Cecily Zamora
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving between 1913 and 1919 to 1921. Wilson's presidency was progressive and reformist, and he was responsible for a number of significant laws and policies. These included the Federal Reserve Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Adamson Act, and the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Federal Reserve Act | Signed into law in 1913, creating a Federal Reserve System with a Federal Reserve Board and twelve regional reserve banks to manage the nation's banking system |
| Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act | Enacted a reduction in tariffs, improving manufacturer efficiency and consumer pricing while introducing a small income tax to compensate for lost revenue |
| Seventeenth Amendment | Provided for the direct popular election of senators |
| Federal Trade Commission Act | Established the Federal Trade Commission to enforce antitrust laws and prevent unlawful suppression of competition |
| Clayton Anti-Trust Act | Excluded labor organizations and farmers from antitrust prosecution, prohibiting anti-competitive practices like price-fixing |
| Child Labor Law | Made it illegal to ship goods in interstate commerce if they were made in factories employing children under certain ages |
| Women's Suffrage | Supported the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote |
| Race Relations | Denounced lynching and called on law enforcement to eradicate the practice, but did not intervene in the East St. Louis race riots of 1917 |
| League of Nations | Presided over the creation of the League of Nations after World War I |
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What You'll Learn
Federal Reserve Act
One of the most notable laws created by Woodrow Wilson during his presidency was the Federal Reserve Act, which was signed into law on 23 December 1913. This act created the Federal Reserve System, which was comprised of a Federal Reserve Board and twelve regional Federal Reserve banks.
The Federal Reserve Act was passed by the 63rd United States Congress and signed into law by President Wilson, who made the bill a top priority of his New Freedom domestic agenda. The act was designed to address the lack of a central banking system in the United States, which had not existed since the Bank War of the 1830s. This gap was highlighted during the Panic of 1907, when the nation was forced to turn to Wall Street and private investors to stabilise the financial system.
The Federal Reserve Act established a system of private and public entities, with at least eight and no more than twelve private regional Federal Reserve Banks. Twelve banks were eventually established, each with its own branches, board of directors, and district boundaries. The act also created a Federal Reserve Board, consisting of seven members appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to exercise supervisory authority over the banks.
The system of twelve regional banks was designed to diminish Wall Street's influence and create a stable financial system. It was also intended to ensure a supply of money and credit during times of financial strain and to provide various financial services for the economy, such as check clearing and collection for all members of the Federal Reserve. Additionally, the act required all nationally chartered banks to become members of the Federal Reserve System and purchase specified non-transferable stock in their regional Federal Reserve Banks.
The Federal Reserve Act was amended over time to account for changes such as the admission of Hawaii and Alaska to the Union and the restructuring of the Fed's districts. It represented a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's banking system and was considered one of President Wilson's most significant accomplishments.
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Federal Trade Commission Act
The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 was signed into law by US President Woodrow Wilson on September 26, 1914. The Act established the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which opened its doors on March 16, 1915. The FTC was created to enforce antitrust laws and prevent the unlawful suppression of competition.
The Act was designed for business reform and consumer protection against deceptive or unfair practices in advertising. It aimed to ensure that businesses were upfront and truthful about the items being sold. The FTC Act empowered the Commission to prevent unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. It could also seek monetary redress and other relief for conduct injurious to consumers.
The Commission could prescribe trade regulation rules to define unfair or deceptive acts or practices and establish requirements to prevent them. It was also authorized to conduct investigations relating to the organization, business, practices, and management of entities engaged in commerce. The FTC could issue "cease and desist" orders to large corporations to curb unfair trade practices.
The Federal Trade Commission Act is also considered a measure that protects privacy since it allows the FTC to penalize companies that violate their own policies through false advertising and other harmful actions. The Act works in conjunction with the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act, with any violations of the Sherman Act also violating the Federal Trade Commission Act. The sole objective of these acts was to "protect the process of competition for the benefit of consumers, making sure there are strong incentives for businesses to operate efficiently, keep prices down, and keep quality up."
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Child labour laws
Despite initially expressing little sympathy for the cause, President Woodrow Wilson played a role in the passing of child labour laws in the United States. Notably, he signed the Keating-Owen Act into law in 1916, which restricted child labour by limiting children's working hours and prohibiting the interstate sale of goods produced by child labour.
The Keating-Owen Act was the first federal attempt to regulate child labour in the United States. It banned children under 14 from working in factories, workshops, and canneries, and children under 16 from mines and quarries. The Act also prohibited children under 16 from working more than 8 hours a day and between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
However, President Wilson's position on child labour laws was complex. He had argued that such federal legislation would be unconstitutional, a view that was shared by the Supreme Court, which declared the Keating-Owen Act unconstitutional in 1918. Despite this, Wilson eventually recognised the political necessity of supporting such legislation due to changing public perceptions of child labour.
In addition to the Keating-Owen Act, Wilson also pushed through a law to eliminate child labour, which was also later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1918. This indicates that, despite his initial reluctance, Wilson did take some action to address child labour during his presidency.
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Women's suffrage
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement. Wilson entered office in 1913, at the pinnacle of the women's suffrage movement. Despite this, many historians argue that his support for women's suffrage was lukewarm at best during his first term. In fact, Wilson had expressed reluctance to interfere in state suffrage fights, often instructing his secretary to respond on his behalf.
However, in 1917, suffragists began picketing outside the White House, demanding Wilson's support beyond what they deemed as mere lip service. These women, calling themselves the "Silent Sentinels", held signs intended to challenge and embarrass Wilson. Initially, Wilson seemed bemused by the picketers, but as time went on, his attitude changed. By October of that year, police announced that the picketing suffragists faced up to six months in prison if they persisted.
In 1918, Wilson's daughter, Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre, a leading suffragist, influenced him to join the fight for women's enfranchisement. On September 30, 1918, Wilson gave a speech before Congress in support of women's suffrage, acknowledging the contributions of women during World War I. He asked, "We have made partners of the women in this war… Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of privilege and right?". Despite Wilson's support, the bill failed to pass in the Senate.
In 1919, Wilson called a special congressional session, and on June 4, Congress passed the 19th Amendment, sending it to the states for ratification. The final required state ratified the amendment in August 1920, officially granting women the right to vote. While Wilson's support for the amendment was reluctant and politically motivated, his endorsement, along with the efforts of suffragists like Alice Paul, played a crucial role in the ultimate passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment.
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League of Nations
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, was a progressive reformer who sought to extend opportunities to all Americans and wrest power from entrenched interests. Wilson's presidency overlapped with the Progressive Era (c. 1890-1920), a period characterised by attempts to mitigate social and economic inequalities.
Wilson's administration was marked by significant legislative achievements, including the Federal Reserve Act, which he signed into law in 1913. This Act created a Federal Reserve System, consisting of a Federal Reserve Board and twelve regional reserve banks, bringing the US banking system under governmental supervision for the first time. This was considered Wilson's most significant accomplishment and represented a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's banking system.
Another key aspect of Wilson's presidency was his support for labour rights and progressive social reforms. He endorsed and signed into law the Keating-Owen Act, the first federal child labour law, which prohibited the interstate shipment of goods produced in factories employing children below specified ages. Wilson also pushed through legislation to eliminate child labour, although the Supreme Court later ruled it unconstitutional. Additionally, he supported improved credit for farmers, workers' compensation, and an eight-hour workday for railroad employees, signing the Adamson Act into law.
Wilson's commitment to progressivism extended to women's rights. He endorsed the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and nominated Louis Brandeis, a staunch progressive who fought against the exploitation of women and children, to the Supreme Court.
In terms of foreign policy, Wilson is known for creating the League of Nations after World War I. However, his diplomacy in this area has been criticised by historians such as Thomas A. Bailey, who argued that Wilson's peace proposals compromised important American ideals.
Overall, Wilson's presidency fulfilled much of the progressive reform agenda and laid the foundations for a more activist executive branch, with the president assuming a dominant role within America's constitutional system.
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Frequently asked questions
Wilson was responsible for the Federal Reserve Act, which created a Federal Reserve System, including a Federal Reserve Board and twelve regional reserve banks. He also signed the Keating-Owen Act, which became the first federal child labour law, and the Adamson Act, which secured an eight-hour workday for railroad employees.
Wilson's domestic program, called the New Freedom, included the Federal Trade Commission Act, which created a government board to investigate and publicise unfair or anti-competitive business practices. He also supported improved credit for farmers and workers' compensation for federal employees.
Wilson signed the Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act, which reduced tariffs and provided competitive pricing for consumers. He also supported the creation of the League of Nations after World War I.
Wilson signed the Nineteenth Amendment into law, granting women the right to vote.
