Derek's APUS Blog

Woodrow Wilson ran for president in 1912 and ran as a democratic candidate. In his inaugural address Wilson talked about the nations individuals, wealth, and its government. He acknowledges that the governmetn has become democratic, and that the gilded age was a waste. Some of his progessive ideas are to make reform to the nation, and the nedd for laws that protect US citizens. At the end of his inagural address, he states how America needs to dedicate itself to reform.  Similar to woodrow wislons inagural address, JFK addresses the hardship that  America had past encountered.

The Sherman Anti-trust act was similar to the Clayton Anti-trust act, in that it prohibited bug business, but it also prohibited labor unions. This act was passed by Woodrow Wilson in 1914. Before, the government had been far to lenient with big businesses. This act was a response to the failure of the Sherman anti-Trust act. This act prohibited companies from making exclusive contracts, rebates, inter-corporate stock holdings, and price cutting. However the difference between this act and the Sherman Anti-trust act, was that this one no longer restricted labor unions. Instead of prohibiting unions, it protected the workers rights, which made it more successful.

This act was created with the intent to improve working conditions for children. For example children's working hours were long and brutal, so this act shortened the amount children could work. This act also banned the sale of products produced by companies with underage children in their employ. Children could no longer work for over 8 hours a day and children under 14 were not allowed to work and children under 16 couldn't work in the mines. Business were also able to be punished if they didn't follow these standards. The horrific conditions that children were forced to work under, is what helped spark this progressive movement. . 

The "Cross of Gold" speech was delivered to address the issue of free coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 from silver to gold. he starts his speech by saying that the American worker has great value and how they are important, as well has how great America is. He states that Democrats have proposed an issue of money. He says that the farmers and American workers are just s important as the big business leaders of the time, and that farmers could use this change of money to pay off debts they owed. He ends his speech by saying he doesn't believe people should "crucify mankind upon a cross of gold". The populist party was against the decreasing value of silver and the  increasing value of gold, opposite to what Bryan believed. 

This act gives the president power to divide up tribal lands held by Native Americans, by splitting the land into shares for each individual. the amount of land that would be received is determined by the age, gender, and family status of the individual. The president is able to preform this action if it would help agriculturally. It would also help the government sell his land to American settlers. The government is also given the right to build railroads, telegraph lines and highways through this land. This act id similar to the Indian Removal Act, because both acts forced Native Americans off their land for the benefit of the United States Government.

In the preamble, the populist party states that the American public opinion has been suppressed. They say they want to fix that American industry is only supporting the rich. In the platform, they say the union of labor will be permanent and other things like the regulation of railroads and they need a secure national currency. finally in the expression of sentiments, they talk about resolutions to problems like opposing national aid, shorter working hours, a free ballot, and limiting the president to one term. The Knights of labor were supported by the populist party,  along with other unions. 

Originally, McKinley disagreed with the public demand for war, but he needed to confront the conflict. He says that America needed to intervene for many reasons bu that intervening would hurt American trade with Cuba. He then says that the conflict was spreading to American and hurting business and scaring people. He leaves the decision up to congress and says the he believes that there are other ways to resolve this without Americas intervening. McKinley's War message is similar to the Cuban missile crisis because the U.S. was being affected by the actions of Cuba