Thursday, March 19, 2009

Essays

Answer 2 of the following (25 points each):

1. Compare and contrast the various approaches to Social Movement Theory. How well does each explain the various eras of political development already discussed in the course?

2. Contrast the emergence of the Republican Party in the 1850s with the Populists in the 1890s. Why were the Republicans successful in becoming a major party whereas the Populists were not?

3. In what sense were Jefferson and Jackson reconstructive Presidents?

4. What explains the limited success of the Populist movement? Was the populist movement ultimately a success or failure?

What were the goals of the Progressive movement? What tensions existed among Progressive reformers?

Review

Political Opportunity Structure
o The relative “openness” of the government
§ Freedom of speech
§ Freedom of assembly
§ Access to potential resources
§ Organization



Political Opportunity Structure is interchangeable with Socioeconomic Change and Organizational Strength
· Industrialization/Urbanization promotes insurgency indirectly through changing power relationships within society
· UNDERMINES the calculations and assumptions on which the political establishment is structured
· Leads to improved bargaining position for aggrieved population

Indigenous Organizational Strength
· More integrated social networks are in a community, more readily mobilization can occur
· More Solidary incentives
· Mass base insures the presence of leaders

Cognitive Liberation
· Increase the costs for elites to repress the movement
· Group members more likely to respond to insurgents (eg tight labor market, management more responsive)


Social Movements also decline
· Pressure on leaders to maintain organizational strength
· Can leadership view organizational strength as more important than movement goals?
· As goals are reached, pressure on the movement to adjust to the political system.

Jefferson’s legislative achievements

Remade the Defense establishment, while raising the tariff

Passage of 12th Amendment in 1804

Did not submit Secretary of State Monroe’s treaty with the British to the Senate.

Instead, took the policy of a trade embargo.




Hofstadter – “Populism was the first modern political movement of practical importance in the United States to insist that the federal government has some responsibility for the common weal . . . it was the first such movement to attack seriously the problems created by industrialism.”

Populism as agrarian revolt against money power (Outgrowth of Granger movement)

Populism as paranoia and conspiracy

Populist’s Platform:

Free coinage of silver
Income Tax
Expanded currency and credit
Direct election of Senators
Initiative and Referendum


MUGWUMPS AND MUCKRACKERS


CORPORATIONS

Reduce power over legislative process – legislatures full of corruption

Social reforms of negative impact of business – Labor legislation, Health and safety legislation

Railroads and utilities to protect new services

Corporations do some for society, progressives want them to work in public interest




Pendleton Act 1891 – Commission that will recommend rules for civil service exams

1882 Republicans lose House – party competition tightened

Bicameralism important –

By 1900 close to half civil service is merit based

Once a reform is in place it sets out next reform




POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL PROCESSES



If you want good outcomes, you need a better political process

AUSTRALIAN BALLOT

Official, consolidated, secret

Replaced party prepared ballots

LITERACY REQUIREMENTS etc

DIRECT PRIMARY

DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS

CANVASS

28 states

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

NATIONAL PUBLICITY ACTS 1910, 1911

Publicized campaign donations and expenditures


McDonagh (1999) provides a more developed depiction of the tensions between regulatory reform and participatory reform during the progressive era. The author presents policy along two dimensions.

The first dimension is the institutional axis, defined as the use of government towards centralization and increased administration in society.
· workingman’s compensation,
· minimum wage, working day laws,
· women’s hours laws,
· mothers pensions

The second dimension is the participatory axis that increases access to civic participation to previously marginalized groups such as women, racial minorities and immigrants.

o

Prohibition




Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

· Women’s sufferage
· Equal pay
· Day care
· Mine safety

Anti-Saloon League (ASL)

· Single issue group
· Grew out of Prohibitionist Party
· Portrayed drinking as source of all social ills (New Puritanism)
· Argued prohibition would lead to lower taxes
· ASL fit the Progressive Era – Interest Group and for Reform oriented




Prohibition Amendment (18th) enforced by Volstead Act

· Set legal limit of alcohol at 0.5%
· "no person shall manufacture, sell, barter, transport, import, export, deliver, or furnish any intoxicating liquor except as authorized by this act".
· Vetoed by Wilson – overriden by Congress
· Allowed for liquor to be produced in the home

Friday, March 13, 2009

Readings for Monday

A reminder to read the following for Monday:

Eileen L. McDonagh, "The 'Welfare Rights State' and the 'Civil Rights State': Policy Paradox andState Building in the Progressive Era," Studies in American Political Development, 7 (2) (Fall 1993): 225-274. (coursepack)

James Morone, Hellfire Nation, Chs 10, 11. (coursepack) Stephen Skowronek

Friday, March 6, 2009

HOW DID PROGRESSIVES DIFFER FROM POPULISTS?

Unified movement with different types, Northeastern urban, Southern populist, Western progressives

Northeastern Progressives more concerned with Immigrants, concerned about Direct Democracy



WHY WAS THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT CONSIDERED MORE MAINSTREAM?



MUGWUMPS AND MUCKRACKERS


CORPORATIONS

Reduce power over legislative process – legislatures full of corruption

Social reforms of negative impact of business – Labor legislation, Health and safety legislation

Railroads and utilities to protect new services

Corporations do some for society, progressives want them to work in public interest



MACHINES


Jackson – public service should be open to all

Sense that corruption is tied to structure of government, system builds incentive to work for party

Britain 1855 Civil Service Reform

Late 1860s early 1870s Republicans begin to lose control, part of the reason behind Civil Service Reform, make Grant look like a reformer, keep Republican coalition together

1871 Civil Service Commission – first merit exams in 1873, 1874 Congress shuts off funding, Grant removes program 1875

Investigation in Port of New York,

Hayes extends Civil Service Reform by Executive Order

President Arthur – Civil Service Reform use Garfield’s platform to further cause of reform

National Civil Service Reform League – working with Pendleton of Idaho

Pendleton Act 1891 – Commission that will recommend rules for civil service exams

1882 Republicans lose House – party competition tightened

Bicameralism important –

By 1900 close to half civil service is merit based

Once a reform is in place it sets out next reform

Interstate Commerce Commission 1887

Railroad monopolization

State legislatures had previously controlled railroads

Railroads also realize they need reform ,

Role of economists and experts



Sherman Antitrust Act – 1890 to prevent monopoly



See no benefits to machines , anti-immigrent,

Distinguish between responsible wealth and irresponsible wealth

Want business to be managed by a responsible elite


POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL PROCESSES



If you want good outcomes, you need a better political process

AUSTRALIAN BALLOT

Official, consolidated, secret

Replaced party prepared ballots

LITERACY REQUIREMENTS etc

DIRECT PRIMARY

DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS

CANVASS

28 states

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

NATIONAL PUBLICITY ACTS 1910, 1911

Publicized campaign donations and expenditures

Corrupt Practices Acts – state level ban on corporations contributing to campaigns

Banned paying people to vote

DECLINE IN TURNOUT

State controlled elections took excitement away from campaigns

DECLINE OF PARTIES AND RISE OF INTEREST GROUPS

Skocpol – looks at interest group membership historically

Farm Bureau, Association of Manufacterers

RISE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES –

Progressives wanted to replace control from legislatures to scientific management

Non-elected officials with specialized training

Losing power of appointment you lose accountability

MORONE –

TENSIONS IN PROGRESSIVE ERA

1) Direct Democracy – initiative, referendum, recall

Tension with administrative agencies

CAN BE RECONCILED WITH AN OBJECTIVE PUBLIC INTEREST, IN CONTRAST TO CORRUPT LEGISLATORS

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Bensel

Industrialization exacerbated sectional differences in the US

The Northeast and Great Lakes states benefited enormously from manufacturing growth and the protective tariff.

Agricultural states in the South and Midwest suffered from deflationary policies.

3 Crucial Economic development policies during the late 19th Century


1) Unregulated Market

(Helped to promote industry)

2) International Gold Standard

(Guaranteed exchange rate stability with foreign currencies)

3) Protective Tariff

(Protected industry from foreign competition. Kept prices artificially higher)


Policies of Free Markets, Gold, and Protectionism kept the Republican coalition in majority status









Hofstadter – “Populism was the first modern political movement of practical importance in the United States to insist that the federal government has some responsibility for the common weal . . . it was the first such movement to attack seriously the problems created by industrialism.”

Populism as agrarian revolt against money power (Outgrowth of Granger movement)

Populism as paranoia and conspiracy

Populist’s Platform:

Free coinage of silver
Income Tax
Expanded currency and credit
Direct election of Senators
Initiative and Referendum


Populist Party a successful 3rd Party movement in 1892

General James Weaver 22 Electoral Votes

3 Governors, several House Members,


Focus on Silver


Populist Party co-opted by William Jennings Bryan and the Democrats in 1896

Populist Party dissolved shortly after members endorsed Bryan

Many Populist reforms were made law in subsequent decades

Farmers began to identify more with industry and employers