USA in the early 20th century: politics, economics and society

At the dawn of the twentieth century, America was no longer a republic that was actively fighting for its freedom and survival. It can be described as one of the largest and most developed countries in the world. The foreign and domestic policy of the United States at the beginning of the 20th century was built on the desire and desire to take a more influential position in the world arena. The state was preparing for serious and decisive actions for the dominant role not only in the economy, but also in politics.

The oath in 1901 brought the next unselected and youngest president - the 43-year-old Theodore Roosevelt. His arrival in the White House coincided with the beginning of a new era, not only in American, but also in world history, rich in crises and wars.

In the article, we will talk about the specifics of US development in the early 20th century, the main directions of domestic and foreign policy, and social and economic development.

T. Roosevelt Administration: Domestic Policy

Roosevelt, during his oath to the presidency, gave his people a promise that he would continue the country's domestic and foreign policies in accordance with the course of his predecessor, McKinley, tragically killed by the hands of the radicals. He assumed that anxiety about trusts and monopolies in the society was groundless and mostly pointless, and expressed doubt about the need for any restriction on the part of the state. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the closest associates of the president were the heads of influential corporations.

The rapid economic development of the United States in the early 20th century was on the way to limiting natural market competition, which led to a deterioration in the state of small and medium-sized businesses. The dissatisfaction of the masses was caused by the growth of corruption and the proliferation of monopolies in the politics and economy of the state. T. Roosevelt did his utmost to neutralize the mounting concern. He did this through numerous attacks on corruption in big business and promoted the prosecution of individual trusts and monopolies, initiated legal proceedings on the basis of the Sherman law adopted in 1890. In the end, companies were fined and reborn under new names. There was a rapid modernization of the United States. In the early 20th century, the states had already adopted the features of corporate capitalism in its classical version.

President T. Roosevelt entered the history of the United States as the most liberal. His policy could not eliminate either the abuse of monopolies and the growth of their power and influence, or the working-class movement. But the country's foreign activity was marked by the beginning of a broad expansion into the world political arena.

The role of the state in economics and social relations

The US economy in the late 19th and early 20th century adopted the features of classical corporate capitalism, in which giant trusts and monopolies unrolled their activities without any restrictions. They limited natural market competition and practically ruined small and medium-sized businesses. Adopted in 1890, the Sherman Act was positioned as a "charter of industrial freedom", but it had a limited effect and was often treated differently. Litigation equated trade unions to monopolies, and strikes of ordinary workers were regarded as "conspiracy to restrict free trade".

As a result, the social development of the United States at the beginning of the 20th century goes towards deepening inequality (stratification) of society, the situation of ordinary Americans becomes distressed. Growing discontent against corporate capital among farmers, workers, progressive intellectuals. They condemn monopolies and see them as a threat to the well-being of the masses. All this contributes to the emergence of an antitrust movement, accompanied by an increase in the activity of trade unions and a constant struggle for social protection of the population.

The demands for "renewal" of social and economic policy begin to sound not only on the streets, but also in parties (democratic and republican). Emerged as opposition, they gradually seize the minds of the ruling elite, which ultimately leads to changes in domestic politics.

Legislative acts

The economic development of the United States in the early 20th century required the adoption of certain decisions by the head of state. The basis for the so-called new nationalism was the requirement of T. Roosevelt to expand the powers of the president, so that the government would take control of the activities of the trusts with a view to regulating them and suppressing the "unfair game".

Implementation of this program in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century was to be facilitated by the first law adopted in 1903 - "The Act on Accelerating Proceedings and Resolution of Justice Processes." He established measures to speed up the trials of antitrust cases, which were regarded as having "great public significance" and "priority over others".

The next was the law on the creation in the US of the Ministry of Labor and Trade, whose functions included collecting information on trusts and considering their "unfair activities". His requirements for "fair play" T. Roosevelt also extended to the relations of entrepreneurs with ordinary workers, advocating a peaceful settlement of the disputes that arise between them, but demanding parallel restrictions on the activity of US trade unions at the beginning of the 20th century.

Often one can hear the opinion that by the twentieth century the American state came up with zero "luggage" of international relations. In this there is some truth, because until 1900 the US was actively focused on themselves. The country did not get involved in the intricate relations of the European powers, but actively carried out expansion in the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands.

Relations with Indigenous Indians

The history of relations between the indigenous peoples of the continent and "white" Americans is indicative of how the United States lived with other nations. There was everything, from an open use of force to a cunning argument, justifying it. The fate of indigenous peoples depended directly on white Americans. Suffice it to recall the fact that in 1830 all the eastern tribes were moved to the western shore of the Mississippi, but the plains already inhabited the Indians with cuts, Cheyenes, Arapahis, Sioux, Blackfeet and Kiowas. The policy of the US government in the late 19th early 20th century was aimed at concentrating the indigenous population in certain specially designated areas. It was replaced by the idea of "cultivating" the Indians, integrating them into American society. Literally in one century (1830-1930) they became the object of government experiment. People were first deprived of their native land, and then of national identity.

The development of the United States in the early 20th century: the Panama Canal

The beginning of the 20th century for the United States was marked by the revival of Washington's interest in the idea of an inter-oceanic channel. This was facilitated by the victory in the Spanish-American war and the subsequent establishment of control over the Caribbean Sea and the entire Pacific region adjacent to the Latin American coast. T. Roosevelt thought the construction of the canal was of paramount importance. Literally a year before becoming president, he openly said that "in the struggle for supremacy in the sea and commerce, the US must strengthen its power beyond its borders and say its weighty word in determining the fate of the oceans of the West and the East."

Representatives of Panama (officially not yet an independent state) and the United States in the early 20th century, or rather, in November 1903, signed a treaty. According to his conditions, America received 6 miles of the Panama Isthmus on a perpetual lease. Six months later, the Colombian Senate refused to ratify the treaty, citing the fact that the French offered more favorable conditions. This caused Roosevelt's indignation, and soon in the country, not without the support of the Americans, began the movement for the independence of Panama. At the same time, near the coast of the country was very opportunely a warship from the States - to monitor the developments. After just a couple of hours after the proclamation of Panama's independence, America recognized the new government and received in return a long-awaited contract, this time already an eternal lease. The official opening of the Panama Canal was held on June 12, 1920.

The US economy in the early 20th century: U. Taft and W. Wilson

Republican William Taft for a long time held judicial and military posts, was a close friend of Roosevelt. The latter, in particular, supported him as a successor. Taft served as president from 1909 to 1913. His activities were characterized by further strengthening of the role of the state in the economy.

Relations between the two presidents deteriorated, and in 1912 they both attempted to nominate themselves for future elections. Spraying the Republican electorate into two camps led to the victory of Democrat Woodrow Wilson (pictured), which left a big imprint on the development of the United States in the early 20th century.

He was considered a radical politician, he began his inaugural speech with the words "the power has changed". Wilson's "new democracy" program was based on three principles: personal freedom, freedom of competition and individualism. He declared himself to be an enemy of the trusts and monopolies, but he demanded not the liquidation but the transformation and removal of all restrictions for the development of business, mainly small and medium, through curbing "unfair competition".

Legislative acts

With the purpose of implementing the program, the Tariff Act of 1913 was adopted, on the basis of which a full audit was carried out. Trade duties have been reduced, and taxes on incomes have been raised, they have established control over banks and expanded the possibilities for imports.

The further political development of the USA in the beginning of the 20th century was marked by a number of new legislative acts. In the same year of 1913 the Federal Reserve System was created. Its purpose was to monitor the issuance of banknotes, banknotes that matter and establish the percentage of bank loans. The organization included 12 national reserve banks from the relevant regions of the country.

The sphere of social conflicts was not left without attention. The Clayton Act of 1914 clarified the controversial wording of the Sherman Act, and also prohibited its application to the trade unions.

The reforms of the progressive period were merely timid steps towards the adaptation of the United States in the early 20th century to a new situation that arose in connection with the transformation of the country into a new powerful state of corporate capitalism. The trend intensified after America joined the First World War. In 1917, the Law on the Control of Production, Fuel and Raw Materials was passed. He expanded the president's rights and allowed him to supply the navy and the army with everything necessary, including with the aim of preventing speculation.

The First World War: the US Position

Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, like the rest of the world, stood on the threshold of global cataclysms. Revolution and war, the collapse of empires, economic crises - all this could not but affect the internal situation in the country. European countries have acquired huge armies, combined at times inconsistent and illogical alliances in order to protect their borders. The result of the tense situation was the outbreak of the First World War.

Wilson, at the very beginning of military operations, made a statement to the nation that America must "maintain a true spirit of neutrality" and be friendly to all the participants in the war. He was well aware that ethnic conflicts could easily disintegrate the republic from within. Declared neutrality was meaningful and logical for a number of reasons. Europe and the United States at the beginning of the 20th century were not in alliances, and this allowed the country to stay away from military troubles. In addition, joining the war could politically strengthen the camp of the Republicans and give them an advantage in the next election. Well, it was quite difficult to explain to the people why the US supports the Entente, in which the regime of Tsar Nicholas II participated.

US entry into the war

The theory of neutrality was very convincing and reasonable, but in practice it proved difficult to achieve. The shift occurred after the United States recognized the naval blockade of Germany. Since 1915, the expansion of the army began, which did not exclude the participation of the US in the war. This moment brought Germany closer to the sea and the death of American citizens on the sunken ships of England and France. After President Wilson's threats, a lull followed, lasting until January 1917. Then a full-scale war of German courts against all others began.

The history of the United States in the early 20th century could have followed a different path, but there were two more events that prompted the country to join the first world. First, a telegram hit the hands of intelligence, where the Germans openly offered Mexico to take their side and attack America. That is, such a distant overseas war was very close, threatening the security of its citizens. Secondly, in Russia there was a revolution, and Nicholas II left the political arena, which allowed him to join the Entente with a relatively clear conscience. The situation of the Allies was not the best, they were carrying huge losses at sea from German submarines. US accession to the war and allowed to reverse the course of events. Warships have reduced the number of German submarines. In November 1918, the enemy coalition capitulated.

Colonies of the USA

Active expansion of the country began in the late 19th century and covered the Caribbean Atlantic. So, the US colonies in the early 20th century included the Guanas Islands, Hawaii. The latter, in particular, were annexed in 1898, and two years later received the status of a self-governing territory. Eventually, Hawaii became the 50th state in the US.

In the same year of 1898, Cuba was captured, which officially passed to America after the signing of the Paris Treaty with Spain. The island was under occupation, having received formal independence in 1902.

In addition, the number of colonies in the country can be safely attributed to Puerto Rico (the island that voted in 2012 for accession to the states), the Philippines (gained independence in 1946), the Panama Canal Zone, Corn and Virgin Islands.

This is just a brief digression into the history of the United States. The second half of the 20th century, the beginning of the 21st century, which followed, can be characterized in different ways. The world does not stand still, something is constantly going on in it. The Second World War left a deep imprint in the history of the whole planet, the ensuing economic crises and the Cold War gave way to a thaw. A new threat has hung over the entire civilized world - terrorism, which has no territorial and national framework.