8.3 election of 1912 and the wilson years

8.3 The Election of 1912 and the Wilson Years

John F. Shrank• Immigrated from Bulgaria

at age 3• Both parents died…aunt

and uncle take him in• Around the age of 18 they

died…• He was left a good deal of

money…but was depressed

Because…

Slocomb Boat Accident• His GF (only one he ever had) died when the boat

carrying 1300 burned in the NY harbor• Over 1000 people died• New Yorks deadliest accident before 9/11/01

John F. Shrank• No one knows exactly why he

decided to kill Roosevelt• He wrote in his diary that the ghost

of McKinley told him to do it b/c TR shouldn’t be running for a third term

• He followed TR from New Orleans all the way to Milwaukee, WI before he got his chance

• TR ate lunch and was heading to his car

• The bullet entered TR’s chest after hitting his eyeglass case and his 50 page speech he was about to deliver

• Coughed no blood—so he thought he was ok• Went on to deliver a 90 minute speech…• Sometimes had to whisper• Shrank later said he didn’t try to kill TR the citizen… but instead TR the 3rd termer• Declared insane…spent 29 years in a mental

institution

TR’s Opening Remarks

“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. But fortunately I had my manuscript, so you see I was going to make a long speech, and there is a bullet - there is where the bullet went through - and it probably saved me from it going into my heart. The bullet is in me now, so that I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best.”

Roosevelt Assassination Attempt

Thomas Woodrow Wilson is elected

• He was the governor of New Jersey at the time he won the Presidency.

• From 1902 to 1910 he was the President of Princeton University in New Jersey.

• Only US President to have a PhD• Considered a Progressive intellectual more so than a

politician• He is most famous for being President during World

War 1 (WWI).• His first wife died in 1914. He married his second

wife while President in 1915.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

Underwood Tariff• It reduced the average tariff on imported goods by 30%.• One of the most important provisions was for an income tax

which would replace the funds lost by lowered tariffs • This would open the doors of debate for the 16th

Amendment.• In 1913 the 16 Amendment passed which was the federal

income tax on individuals.• Progressive tax – more you make more you pay• Big deal – for the 1st time the government was receiving

taxes directly from each individual in the country

Oscar Underwood

The Federal Reserve Act

• This allowed for banks to keep a portion of their money in a regional bank.

• This would set the interest rates for the entire country and control the amount of currency.

• Many people say this was the most important piece of legislation in U.S. history.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

Federal Trade Commission• This was set up to monitor American business.

and make sure trusts were not forming.• The main job of the FTC was to work with

business to limit the unfair activities.• The Clayton Antitrust Act stopped businesses

from charging different prices to different customers.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

The End of Progressivism• The Progressive era permanently changed the view

of how the government should interact with its people

• By the end the American people thought the government’s job was to protect the people through laws (before the govt. seemed to protect business)

• Progressivism was the remedy to MANY of the social injustices of the day: child labor laws, long work days, women’s rights, etc

• But for all they did…they were still lacking

NAACP• Progressivism did not address racial

issues• Stands for National Association for

the Advancement of Colored People.• It was started by W.E.B. Du Bois to

stop harassment, lynching, and discrimination.

• The NAACP is still very powerful today and fights many legal battles for African Americans.

The Mexican Revolution

• From 1884 to 1911 Porfirio Diaz ruled Mexico.

• The majority of Mexicans were poor and landless.

• The people wanted reform, a revolution occurred, and General Victoriano Huerta took over as leader.

• President Wilson did not like Huerta and sent weapons to Mexico to overthrow him.

US Navy Forces outside of Mexico

Mexican Revolution • With U.S. approval, Venustiano Carranza became Mexico’s

president.• A group of loyal supporters of Huerta called guerrillas

invaded the U.S. and burned the town of Columbus New Mexico.

• These guerrillas were led by Pancho Villa.• Wilson sent over 100,000 troops into Mexico to capture

Villa• The “Punitive Expedition” lasted for over a year and Villa

was never caught• Carranza was able to stop the rebellion and stay in power.

Pancho Villa

Columbus, New Mexico

US Troops Looking for Villa