As a result of the brief war with Spain, the United States acquired island possessions in both the West and East Indies and became actively involved in world politics. The Re publicans supported this policy of expansion; while the Democrats opposed the militaristic and imperialistic tendencies, but without success.
The assassination of McKinley in 1901 and the succession of Roosevelt to the Presidency led to important changes in party policies. Roosevelt was an aggressive leader, who upheld the new military and international policies and acquiesced in the traditional protective tariff policy of the party, but who favored a considerable increase of social and industrial control by the government, which was opposed by the conservative business elements. At the election of 1904 the Democrats nominated a conservative candidate; but Roosevelt received a large support from the more radical Demo crats and was triumphantly re-elected. Dur ing his second term important laws were passed for the regulation of railroad rates, the gov ernment inspection of foods and some super vision of large industrial corporations. Largely through the influence of Roosevelt, the Repub licans in 1908 nominated and elected as his successor W. H. Taft, over Bryan, who had been nominated by the Democrats for the third time.
President Taft proved much more moderate than Roosevelt; and during his administration the Republicans became badly divided. A revis ion of the tariff was enacted; but this was not satisfactory to the more progressive Republi cans. This dissatisfaction, with the growing demand for other political, social and indus trial reforms, was reflected in the defeat of the Republicans by the Democrats at the Congres sional elections of 1910. Another sign was the increasing vote of the Social Democratic party which had entered the political field in 1900.
The Progressives and the Wilson Democ racy.—In 1912 came another crisis in party history, resulting in a change in party control of the national government. For many years the traditional policies of the two leading parties had been of little significance; and each of these parties had a conservative and a progressive or radical wing. Progressive Democrats and Republicans had carried through important economic and sound re forms in many States—in taxation, con trol of business, the direct primary and the initiative and referendum — and some of the new leaders were in Congress. The national nominating conventions of both major parties in 1912 saw a prolonged struggle for control. In the Republican convention, the conservatives supported the renomination of President Taft, and by their control of the party machinery were able to win a formal victory. But most of the progressive Repub licans who had favored another nomination for Roosevelt claimed that he had been defeated by fraud, and took the lead in organizing a new Progressive party which nominated Roose velt on a platform supporting radical reforms in the interest of greater political and social democracy, and a more active national govern ment. In the Democratic convention under
the leadership of Bryan, the progressive ele ment nominated for President Governor Wil son of New Jersey, on a less radical platform than that of the Progressives. Wilson received the support of some progressive Republicans and many moderate independents, and was elected, carrying most of the States and electoral votes, although with less than a ma jority of the popular vote. Roosevelt received a larger vote than Taft.
The first term of President Wilson was marked by the passage of many important laws, — revising the tariff downward, reorganizing the banking system, controlling industrial monopolies, as well as some social welfare legislation. Under recent amendments to the Constitution a national income tax has been established, United States senators are now elected by popular vote and prohibition of the liquor traffic has been adopted. A woman surf, frage amendment has been proposed. On the outbreak of the Great War Wilson adopted a policy of neutrality, which he maintained through his first term, and in 1916 again led his party to victory.
The entrance of the United States into the war against Germany, in 1917, led to another enormous increase in the work and influence of the national government. The peace treaty and the League of Nations involve a more ac tive participation by the United States in world politics. In assuming these responsibilities the Wilson democracy is departing further from the traditions of the older Democratic party. What the result will be in the future history of political parties in the United States remains to be seen.
Bibliography.— Bryce, James, 'The Ameri can Commonwealth' (Part III, chs. 53-75, 6th ed., New York 1910); Beard, C. A., 'American Government ancrPolitics) (rev, ed., chs. 6-7, 1914) ; Croly, H., 'The Promise of American Life' (New York 1909) ; Ford, H. J. 'Rise and Growth of American Politics' (New York 1898); Jones, C. L., 'Readings on Parties and (New York 1912); McLaughlin, A. C., and Hart, A. B., 'Cyclopedia of American Government' (3 vols., New York 1914) • Macy, J., 'Party Organization and Machinery' (New Morse, A. D., 'Our Two Great Parties) (in Political Science Quarterly, Vol. VI, 593; Vol. VII, 522); Ostrogorskt, M., 'Democracy and Political Parties' (New York 1902); Ray, P. 0., 'Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics' (rev. ed., New York 1913) • Woodburn, J. A., 'Political Parties Parties and Practical Politics) (rev. ed., New York 1914).