Election of 1912

By Jackie White

Presidential Campaign Commercial• Record three components that are

included in these presidential campaign commercials

• Barack O’Bama Defining Moments 2 mins

• John McCain Jobs for America July 7, 2008

• http://pcl.stanford.edu/campaigns/2008/• Candidate, position, political party

affiliation, slogan, platform/ideology

Background Info

• The Progressive Era was a period of intense social and economic upheaval. While the Industrial Revolution had brought about increased productivity and wealth, it also created new needs and problems. Big business continually came into conflict with workers rights activists. Women and African Americans were striving for social equality. During this time period a serious debate raged about how the nation should address these concerns. We will examine where each of the candidates campaigning for president stood on these matters.

The Republican Party• The Republican Party was

divided between progressives who sought change and conservatives who did not.

• Candidate: William Howard Taft

• Slogan: Conservatism• “Vote for Taft this time, you

can vote for Bryan any time”

Republican Party Platform

High tariffs High tariffs on imported goods.on imported goods.

Against Against ““badbad”” trusts. trusts.

Against Against initiativeinitiative, referendum, and , referendum, and recallrecall. .

Did not support direct Did not support direct electionelection of of senatorssenators (17th Amendment) (17th Amendment)

Put limitations on female and child labor.Put limitations on female and child labor.

ConservationConservation of some natural of some natural resourcesresources & using others for & using others for private industryprivate industry..

Taft’s Speech “On Popular Unrest”

• http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5724/

• Taft favored a non-interventionist approach to the problems that plagued American society in 1912.

The Bull Moose/Progressive Party

• Roosevelt proposed “New Nationalism” under which the federal government would exert its power for the welfare of the people

• Candidate: Theodore Roosevelt

• Slogan: “New Nationalism” federal government exert its power for the welfare of the people.

Progressive Party Platform• direct election of senators • Lower tariffs on imported goods• Government action to supervise big business• opposed trusts that hurt business interest• adoption in all states of initiative, referendum, &

recall• an eight-hour workday & workmen’s

compensation• Advocated women’s suffrage• a federal law against child labor

Roosevelt’s Speech “The Liberty of the People”

• http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5722

• He was the most openly pro-labor of the three major candidates. He believed in extending the power of the federal government to protect workers from exploitation by big business owners.

Democratic Party

• Candidate: Woodrow Wilson

• Slogan: New Freedom

• “It TakesTimeto Removethe Grime”

Democratic Party Platform“New Freedom”•Stronger anti-trust legislation- All monopolies (trusts) are evil•Reduced tariffs •Banking reform•Stronger government role in economic affairs•Supported small business and free market competition•Did NOT support womenDid NOT support women’’s s suffragesuffrage..

Wilson’s Speech “On Labor”

• http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5723

• In this campaign speech, Wilson argued against a minimum wage for women workers and called for the end of business monopolies. Wilson was the eventual winner, with over six million popular and 435 electoral votes.

Socialist Party

• Candidate: Eugene Debs

• Platform: called for an end to capitalism

• ““The issue is The issue is Socialism versus Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I Socialism because I am for humanity.am for humanity.””

Socialist Party Platform

Called for an end to Called for an end to capitalismcapitalism

GovernmentGovernment ownership of railroads and ownership of railroads and utilities.utilities.

Guaranteed Guaranteed incomeincome tax. tax.

No No tariffstariffs on imports. on imports.

8-8-hour work day.hour work day.

Better Better housinghousing..

Government Government inspectioninspection of of factoriesfactories..

WomenWomen’’s s suffragesuffrage..

Debbs on “The Monstrous System of Capitalism”

• http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5725• Running for the fourth time, Debs

called for the abolition of capitalism rather than for its reform. In this speech accepting the party nomination he proclaimed the Socialist Party the party of progress, the party of the future. Debs finished last in the contest, receiving 900,000 votes.

An Actual 1912 Ballot

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/02/education/presidential-election-history-quiz.html

1912 Election Results

Political Campaign ActivitySelect a presidential candidate and design a political campaign poster or

commercial for the election of 1912

Your poster should include the following components:

– Political Party Affiliation

– Candidate’s Name

– Graphics (Picture of candidate or party/patriotic symbols)

– A Campaign Slogan (Ex. OBama Yes We Can!)

– Platform

– http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/category/lesson-plans/

– Students Create Video Ads for Historic Presidential Elections

Political Campaign Poster Rubric