Woodrow Wilson and the New Freedom

Section 6.2

• Presentations– D.W. Griffith– The Panama Canal

• 6.2 Slide Show

• Homework• Read 6.2• Unit Test on Progressive Era this week (

Agenda for Today

ObjectivesAt the end of this lesson you should be able

to:

• Identify the 4 major candidate and their political parties of the election of 1912

• List the “unusual” background of Thomas Woodrow Wilson

• Outline the major ideas in Wilson’s “New Freedom” platform

• Outline the major ideas in Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism” platform

• Use political cartoons to better understand the political issues of 1912

What does the cartoon imply about Roosevelt’s power?About Taft’s power?

• Time: 1908

• The Important Introduction

Taft Clip

Who was Woodrow Wilson?• Religious

• Learning Disability

• PHD from John Hopkins

• Great speaking ability

• An elitist• Governor of NJ

– Independent of political machine

– Reformed states’ government– Model of progressive reform

Wilson

Who was Eugene V. Debs?

• Socialist candidate

• Leader of American Railway Union – Pullman Strike (1894)

• Called for: – collective (social) ownership of

factories, mines, and businesses

• Completely reject capitalism

• For the worker and the little guy

Who was William Howard Taft?

• Incumbent– The current office holder

• Hand picked by TR• Disliked being president• Viewed by republican

progressives as too conservative

• Wanted to be supreme court justice

Who was Theodore Roosevelt?

Returned from African safari trip disappointed (with Taft)

Tried to win Republican nomination but lost

Joined Progressive party– AKA= Bull Moose Party

• Divided the republican party

Who does the moose,

elephant, and donkey

represent?What does the

cartoon suggest about the election?

Time: Election of 1912

• Time: Election of 1912

• Issue: Democratic Primary

• Question: What does the cartoon suggest about the selection of the Democratic candidate?

Who was Woodrow Wilson?

• Democratic party• Experience included:

– President of Princeton University

– Governor of New Jersey

• Considered the ‘safe’ candidate by the political machine

Wilson:

• Elimination of all monopolies

• Freedom to all small companies and businesses

• drastic tariff reduction

• banking reform• more strict on antitrust laws

Roosevelt:

• Elimination of “bad” monopolies, keep good ones

• End child labor• Women Suffrage • Workman’s compensation

• Federal Trade Commission (to regulate trade/business)

• Minimum wage/suffrage for women

• Initiative, referendum, and recall

Describe New Freedom.

Describe New Nationalism

• Time: Election of 1912

• Question: What is the cartoon suggesting about TR?

Political Spectrum

• Theodore Roosevelt split the Republican party, grouping in the “Progressive Party”, and Taft was a Republican

• Taft was defeated by Roosevelt • However, Roosevelt did not snatch the winning of many

Democratic progressives away from Woodrow Wilson

ELECTORAL VOTES

What is the significance of the election of 1912?

-Election is the “high water mark” of the progressive movement

All candidates were progressive (to some degree) all candidates did not question whether or not society needed

reform, but more of how to reform.

-New Nationalism vs. New Freedom

Winner: Woodrow Wilson

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Election of 1912