RI Y3 History USA Reactions and Reforms 2021

THE EMERGENCE OF THE USA • This refers to attempts or efforts that were averse to changing the status quo or dismantling the existing systems. Philanthropists • Carnegie made donations to universities, hospitals, free libraries, parks, swimming baths and churches. Moreover, he set up the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for research and the advancement of knowledge. • In 1889, he published a collection of his writings, The Gospel of Wealth, in which he explained his philosophy of philanthropy. • Carnegie was typical of many self-made millionaires prepared to help those who helped themselves. • Limitation – He did attract criticism for both extremes. • On the one side, he was criticised by other businessmen or being a socialist because he gave money to help various people and societies. • On the other hand, he was also criticised for making his fortune by exploiting his workforce through paying low wages and demanding long hours as well as being too ruthless in destroying rival businesses. • Effectiveness depended on the philosophy and fancy of businessmen? CONSERVATIVE • This refers to attempts or efforts that operated within the legal perimeters of established socio-political system. • Changes were however made to the prevailing system to help the working class. Progressive Presidents – Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson. • Roosevelt was determined to make the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 more effective. • As early as 1902, Roosevelt instructed his attorney-general, Philander C. Knox, to start proceedings against the Northern Securities Company. • Took on powerful businessmen such as Rockefeller and Morgan, who appeared to be using the company's monopoly. • The Supreme Court decided in 1904 that the Company was illegal and it was dissolved. • This encouraged Roosevelt to embark on 44 anti-trust prosecutions, among them American tobacco and Standard oil. • The 1903 Department of Commerce and Labor Act created a new Department of Commerce with a Cabinet Secretary. • lt was given the power to collect data from any business that dealt in interstate commerce which would be vital in identifying the need to regulate business that showed monopoly or price-fixing. • Roosevelt played a very important role in getting this legislation passed by Congress, encouraging the public to put pressure on their Senators and Congressmen to get the Bill passed. • The 1906 Hepburn Act gave a federal government commission the power to inspect books of railroad companies and to lay down the maximum rates they could charge. • This was to try to protect the public from exploitation. The Press (Muckrakers) • In the early 20th century, there was a huge increase in newspaper and magazine circulation. • By 1904, McClure's magazine was selling 750,000 copies and eight years later Collier’s magazine had reached 1 million sales per edition. • The press was to play a major role in exposing the evils in American society, beginning in 1902 with McClure's magazine which exposed political and business corruption in most of America's cities. • Other writers and journalists such as lda Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens and Upton Sinclair wrote a whole series of what became known as muckraking articles, which greatly influenced public opinion and accelerated reform. MODERATE • This refers to attempts or efforts to overthrow or completely remove existing established socio-political systems. • Or it could be attempts characterised by the use of force or violent actions. Politics of Populism and Socialism – Fear of Revolution • Some Americans were concerned about the growth of socialism and radicalism and felt that unless there was reform there could well be revolution. • Trade unions grew in strength with more and more workers supporting more militant actions such as strikes which often turned violent, such as the 1892 steelworkers strike in Pittsburgh. • Many of those who feared revolution were from the middle class. Indeed, Progressivism is often seen as a middle-class movement. • The Socialist Party of America was established in 1901. • Eugene Victor "Gene" Debs. • Limitations – Most Progressive leaders were middle-class professionals such as lawyers and doctors who were desperate to bring about reform to create a more efficient and stable society. Trade Unions and Strikes • Trade / Labour unions representing different crafts were set up in the years following the Civil War. • In 1885, The American Federation of Labour (AFL) was created to represent these labour unions, speaking on behalf of all member unions and encouraging mutual support between unions. • It tried to bring about better working conditions and better wages with its main weapon being strike action. • In 1886, there were 11400 strikes involving 500,000 members. • Limitations – Employers were generally hostile to trade unions and would often sack workers who joined trade unions and use blackleg labour to break strikes, as shown during two significant labour conflicts of the 1890s. RADICAL • This refers to attempts or efforts to correct the socioeconomic disparity suffered by the working class in British society. • Also include the strive for universal suffrage (voting rights) • Attempts or measures could be classified as conservative (passive), moderate and radical. REACTIONS AND REFORMS