The Progressive PresidentsThe Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson 1901 – 1909 1909 – 1913 1913 – 1921

Roosevelt’s ‘Square Deal’Roosevelt’s ‘Square Deal’• ““Wild Man”Wild Man”…but favored a strong central gov’t. whose …but favored a strong central gov’t. whose

executive could act as the executive could act as the ‘steward of the people’.‘steward of the people’.

• Slow, methodical change - mostly to protect America against Slow, methodical change - mostly to protect America against more radical changesmore radical changes

• Modernized Modernized the Presidency by using the office as a ‘the Presidency by using the office as a ‘Bully Bully PulpitPulpit’ – ’ – a forum from which to lead.a forum from which to lead.

• Supported a few African Americans – Invited for dinner Supported a few African Americans – Invited for dinner Booker T. Washington to White House – Criticized for it.Booker T. Washington to White House – Criticized for it.

• Energetic personality gave America confidence and Roosevelt Energetic personality gave America confidence and Roosevelt was America’s mediator for the public good.was America’s mediator for the public good.

Roosevelt and BusinessRoosevelt and Business• TR believed in Free Enterprise – not anti-businessTR believed in Free Enterprise – not anti-business

• Goal was to prevent abuses of power so he favored Goal was to prevent abuses of power so he favored regulation – regulation – not destruction not destruction of trusts.of trusts.

• He wanted power for government to investigate and He wanted power for government to investigate and publicize cases of abuse.publicize cases of abuse.

• Power of public opinion pressure would end abusesPower of public opinion pressure would end abuses

• Government would then handle the largest abuses.Government would then handle the largest abuses.

Fair Minded MediatorFair Minded MediatorSherman Anti-Trust Act InvokedSherman Anti-Trust Act Invoked

• Northern Securities CompanyNorthern Securities Company, a Railroad Monopoly dissolved, a Railroad Monopoly dissolvedJ.P. Morgan, J.P. Morgan, ”…send your man to see my man and they can fix it up.””…send your man to see my man and they can fix it up.”

Government had always sided with Business…Government had always sided with Business…

• United MineWorkers StrikeUnited MineWorkers Strike – Roosevelt asks Owners to agree to – Roosevelt asks Owners to agree to federal mediation. Owners, “NO” . TR threatens Fed Troops andfederal mediation. Owners, “NO” . TR threatens Fed Troops and

said miners needed a ‘Square Deal’.said miners needed a ‘Square Deal’.

Roosevelt acted to break up Trusts, Pools and Monopolies 44 times Roosevelt acted to break up Trusts, Pools and Monopolies 44 times during his presidency, and acted on behalf of labor as well.during his presidency, and acted on behalf of labor as well.

TR’s Lasting ReformsTR’s Lasting Reforms• 1902 - Newlands (National Reclamation) Act1902 - Newlands (National Reclamation) Act – Federal Funds – Federal Funds

for Dams, Canals reservoirs and cheap hydroelectric power for Dams, Canals reservoirs and cheap hydroelectric power in the West – all badly needed by western cities.in the West – all badly needed by western cities.

• 1906 - Meat Inspection Act 1906 - Meat Inspection Act - Cleanliness Forced in response - Cleanliness Forced in response to the book by Upton Sinclair, to the book by Upton Sinclair, ‘The Jungle’.‘The Jungle’.

• Pure Food and Drug ActPure Food and Drug Act – Required truth in labeling – Required truth in labeling

• ConservationConservation – Set aside millions of acres for national parks. – Set aside millions of acres for national parks.

• Gifford Pinchot, Dir. Nat’l Forest Service served to… Gifford Pinchot, Dir. Nat’l Forest Service served to… manage manage nations’ use of land rationallynations’ use of land rationally..

Taft Follows-Up WeaklyTaft Follows-Up Weakly• TR’s hand picked successor - a former conservative judge TR’s hand picked successor - a former conservative judge

acceptable to whole Republican party.acceptable to whole Republican party.

• Business believed he’d look out for them, & Progressives Business believed he’d look out for them, & Progressives thought he’d continue Roosevelt’s policies of reform.thought he’d continue Roosevelt’s policies of reform.

• Couldn’t keep anyone happy. Troubled Presidency.Couldn’t keep anyone happy. Troubled Presidency.

• Reverses conservation policy, & fires Gifford Pinchot Reverses conservation policy, & fires Gifford Pinchot

• Breaks up trusts and angers the whole Republican party.Breaks up trusts and angers the whole Republican party.

‘‘Bull Moose’ PartyBull Moose’ Party• Election of 1912 Election of 1912 ::

Party divided & Taft’s policies anger Roosevelt Party divided & Taft’s policies anger Roosevelt Roosevelt runs again citing need for ‘Roosevelt runs again citing need for ‘New New

Nationalism’ Nationalism’ and feeling fit as a Bull Moose! and feeling fit as a Bull Moose!Republicans shun Roosevelt & re-nominate Taft.Republicans shun Roosevelt & re-nominate Taft.Roosevelt runs a 3Roosevelt runs a 3rdrd Party campaign & Republicans Party campaign & Republicans

loselose

• Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, son of a Georgia preacher, and Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, son of a Georgia preacher, and former President of Princeton University and Governor of former President of Princeton University and Governor of New Jersey…wins the Presidency.New Jersey…wins the Presidency.

Taft’s Accomplishments• Reduced abuses of Big Business – 90 Anti-trust suitsReduced abuses of Big Business – 90 Anti-trust suits

• 11stst Tax on Corporate Profits Tax on Corporate Profits

• Achieved Mine Safety LegislationAchieved Mine Safety Legislation

• Interstate Commerce Commission regulates Interstate Commerce Commission regulates telephone and telegraphs.telephone and telegraphs.

• 8 hour workday8 hour workday

Wilson’s “New Freedom”Wilson’s “New Freedom”• Attacked Trusts, High Tariffs and High Finance of Mergers Attacked Trusts, High Tariffs and High Finance of Mergers

Wall Street controlled the Wall Street controlled the banksbanks

• Believed Government not bigger business smaller Believed Government not bigger business smaller for for greater freedom for citizens.greater freedom for citizens.

• High tariffs protected business, reduced competition and hurt High tariffs protected business, reduced competition and hurt the public with higher prices.the public with higher prices.

• Controlled administration trusted few aides. Brought more Controlled administration trusted few aides. Brought more power to Presidency .power to Presidency .

1st President to read his own State of the Union Address1st President to read his own State of the Union Address

Wilson’s ReformsWilson’s Reforms• TariffsTariffs – Underwood Tariff Act – 1913 – Underwood Tariff Act – 1913

Greatly Greatly reducesreduces tariffs - tax on imported goods tariffs - tax on imported goods

• 1616thth Amendment Amendment – 1913 Legalized Income Tax – 1913 Legalized Income Tax To make up for lost tariff revenuesTo make up for lost tariff revenues

• BankingBanking – Federal Reserve Act - 1913 – Federal Reserve Act - 1913Federal Reserve Banking SystemFederal Reserve Banking SystemManages money supply, controls inflationManages money supply, controls inflation

• BusinessBusiness – Clayton Anti-Trust Act - 1914 – Clayton Anti-Trust Act - 1914Breaks up “interlocking directorates” & No stock buys if Breaks up “interlocking directorates” & No stock buys if

monopolymonopolyBank & Wall St. execs cannot serve on each others’ BoardsBank & Wall St. execs cannot serve on each others’ Boards

- Federal Trade Commission – 1914- Federal Trade Commission – 1914 Watch for violations of Clayton ActWatch for violations of Clayton Act

Wilson’s AccomplishmentsWilson’s Accomplishments

• Government ReformGovernment Reform Initiated & passed the 1Initiated & passed the 1stst Federal Income Tax. Federal Income Tax. Increased likelihoodIncreased likelihood for more social reform with this change for more social reform with this change

• Social ReformSocial ReformWomen’s Suffrage – 19Women’s Suffrage – 19thth Amendment – 1920 Amendment – 1920 Supported, passed & ratified during the Wilson Administration.Supported, passed & ratified during the Wilson Administration.

Progressivism Ends3 Presidents changed America’s s3 Presidents changed America’s social ideology ocial ideology in 20 years.in 20 years.

• SocietySociety was more civil, people cared for one another. was more civil, people cared for one another.

• MoralityMorality improved – improved – Prohibition 20Prohibition 20thth Amendment Amendment passedpassedprohibiting the interstate transport & sale of alcohol.prohibiting the interstate transport & sale of alcohol.

• PoliticsPolitics was clean – people could vote without threat of reprisal was clean – people could vote without threat of reprisal

• BusinessBusiness was forever changed. Could no longer so people’s dominate was forever changed. Could no longer so people’s dominate lives because of the anti-trust legislation.lives because of the anti-trust legislation.

• GovernmentGovernment more responsive to people with the initiative, more responsive to people with the initiative, referendum and recall available to them.referendum and recall available to them.