Created worker’s compensation laws Wilson’s NJ progressivism make him a ntl figure A southern-born president, Woodrow Wilson's legacy has been dogged by his outright racism. In his writings, Wilson eulogized the antebellum South and lamented the period of reconstruction that followed the Civil War. To quote Wilson himself on this subject, "selfpreservation [forced whites] to rid themselves, by fair means or foul, of the intolerable burden of governments sustained by the votes of ignorant negroes." Wilson excused the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in similar terms, calling it understandable in view of the "lawless" situation that victimized whites in the South after 1865. Wilson carried his racism into the public arena, both as president of Princeton University and as Governor of New Jersey. While the former, Wilson discouraged black from applying to his university, and as governor, Wilson refused to confirm the hiring of blacks in his administration. Once in office, however, Wilson appointed a number of southern Democrats to his Cabinet. These men proceeded to push for the segregation of black and white employees in their departments. Wilson did not oppose this practice. Upholding a policy of re-segregating the federal government, which had been gradually de-segregating since the end of the Civil War was entirely consistent with a president who claimed repeatedly that "Segregation is not humiliating but a benefit" and "distinctly to the advantage of the colored people themselves." Wilson’s racism On the evening of March 21, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson attended a special screening at the White House of THE BIRTH OF A NATION. The film presented a distorted portrait of the South after the Civil War, glorifying the Ku Klux Klan and denigrating blacks. It falsified the period of Reconstruction by presenting blacks as dominating Southern whites (almost all of whom are noble in the film) and sexually forcing themselves upon white women. The Klan was portrayed as the South's savior from this alleged tyranny. After seeing the film, an enthusiastic Wilson reportedly remarked: "It is like writing history with lightning, and my only regret is that it is all so terribly true." Wilson screens Birth of a Nation in the White House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIUdhe3R3Ew Election of 1912 Dems nominate Wilson for Prez under New Freedom platform Entrepreneurship, deregulation, competition TR runs under the Progressive Party “I feel as strong as a bull moose” TR-Taft bitter split of Repubs assured Dems a victory TR’s New Nationalism Trust and labor reform Increased federal regulators Women suffrage Social welfare: minimum wage and social insurance On October 14, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt was on the campaign trail in Milwaukee. A man with a .38 caliber revolver had been trailing the campaign since they departed New Orleans. For a thousand miles, he rode quietly, just waiting to get his shot at the Colonel. John Schrank was a Bavarian-born saloon-keeper from New York. He'd had some strange and troubling dreams in recent months, mostly about President McKinley, whose assassination resulted in Roosevelt's first term. In his dreams, Schrank said that President McKinley asked him to avenge his death and protect democracy from a three-term president. All Schrank had to do was kill Roosevelt before he could be reelected. Roosevelt is said not to have noticed he was shot until he reached into his overcoat and felt the blood on his fingers. But it turns out that Teddy’s long-winded speeches saved his life that day: the bullet traveled through a 50-page copy of his prepared speech and the steel eyeglasses case he carried in the same pocket. He refused to go to a hospital and insisted on giving his speech. “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose,” he began. He spoke for at least 55 more minutes (though some estimates say 90), still wearing his blood-soaked shirt. TR is the baller of all ballers Wilson’s Politics Party shifts? Dem. Party comeback?...true end of national Dem banishment? Wilson 2nd Dem prez since 1861, first from Confederacy (symp) Supporter of Jeffersonian democracy Belief in strong executive leadership Arrogant professorial intellectualism Wilson’s vigorous idealism > stubbornness “The Triple Wall of Privilege Wilson attacks tariff, banks, trusts Underwood Tariff: major reduction of import rates 16th amendment: graduated income tax Wilson looks to reform antiquated banking system Federal Reserve Act: established Federal Reserve Board; oversaw regional banks; issued paper $; modernized econ syst. Federal Trade Commission Act: interstate commerce watchdog of unfair trade practices Clayton Anti-Trust Act extends Sherman Act Clamps down on holding companies (a super company that monopolistically existed to control other companies) Exempted unions and agricultural orgs from anti-trust actions Wilsonian Progressivism Wilson lends helping hand to rural America Federal Farm Loan Act: low interest loans highway construction, college farm training Wilson’s labor reforms Workingmen’s Compensation Act: aid to disabled federal workers Restricted child labor in interstate commerce Adamson Act: 8hr workday for interstate train workers Nominated Brandeis for the Supreme Court Wilson’s progressivism did not help black people Wilson’s Foreign Policy Wilson claimed to deplore imperialism, but hampered by his racism He does though legitimitley dislike TR’s big stick, Taft’s $ diplomacy Backs the Jones Act, giving Philippines territorial status and promising independence after stability However, Filipino independence in 1946 Helps to decrease tensions over CA’s actions towards Japanese Wilson sends marines in 1915 to Haiti (19 yr occup) and DR (8 yrs); purchases the Virgin Islands Turmoil in Mexico US reaps great $ from Mexican industries, while Mexicans remain poor Taft backed the coup/murder of popular Prez Madero in favor of General Huerta Accelerated Mexican immigration to American SW Bloodshed threatened American biz; Hearst calls for war, but Wilson attempts to avoid war Wilson’s moralistic approach…refuses to recognize Huerta gov’t; arms his rivals including Venustiano Carranza and Pancho Villa After US sailors arrested in Tampico Incident, Wilson seizes Veracruz port to prevent arms meant for Huerta Huerta pressured to step down; new Prez Carranza resents Wilson’s actions Pancho Villa, MX hero and bandit, kills American miners in MX and even invades New Mexico killing 19 Americans General John J. Pershing sent to chase Pancho Villa World War I Central Powers (Ger, Aust-Hung, Turkey, Bulgaria) vs. Allied Powers (GB, France, Russia, Italy, Japan). Wilson proclaims neutrality Natural ties to England; many Americans anti-German, antiautocratic Kaiser Wilhelm But most Americans happy to stay out of the war US bankers (Morgan) loan billions to Allies; US trades with England, Germany prevented from doing so Germany retaliates through U-boat sinking of merchant ships Lusitania attacked and sunk…Americans outraged by loss of American lives…Wilson sticks to neutrality Election of 1916 TR refuses to split the Repubs again; Old Guards nominate SC Justice Charles Evan Hughes Hughes plays both sides of German question TR attacks Wilson’s pacifism, but says Hughes is similarly weak Wilson campaigns on “He Kept Us Out of the War” Wilson wins a very close election, with support of labor and anti-interventionists