The Final Vestiges Of Progressivism

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Progressive Movement 1890-1920 The Final Vestiges Of Progressivism The 60 percent of Americans who had not supported Wilson in the previous election were unlikely to do so again as the 1916 election drew near due to his emphasis on foreign policy and the inevitable consequences of his small government program. After realizing this, Wilson launched a rush of fresh Progressive reforms that won over the electorate and ended up being the last of the Progressive Era. Wilson worked to pass a number of significant laws, such as the Federal Farm Act, which oversaw low-interest loans to millions of farmers in need of debt relief; the Keating- Owen Child Labor Act, which forbade child workers under the age of fourteen from distributing goods interstate; and the Adamson Act, which established the first federally mandated eighthour workday for railroad workers. The Keating- Owen Child Labor Act was eventually declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. By appointing Louis D. Brandeis, the first Jewish justice of the United States Supreme Court, in 1916, Wilson also garnered a sizable amount of support from Jewish voters. Well-liked by progressives who supported social justice, Brandeis went on to become one of the court's most well-known justices due to his support of issues pertaining to the right to privacy and freedom of expression. Ultimately, Wilson won over a large number of working-class voters by standing up for labor and union rights during a bloody coal strike at Ludlow, Colorado, and by preventing a possible railroad walkout by passing the previously mentioned Adamson Act. Wilson's 1916 measures were just about sufficient. He defeated former New York governor Charles Evans Hughes in a tight presidential contest by a mere twenty-three electoral votes and fewer than 600,000 popular votes, securing a second term. Remarkable states like New Hampshire and Minnesota were determined by less than four hundred votes. Wilson could not stay out of the war for very long, even though he ran for reelection with the slogan "He Kept Us Out of the War." Wilson and the American people knew that the Progressive Era was coming to an end quickly. Wilson had attempted to prevent war during his first time in office, but despite some progressive victories in the fields of women's suffrage and prohibition, the nation would soon find itself engulfed in it. Wilson was only five weeks away from leading the United States in declaring war on Germany, a decision that would have ended the Progressive Era, when he took the oath of office for a second term on March 4, 1917. The Progressive Era (1890–1920) saw the end of the movement during President Woodrow Wilson's administration. Wilson's concentration on foreign policy and support for limited government made it difficult for him to win over the sizable percentage of Americans who had not previously endorsed him as the 1916 election drew near. Wilson realized he needed to appeal to a wider audience, so he started a new wave of Progressive reforms that marked the end of the period. Wilson's government passed a number of important laws that addressed urgent social and economic problems. By providing low-interest loans, the Federal Farm Act helped struggling farmers by reducing their debt loads. The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act also forbade the interstate distribution of items made by minors under the age of fourteen in an effort to combat the widespread problem of child labor. Though this legislation had good intentions, the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, which resulted in a legal setback. Louis D. Brandeis was the first Jewish justice of the Supreme Court, and Wilson made a calculated decision to select him in 1916. Brandeis's dedication to social justice helped Wilson win over Jewish voters. Progressives around the country respected Brandeis when he sat on the Court because of his well-known support of rights like the freedom of speech and privacy. Wilson's labor conflict measures further cemented his popularity among people from the working class. His involvement in the Colorado Ludlow coal strike proved his dedication to labor rights, and the Adamson Act's enactment prevented a possible railroad walkout by establishing the eight-hour workweek for railroad employees. These policies struck a chord with voters, helping Wilson defeat Charles Evans Hughes in the 1916 presidential contest by a small margin. Wilson may have been reluctant to enlist America in the First World War, but eventually the Progressive Era was bound to end. Wilson's catchphrase during his reelection campaign, "He Kept Us Out of the War," would soon be eclipsed by the actuality of world war. Wilson led the country into war against Germany just five weeks into his second term, bringing an end to a period of progressive change. Wilson's administration saw the Progressive Movement accomplish important firsts including women's suffrage and prohibition, but the start of World War I marked the movement's end. Wilson's attempts to keep the peace were finally overshadowed by the demands of war, ending a period of social and reform movements.