Download - 1912: The Election that Changed the Century
The Progressive Party &Former President
Theodore Roosevelt
““A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education,
he may steal the whole railroad.he may steal the whole railroad. “
The “BullMoose” Party:
The Latest Arrival at the Political Zoo
Progressive Party Platform
• Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.• Graduated income tax.Graduated income tax.• Inheritance tax for the rich.Inheritance tax for the rich.• Lower tariffs.Lower tariffs.• Limits on campaign spending.Limits on campaign spending.• Currency reform.Currency reform.• Minimum wage laws.Minimum wage laws.• Abolition of child labor.Abolition of child labor.• Workmen’s compensation.Workmen’s compensation.
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Theodore Roosevelt atOsawatomie, KS: New
Nationalism
““Big business requires big government.”Big business requires big government.”
The Republican Party
&President
William H. Taft
Republican Party Platform• High import tariffs.High import tariffs.
• Put limitations on female and child labor.Put limitations on female and child labor.
• Workman’s Compensation Laws.Workman’s Compensation Laws.
• Against initiative, referendum, and recall.Against initiative, referendum, and recall.
• Against “bad” trusts.Against “bad” trusts.• Creation of a Federal Trade CommissionCreation of a Federal Trade Commission
• Stay on the gold standard.Stay on the gold standard.
• Conservation of natural resources Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.because they are finite.
The Socialist Party & Eugene V. Debs
The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.
Socialist Party Platform
• Government ownership of railroads and Government ownership of railroads and utilities.utilities.
• Guaranteed income tax.Guaranteed income tax.• No tariffs.No tariffs.• 8-hour work day.8-hour work day.• Better housing.Better housing.• Government inspection of factories.Government inspection of factories.• Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.
The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow Wilson (NJ)
Democratic Party Platform
• Government control of the monopolies Government control of the monopolies trusts in general were bad trusts in general were bad eliminate them!! eliminate them!!
• Tariff reduction.Tariff reduction.• One-term President.One-term President.• Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.• Create a Department of Labor.Create a Department of Labor.• Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.• Did NOT support women’s suffrage.Did NOT support women’s suffrage.• Opposed to a central bank.Opposed to a central bank.
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GOP Divided by Bull MooseEquals Democratic Victory!
An Actual 1912 Ballot
Real Election Results
• By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.
• The 1912 election marked the peak of the Socialist movement in America.The 1912 election marked the peak of the Socialist movement in America.