Jake and Aaron, October 19

 

Link to political cartoons:  http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/election-cartoons/

 

Chapter 9, The Convention in Baltimore

·         Wilson agrees with Bryan to reject the Convention’s nomination of Parker

·         Bryan argues that it would be “criminal folly” to avoid Progressive movement

·         Powerful Democratic boss, Charlie Murphy, from Tammany Hall wants to keep power in political machine, but recognizes importance of Progressivism, seeks to appoint his own candidate

·         Political Angling and Deals at the Convention?

o   Bryan attempts to deadlock race between Clark and Wilson, by removing his vote if New York supports Clark or Wilson

o   McCombs, Wilson’s campaign manager deals for delegates, Wilson disproves of such actions

·         Wilson receives nomination – platform: criticize tariffs, crush the trusts, and oppose central banking system)

Chapter 10, The New Progressive Party and their Convention

·         The Bull-Moose Party

·         Teddy Roosevelt and Hiram Johnson nominated for President by acclimation

·         Jane Addams-first woman to speak at a convention- TR believes women are equal and able to be a part of the political scene.

·         The Platform:

o   Contradictory?  TR wants to allow African Americans to become part of political process but says nothing about alleviating those circumstances of African Americans in the South

o   Worker’s rights, six hour work days, insurances for injured or involuntarily removed workers, conservatism, and regulation for the trusts.

·         The least debated and most easily accepted nomination for 1912.

Chapter 11, The Socialist Party, a Myriad of Struggle and Controversy

·         Debs and Haywood team up to fight for industrial unionism, on behalf of the ideology of the disconnect between employer and employee

·         Cripple Creek – the WFM strike fails, what were causes of the failed strike?

·         Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) rises, Debs fully behind this group

o   Why was this group in contention and opposed to Gompers and the AFL?

·         The death of Governor Steunenberg

o   WFM receives blame, Haywood, Moyer, and Pettibone extradited by abduction

o   False witnesses, manipulation by Detective McParland, and a defense including Clarence Darrow to acquit these three

·         IWW gains recognition for involvement in Lawrence Strike, Haywood performs a change in policy, now “put hands in pockets” (nearing peaceful protest)

·         Haywood is kicked out of the Socialist Party; for what reasons did this occur?

·         Debs is nominated for candidacy; why was he a unique candidate, think in terms of socialism and democracy

·         Debs campaigns as the democratic embodiment of socialism

Chapter 12, TR vs. Woodrow

·         How can Wilson draw a line between his beliefs and TR’s?

·         Louis D. Brandeis- “The New Freedom”

o   Instead of regulation of monopolies through the government, the government will be used to create/regulate competition; How is this possible?

§  Major reforms in banking and the reduction of the tariff

§  “the difference in the economic policy of the Democratic and Progressive parties is fundamental and irreconiliable.  It is the difference between industrial liberty and industrial absolutism, tempered by governmental (party) supervision” (195-6).

Chapter 13, Roosevelt the Crusader, his campaign influence

·         Roosevelt disregards Taft, and believes it is a two-man race (Wilson vs. Roosevelt)

·         Large support in East and Upper Midwest, especially from extensive campaign

·         New Freedom vs. New Nationalism (Wilson vs. Roosevelt); how were their ideas separate? Similar?

·         Progressive Party struggles outside the urban voters, must rely on Roosevelt the man for votes

·         Debs becomes the “Red Revolutionary” after his campaign concluded at Madison Square Garden, calls for working class uprisings

Chapter 14, The Moralist- Wilson’s Campaign

·         Stances on race and immigration- said one thing but believed another; was inherently racist but campaigned on equality, did not like the immigrants but campaigned for an open-door policy.

·         Decided to focus his campaign on an economic policy that would bring the big trusts to the level of equality with the people…

o   Instead on mocking TR’s ideas for trust-busting, Wilson actually created a program that resembled TR’s economic ideas

§  Wanted an “industrial commission to regulate business enterprise.

Chapter 15, Outsiders Looking In, A Conservative and a “Red Prophet”

·         Taft wins Chicago, believes it will spur his campaign, gives a speech opposing the other three candidates for their Progressive beliefs

·         Taft is largely hands-off towards his campaign; who will run his campaign? Enter Republican Convention Chairman, Hillis. How’d he manage the campaign?

·         Taft confronts Republican deserters to the Progressive Party

o   What was inevitable about the Republican deserters? How did Taft propose they handle their inevitable return?

·         Is Debs running to put the spotlight on socialism and reform?

o   People must see the insufficiency of Progressive reforms, voters will realize the necessity for further reform

Chapter 16, Who’s Going to Win?

·         The final leg of the campaign for all the candidates

·         TR is shot, but of course continues his campaign with the assassin’s bullet still inside him.

·         Woodrow Wilson becomes President with 6,293,454 votes, TR second with 4,119,538, Taft 3rd with 3,484,980 and then Debs with 901,873 votes.

o   Did the Republican Party splitting between Taft and TR destine the Democratic victory? Yes.

o   It is the climax of the Bull Moose Party and the Socialist Party in American politics with both parties faltering after the 1912 election.

Chapter 17, Fortunes, Fate, and the Impending War

·         Wilson is elected President, believes his preparation was for domestic affairs but fate seems to worry him with foreign issues

·         Many domestic achievements, many sweeping reforms

o   What were some of these reforms; how did they impact his presidency? Consider page 244 for these achievements and legislation

·         Support for International Agency, or a body of nations

o   Wilson ideals vs. Roosevelt ideals

o   How would this agency enforce ideals (military vs. self-determination)

·         Ensuing Congressional Elections

o   Roosevelt returns to promote Progressive Party

o   A country tired and weary of reform, lose to Republicans

·         Progressives return to Republican side, a result of Roosevelt’s doing

o   How did Wilson overcome this issue?

·         War breaks out, Wilson faces a delicate and difficult situation

o   Neutrality for the U.S.; how did the Sedition Acts and other forms of silencing critics help or hinder Wilson’s presidency?

Chapter 18, Endgames

·         Wilson fights for his League of Nations during the Versailles Treaty talks of 1918.

o   France shoots down the idea adamantly.

o   Wilson suffers a stroke and effectively kills his own vision of a League in Congress.  Why did he refuse the small compromises to see potentially greatest accomplishment passed?

o   Did the failing of the League of Nations foreshadow WWII? If so, how?

·         Warren G. Harding is elected President in 1920 and pardon’s Debs.  Wilson would not budge on that plea either.