Presidential Political Eras 4 and 5

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4) Elections1896-1928 Progressive Populism Ends the Gilded Age But Business Power Returned After WW I. Panic of 1893 dissatisfaction meant a 1996 realigning election with victory for a republican forged conservative coalition consisting of businessmen, professionals, skilled factory workers, and prosperous farmers. Liberal opposition meant two unsettled decades called the Progressive Era which began when Teddy- Roosevelt in the 1902 Coal Strike.  It was a period of social activism and political reform which flourished from the 1890s to the early 1920s. Exposing political machines to eliminate government corruption was an important progressive goal. They hoped to create a more democratic federalist republic by putting election reform high on their agenda. Progressives also sought regulation of monopolistic trust corporations through antitrust laws which were seen as a means to promote consumer benefit through fair competition. Post WW I Communists and unions created fears of anarchy so conservative government returned. A second Red Scare followed WW2. Then the War on Drugs. Then War on Terrorism. Then climate fear. Are politicians and media warmongers making us paranoid?
 

"And Now the Rest of the Story"\
1) The 1897 Dingley Tariff promoted industry at the expense of consumers as it added to consumer goods prices.
2) The 1898 Spanish–American War resulted from U.S. desires for a colonial empire and a desire to help business. 
3) The Gold Standard continued to be a Cross of Gold. It protected wealth but its inflexible money supply often caused economic hard times.
4) The Panama Canal land acquisition in 1903 eventually (1914) resulted in improved transportation. Think infrastructure.
5) Progressive Republican T. Roosevelt began the regulation of Trusts in 1906 with the Meat Inspection Act, the Pure Food & Drug Act and the Hepburn Act which increased ICC regulation of Rail Road Trusts though they still managed to rate control.
6) American Antiquities Act of 1906 created National Monuments and was one of many conservation activities.
7) Panic of 1907 was managed by J.P. Morgan and other wealthy Oligarchs. But economic growth had made even their wealth insufficient so the U.S. Treasury helped create more liquidity. In 1913 the new Federal Reserve System became the Lender of Last Resort. Designed by Wall Street bankers, the FED would continue under Wall Street's thumb until ... 2015?  Think Great Recession.
Riots Guns Bribes TR's Contested 2012 Convention

5 ) Elections 1932-1996 Party Control Flip- Flops But Some Progress Made
Republicans felt voter outrage caused by Bonus Army veteran deaths during the summer of 1932. It combined with the catastrophic economic effects of Hoover's domestic economic policies to mean change was needed!

Democrats promoted American Liberalism anchored in a coalition of specific liberal groups, especially ethno-religious constituencies (Catholics, Jews, and African Americans), white Southerners, well-organized labor unions, urban political machines, progressive intellectuals, and populist farm groups. Experts debate whether this era ended and a Sixth Party System emerged in the mid-1960s with the end of the New Deal coalition.

The era may have continued into the 1980s when the Moral Majority and the Reagan coalition were formed and then in the new century with the Republican Revolution. Interrupted by Presidents Clinton and Obama, it may have continued in 1/15 when the Republicans took control of Congress but Citizens United_v._FEC ended it.

"And Now the Rest of the Story"
1) For the first time U.S. leaders used massive debt to solve a major non-military problem (SS and rural electrification ...). Like military debt, this new type of debt would be lowered economic growth and inflation. It would be refinanced with little paid back (retired).
Think Can contingent liabilities from SS and Medicare be outgrown?

2) Marshall Plan & NATO prevented repeat of post WW I type international problems and officially ended Monroe Doctrine isolationism

3) President Eisenhower pulled out of South Korean and
warned of a Military Industrial Complex.

4) Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the worst Cold War nuclear crises was properly managed.

5) Social Security Amendments of 1965 created Medicare and Medicaid.

6) Voting Rights Act of 1965 assured minority registration and voting ending a 100 year government stalemate.

7) Vietnam War and Watergate scandal

8) Camp David Accords of 1978 was the
high point of recent Middle East peace efforts.

9) Tax Act of 1980 began a trend of cutting
everyone's income taxes.

10) Too Big to Fail policy rescued Continental Illinois Bank
and signaled the beginning of financial industry problems.

11) Coalition of the First Gulf War in1990 repelled invasion
 of Kuwai

12) Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act a1999 repealed the Great Depression Glass–Steagall Act. Did this cause Great Recession?

13) Terrorism strikes on 9/11causes fear that subsides and then returns before the 2016 presidential election.

14) Great Recession ended but slow nominal growth means real national debt will drop slowly as compared to after WW2.

The 1987 Fairness Doctrine exclusion for the communication industry meant  presenting contrasting views was not required of radio stations. Most conservative or liberal and party polarization increased

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed multi station company ownership and national networks developed.

As of 2011, Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) owned over 800 US radio stations and Rush Limbaugh wealth began an 8 yesr clime to $400 million .^[3] 

The Citizens United v. FEC allowed unregulated
nom transparent individual political contributions.

Together they ended the New York Times Ochs Era which began the "All The News That's Fit To Print" era which ended the Yellow Journalism Era.
It had dominated political news since before the Revolution.

1) 2001 Bush Name War on Terrorism Begins

2) Affordable Care Act of 2010 servived the Supreme Court and may begin to solve a long existing problem. 

3) 2011 Don't Ask, Don't Tell battle conducted on talk radio was overruled in 2011.