GOP Reaction at the Throttle

8) Harding was the perfect cover for enterprising industrialists. McKinley-style order returned heavily at the end of the war.

9) The new Old Guard was pushing for the government to actually help businesses to achieve corporation status.

10) The Old Guard achieved it's goals by placing in the courts loyal members to their laissez faire ideals.

11) Harding appointed 4 of the 9 Supreme Court justices. His selection of justices allowed his policies to extend into the 1930's because these justices were mentally guided by ideologies similar to that of Harding.

12) Ex-president Taft became chief justice.


13) The Supreme Court successfully assaulted the Progressive legislation by taking away child labor laws, worker rights, and enforcing laissez faire oriented laws.

14) The Supreme Court overturned women's laws with the following logic: because they can now vote and have equal legal status, they should have equal status in laws regarding the workplace.

15) Trusts were basically ignored/allowed to grow under Harding. Laws against these trusts were basically disregarded by trusts and government officials alike.

16) Self-regulation of companies was Hoover's policy because he firmly believed competition would punish those that did not.

The Golden Age of Gangsterism

Much as Athens had a golden age for learning and intellectual advancement, America had a golden age during the 1920's, yet its fruit were not quite as pleasant. In 1920, the Prohibition (aka Noble Experiment) kicked off. However, the deep-seeded tradition of Strong American drink, as well as that of the "wet" cultures mixing in, proved to be too powerful.

The power-vacuum throne, where old brewers used to sit, was suddenly up for grabs. In this case in history, mobsters where the type of me who seized power. Working against the law, or even with it depending on whose hands received money, the vicious business men ruled major cities, like Chicago. Say hi to Al!

No, he's not happy to see you. And don't ever surprise him. He is understandably jumpy at times...
Oh, and wave to the nice police man!

Wait nevermind, the policeman is jumpy too.

Not only did gangsters cater to the public's thirst, they also appeased many other facets of less-than-agreeable society. These crime lords soon expanded their empires into the "markets" for prostitution, gambling, and narcotics.

Another less popular activity upheld by gangsters was the practice of racketeering. Shop or business owners were forced to pay protection money to ensure the safety of their store, selves, and customers.
Needless to say, it was creepy and bad..

These crimes were being committed on a massive scale unproportional to the number of trials and convictions, until the Lindbergh incident where the American aviator hero's son was kidnapped and murdered during a ransom. From here on out, public opinion condemned gangsterism while governments put into place harsher legislation to limit its effects and growth.

No longer is this cuddly thief seen as defiantly American!

We see you for who you really are....

Creel Manipulates Minds

18) Much like a product advertiser (Sham-Wow!), George Creel's job was to sell America to the idea of going to war and to get the world to buy into Wilson's 14 Points. With a bulging staff of 150,000, Creel's organization piled on the mentally-encapsulating patriotic propaganda.

19) The pro-war message saturated popular society, manifesting itself in movies, on walls, in leaflets that fall! The colors shined brilliantly from the covers of magazines to books. Creel was so sneaky; he stole isolationism from the hearts of man, what a crook..

20) Creel was so successful at exciting the American emotions of patriotism and stewardship for the war that he ended up hyping Wilson up to being someones whose shoes could not be filled. This would prove to be fatal when the president failed to fulfill the hopes and dreams of his faithful followers.

And as all good things must come to an end, so to must this.. But be not afraid! The banner has been placed in good hands. What say you, Zack!

Progressive Era Foreign Policy Acts

Panama Canal Toll Act of 1912

The Panama Canal Toll Act exempted US shippers from paying tolls at the canal. It was repealled by Wilson to better relations with Britain as part of his Anti-Imperialistic mindset.


Jones Act of 1916

The Jones Act provided the Phillipines with true territorial status with its perks and promised future independence once sound government was established. Wilson did this to appease the Democrats that also favored less aggressive foreign politics.

Progressive Era Conservation and Land Use Acts

Desert Land Act of 1877

The Desert Land Act allowed the government to sell arid land to private people cheaply as long as they irrigated the land in three years. This was part of Teddy Roosevelt's attempt to use nature as was applicable to progressive thought.


Forest Reserve Act of 1891

The Forest Reserve Act gave the president the ability to set aside land as national parks or reserves. This unique law gave Teddy an even stronger position to advance the progressive ideas on conservation. This mindset ran along the lines of Beauty vs Use where Beauty was exploited only to provide the greatest use to the greatest number, but not so much as to annihilate the Beauty.


Carey Act of 1894

The Carey Act, like the Desert Land Act, gave land to states under the condition that it would become irrigated and settled. Teddy's law allowed progressive thought to rule over these newly enriched lands.


Newlands Act of 1902

The Newlands Act was the most important dedesertification act passed. It allowed Congress to collect money to be put towards the effort of irrigating the remaining desert. Projects, such as the Hoover Dam and many other, can be attributed to this piece of legistlation.

New Federal Agencies

The Women's Bureau in 1920

The Women's Bureau was created to be a federal advocate of women labor in the economy. Progressivism has enabled women to come into the spotlight of politics at last, symbolized by the growing legal gains.

The Children's Bureau of 1912

The Children's Bureau was created to be a protector for children forced to take part in the economy. This organization came about mainly due to the fighting efforts of women, hoping to improve their sphere, the home, by making children safer.

Federation Trade Commission of 1914

The Federal Trade Commission was a attack on monoploies and was meant to be the most crippling of them all. Unlawful competition, mislabeling, adulteration, and bribery were all practices that became taboo, punishable by death to your business. This was the last segment of priviledged wall that Wilson hopped as president.

Federal Reserve of 1913

The Federal Reserve Act gave the president the power to appoint a borad to head 12 regional banks across the US. The borad was also given the ability to print paper money to match the need of business and public interests. Wilson's economic law sllowed America to continue throbbing with power throughout the First World War.

Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916

The Federal Farm Loan Act enabled farmers to aquire credit at low interest rates. Wilson passed this legistlation to appease both the progressives and the Populists and to secure their votes in the upcoming election.

16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment allowed the federal government the right to collect an income tax from its citizens as it pleased, although it did start out only as a modest thing. Wislon actively contributed to its legitimacy as he continued his ascendency over the triple wall of priviledge

17th Amendment

The 17th Amendment changed senator election from being private to a pulic matter. This was done as a result of evidence of foul play unearthed by the muckrakers and remained a goal of progressives until it was achieved.

18th Amendment

The 18th Amendment was the prohibition of alcohol. the main driving force behind this change was the activism of women in the public eye, sponsored by the WCTU and the Anti-Saloon league.

19th Amendment

The 19th Amendment finally gave women the right to vote in 1920. By agency of the themselves and progressives in general (with the idea that women would bring some morality to politics), the change occurred.

Protecting Workers

La Folette Seamen's Act of 1915

The La Folette Seamen's Act made mandatory the decent treatment and decent wage earning priviledges of sailors. Unfortunately, shipping rates increased due to this higher standard. Wilson pushed this legistation to become even moreso identifiable as the progressive president.

Worker's Compensation Act of 1915

The Worker's Compensation Act set up a system by which a federal civil servant would receive support if he or she were to become disabled somehow. Again, this was pushed by Wilson the progessive, whose mind was on the upcoming elections.

Anti-Trust

Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890

The Sherman Nti-Trust Act forbade combinations to restrain trade. It was a weak law at first but was later strengthened to increase its effectiveness. This too was meant to only target bad trusts and leave the others intact.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act strengthened the Sherman list of non-OKed business practices, while making labor and agricultural unions legal. Wilson passed this regulation as part of his plan to scale the triple wall of priviledge for progressives.

Food Safety

Meat Inspection Act of 1906

The Meat Inspection Act allowed for the inspection of meat shipped over state lines by federal inspectors. It arose out of a growing need for consumer protection and to prevent the closing of foreign markets to American meats.

Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906

The Pure Food and Drug Act meant to prevent the adulteration and mislabeling of foods and medicines. This also arose from societal pressures to protect the consumer and imbue a sense of trust in the buyer with regards to purchsing products.

Railroads

Elkins Act of 1903

The Elkins Act sought to fight rebates in the railroads industry towards companies. Heavy fines were set in place to disuade the two from giving or recieving these monetary evils. Teddy Roosevelt pushed this because the economy needed something stronger than the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate trusts.

Hepburn Act of 1906

The Hepburn Act targeted free passes (bribery) among the railroads. It also expanded the ICC to include companies, sleeping car companies, and pipelines. Teddy implemented this act to target the badness, not the bigness, of trusts.