After
a long string of Republican presidents, we finally see Woodrow Wilson arise as
the nations first Democratic president since Cleveland. One of the main reasons he was elected in the
first place was the Republicans’ division over William Taft and Theodore
Roosevelt. These two men split the
vote, in many ways paving the path in which Wilson would take to the White
House.
Wilson
believed in a program known as New Freedom.
The New Freedom program called for stronger antitrust legislation,
tariff reductions, and banking reform.
These ideas were definitely progressive.
Taft and Roosevelt had already put some antitrust legislation into place,
and this system furthered it. It is also
important to point out that Wilson was a bit of an idealist. He strongly pushed for the moral
righteousness of the individual.
This
New Freedom idea eventual morphed into what Wilson called “the triple wall of
privilege.” This was essentially Wilson’s plan as a
president: reform the tariff, the banks, and the trusts. I am personally quite impressed with this plan
Wilson created. He seemed to have very
clear goals as a president, and he acted on those goals accordingly.
To
solve the issue of the tariff, Wilson enacted the Underwood Tariff (1913). This substantially reduced the current
tariff, and also put into place the very first graduated income tax. The income tax only applied to the middle and
upper classes of the time.
To
solve the issue of the banks, Wilson enacted the Federal Reserve Act (1913). This system created twelve regional districts
throughout the country, each with its own central bank. These banks allowed for a large amount of
public control and oversee from the federal government. The banks could also issue paper money, which
was intended to fluctuate as necessary.
We are finally seeing the demands of the poor farmers emplaced in
federal government.
To
solve the issue of the trusts, Wilson created the Federal Trade Commission
(1914). The presidentially appointed
commission oversaw all industries engaged in interstate commerce, and got rid
of the unfair practices. Unfair
practices could be anything from false advertising to unlawful
competition. The other thing Wilson did
regarding trusts was the Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914). This was an extension to the Sherman
Anti-Trust Act, focusing especially on interlocking directorates (when
companies mutually place their own people on the board of other similar
companies, often to control prices and stamp out competition). The Clayton Act also addressed the corruption
of companies using the trust act to illegalize unions.
So
there you have it! I hope this provides
an understanding for some of the big reforms in the United States that Wilson
focused on as president. Feel free to
add or amend anything as you see fit.
The
question I ask you is: Were Wilson’s
reforms positive or negative in addressing the nations economic and social
concerns resulting from a new, industrialized society?
Resources: The American Pageant
Nice post, Sam! You cover Wilson's reformative acts very thoroughly and completely. To answer your question: I think Wilson is progressive, and that his reforms were positive. He brought the government closer to the common people, disrupting corporatist obsession that had influenced the government in the Gilded Age. It seems that as America braces itself for World War I and imperial expansion, it will do so with the support of the common people, not just the industry giants.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Sam, I think Wilson was progressive because of his efforts to break up trusts in the Clayton anti-trust act. He also was progressive by helping unions when he addressed corruption in companies trying to illegalize unions. I also think he was progressive jsut because he made efforts to make reform during his presidency. Many of the presidents before him, especially before Rosevelt, didn't really do anything impressive during there terms,.
ReplyDeleteEconomically as well, Wilson's progressive banking reforms paid huge dividends later on down the road. With the creation of the Federal Reserve, America could adequately finance itself and its allies during WW1, a major success as the American economy entered the modern economic age.
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