National Progressive Reform: Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, & Woodrow Wilson

Essential Question: (Just think about this one.)How did progressives bring reform to urban & state governments? Bell Ringer Questions:How effective were progressive reformers in addressing:(a) Problems in cities?(b) Discrimination against African-Americans?(c) Inequalities against women? National Progressive Reform: Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, & Woodrow Wilson

Goal 7.01 & 7.02President Theodore RooseveltVP Theodore Roosevelt became president after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901TR was a different kind of presidentHe thought the govt ought to take responsibility for the welfare of the American peopleHis agenda of progressive reform was called the Square Deal Theodore Roosevelt: A Modern President TR was committed to a series of reforms:Breaking up harmful monopolies (called trustbusting)Regulating businesses such as railroads & the meat industryConservation of natural resources

It is the duty of the president to act upon the theory that he is the steward of the people, andto assume that he has the legal right to do whatever the needs of the people demand, unless the Constitution or the laws explicitly forbid him to do itTrustbustingDuring the Gilded Age, Congress passed a series of laws designed to keep big business in check:The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was formed in 1886 to regulate railroadsThe Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 made it illegal for companies to restrict trade But neither of these laws were strict enough to control monopoliesTrustbustingRoosevelt saw the benefit of efficient monopolies, but wanted to control bad trusts:In 1902, the govt ordered the Northern Securities Company (a giant railroad monopoly owned by J.P. Morgan) broken up because it violated the Sherman Anti-Trust ActThe Roosevelt administration busted 25 trusts in 7 yearsTheodore Roosevelt, the Trustbuster

RESTRAINT

Supporting WorkersIn 1902, the United Mine Workers went on strike to demand higher pay & an eight-hour work dayThe anthracite coal strike lasted 11 months & threatened the nation as winter approached Supporting WorkersUnlike the Gilded Age presidents, TR did not side with the owners & break up the strikeTR forced both sides to arbitrate or face govt seizure of the coal mineThe result was a square deal for both sides

The result was a square deal for labor (higher wages) & owners (no formal recognition of the union)

Regulating BusinessWhen muckraker Upton Sinclairs The Jungle was published, Roosevelt pushed for regulation of the meat packing industryCongress passed the Meat Inspection Act in 1906To ban harmful products & end false medicine claims, the Pure Food & Drug Act passed in 1906Quick Class Discussion: Why did The Jungle generate so much outrage from Americans & politicians? Read excerpts from The JungleUnregulated Food & Medicines:The Need for the Pure Food & Drug Act

Conservation of the EnvironmentDuring the Gilded Age, corporations clear-cut forests & viewed Americas natural resources as endlessRoosevelt began the 1st national environmental conservation programThe govt protected 195 million acres as off limits to businessesThe Reclamation Service to place natural resources (oil, trees, coal) under federal protectionNational Parks and Forests

The Legacy of Theodore RooseveltIn 1908, Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election as presidentTRs presidency was important because for the first time, the national government:Regulated big businessProtected the environmentAssumed responsibility for the welfare of workers & consumersWhen Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908, his successor to the presidency was Republican William Howard Taft

William Howard TaftThe Presidency of TaftLike TR, Taft believed that the U.S. needed progressive reform:In his 4 years as president, Taft helped break up twice as many monopolies as RooseveltCreated the Childrens Bureau & pushed for child labor lawsHelped create safety codes for coal miners & railroad workers The Presidency of TaftBut, Taft did not always trust the govt to solve problems & often sided with conservative RepublicansHe angered progressives when he supported a high tariff which helped monopoliesHe allowed a cabinet secretary to sell 1 million acres of conservation land to businessesProgressive politicians hoped that TR would run for president againProgressives (& Roosevelt) began to view Taft as having made a mess of TRs reforms

The Election of 1912TR decided to run for president in 1912 but the Republican Party picked Taft as their candidateTR created the Progressive (Bull Moose) PartyTaft was the Republican nominee & the Democrats ran a reform governor, Woodrow WilsonRepublican voters were divided in whom to support: Roosevelt or TaftThe Election of 1912 & the Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party)

Im feeling as fit as a bull moose

The Election of 1912With the Republicans divided, Democrat Woodrow Wilson won the election of 1912

Republicans divided by a Bull moose equals a Democratic victory!

President Woodrow WilsonPresident Wilson oversaw a great wave of progressive reforms:16th Amendment created the 1st income tax in U.S. history17th Amendment allowed for the direct-election of U.S. Senators18th Amendment outlawed alcohol (prohibition) 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote (suffrage) Progressive Amendments(1913) was;President Woodrow WilsonPresident Wilson oversaw a great wave of progressive reforms:Created the Federal Reserve to regulate the economy by adjusting the money supply & interest ratesThe Clayton Anti-Trust Act limited the ability of companies to form monopolies & protected workers right to strikeThe Federal Trade Commission monitored unfair business practices(1913) was;The Federal Reserve System

The Fed regulates the amount of money in circulation to help keep the economy strongThe End of Progressive ReformThe Progressive Era (1890-1920) brought major changes:Govt regulation of big businessImprovements in U.S. citiesMore democracy for the peopleBut, the outbreak of World War I in Europe distracted Americans & brought an end to the Progressive Era