History USA -Part two- 1890 to 1920 Democrats, Wilson and New Freedom

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  • Created by: H@r/3y
  • Created on: 30-08-20 16:01
  • Presidency of Wilson was a demo interlude in repub dominance of 1896-1932
  • victory in 1912 elections were possible due to deep splits in repubs
  • Teddy undermined his former ally Taft
  • Wilson seized opp to revive demo and establish his own political credentials as a progressive
  • 1916 won reelection
  • 'Wilsonism' was rejected in 1920 election, but his years were important for US domestic policies
  • Wilson the progressive reformer and wlson the internationalist
  • Demos damaged by division of 1890s
  • challenge of populists as separate party soon faded
  • rival wings of party had little in common
  • repub backed by big business and buoyed by booming economy-set for political dominance
  • from 1910 though the rise of Wilson and internal strains allowed demo revival
  • 1896 election= strengths and weaknesses of demos
  • Bryan was political figure, could mobilise mass audiences in moral crusade against perceived injustices
  • grass roots rebellion of Populism-serious challenge to political establishment
  • Bryan divided opinion-demand for free silver, likely to alienate voters in N/E as was to enthuse S/Great Plain voters
  • 1896 failed to carry populist wave so unlikely to succeed with same message 1900
  • 1900 repubs benefit from improved economic conditions and victory in war against spain
  • demo party divisions exposed 1904
  • unlikely any demo could prevent teddys re-election-two most prominent demos (Bryan and Cleveland) faced opposition from within
  • nominating convention-dominated by anti-Bryan pro-business conservatives and man who gained nomination Alton Parker
  • Teddy won reelection easily
  • 1908 demos again turned to Bryan- more moderate progressive views, no longer campaigning for free silver and tried to appeal to conservative pro-business demos and traditional S/W=little effect and lost again
  • 1910 revival in demo fortunes-cracks in repubs
  • Taft alienated progressive repubs, as shifted to more conservative policies and appointed conservative to gov posts
  • 1910 mid-terms demos surprised selves with winning control of the House of Representatives
  • this success made demos optimistic-repubs called it a 'diaster'
  • the mid terms can show political trends and can affect president authority
  • 1910 led to bitter recriminations among repubs- prompted Roosevelt to return to politics to 'save the party'
  • 1910 demos had rising political star Wilson, political outsider, S, pacifist, progressive idealist, had distinguished academic career-president of Princeton Uni so had rep for administrative ability and moral authority
  • Wilson's term as Governor of New Jersey=national prominence
  • wilson pushed energetic programme of reform gained respect for decisive leadership
  • Wilson held reconciliation meeting with Bryan
  • Wilson entered 1912 election campaign as a talented leader capable of uniting demos
  • 1912 election was turning point-demo recovery and growing strength of progressive
  • teddy was leading a rebellion, trying to drag repubs back to progressive policies
  • teddy failed to win repub nomination, then was willing to split party taking leadership of new national progressive party to challenge taft
  • wilson also pushed a progressive agenda
  • wilson was a unifier
  • he attacked taft and repubs for being party of big business and high protective tariff
  • election result rejected taft and conservative republicans
  • Taft had cruised to convincing victory over bryan 1908 and should've been placed strongly for 1912 reelection…

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