Objective: To examine the Political Reforms of the Progressive Era. “ One sees his finish unless good government retakes the ship”

Spoils SystemSpoils System – practice of rewarding supporters with government jobs Taming the Spoils System Caption: "The Civil Service As It Is" Hon. Member of Congress presenting a Few of his Constituents for Office

Examples: Jobs were frequently given to unqualified people. Patronage practice of giving out government jobs as favors to loyal party workers Patronage oftentimes led to corruption. Boss Tweed

President James Garfield attempted to reform the spoils system.

An angry office seeker assassinated Garfield before he could reform the system.

CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) created the Civil Service Commission which began to award jobs based on the results of an exam.

- created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in order to try to regulate the railroad industry. Interstate Commerce Act (1887) - banned pools and rebates - required the publishing of rates - investigating and hearing complaints about unfair business practices.

The End of Laissez- Faire 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act made it illegal to form a monopoly or Trust 1914 Clayton Anti- Trust Act strengthened and added to Sherman Anti- Trust Act

“Battling Bob” La Follette – governor of Wisconsin that introduced many new reforms in his state The Wisconsin Idea Examples: lower railroad rates primary elections * Other states began to copy. End the corruption and give as much power back to the people

Primary Elections- State elections in which voters could choose their party’s candidate from among several people Political Reforms Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Bill Richardson John Edwards Christopher Dodd Joe Biden Dennis Kucinich Major Presidential Candidates Rudolph Giuliani Democrats Republicans Ron Paul Fred Thompson Mitt Romney John McCain Mike Huckabee

Initiatives gave voters the right to put a bill directly before the state legislature Political Reforms Referendums gave voters the power to make a bill become law

Recalls allow voters to remove an elected official from office Political Reforms

The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. 26 th President

Governor of New York Author Colonel U.S. Coast Guard Assemblyman Naturalist Civil Service Commissioner Vice-PresidentPresident

When President McKinley was shot at the Pan American Exhibition in Buffalo, NY in 1901, TR became the youngest person ever to become President. He was only 42.

everyone would have an equal chance to succeed Balance the interests of labor, business, and consumers Square Deal

TR Takes on the Trusts Roosevelt felt that the government should control or break up bad trusts. Good Vs. Bad Trusts

* Roosevelt earned a reputation as a trustbuster

· 1904 – The Supreme Court ruled that Northern Securities had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by limiting trade. Supreme Court Decision · Northern Securities was ordered to be broken up.

Regulating Railroads In 1906, the Hepburn Act was passed, giving the ICC more power to set railroad rates. In 1903, the Elkins Act outlawed rebates

Protecting Consumers In 1906, the Meat Inspection Act was passed, forcing meat packers to allow more inspection of their meat.

Protecting Consumers In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed requiring that ingredients be placed on all food and drug items.

Roosevelt was a dedicated conservationist and worked hard to protect the nation’s natural resources. Protecting Natural Resources

Roosevelt started his efforts to preserve Yellowstone National Park as early as Here we find President Theodore Roosevelt with naturalist John Muir at Yosemite in 1903.

The election of Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson

1908 – Roosevelt supported William Howard Taft for the presidency. Taft won easily. Taft, Wilson and Roosevelt * Taft, however, turned out to be very unpopular with Progressives.

16th Amendment (1913) gave Congress the power to impose an income tax. Borrowed from the Populist Party Political Reforms

Roosevelt is depicted as a mugger preparing to steal the Republican nomination from President William Howard Taft by hitting his rival, with the “square deal” of a brick.

“I am as strong as a bull moose, and you can use me to the limit.” – Theodore Roosevelt When Roosevelt ran for president in 1912, the moose became a symbol for the new Progressive Party. The Bull Moose Party

Candidates Presidential Election Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) Republican PartyDemocratic Party

* Woodrow Wilson won the election.

President Woodrow Wilson Policy / Act Purpose New FreedomWilson’s idea to break up trusts into smaller companies Decreased tariffsIncreased competition with foreign goods Imposed a graduated income tax Raised money for the government lost by the lower tariffs

President Woodrow Wilson Policy / Act Purpose Federal Reserve Act (1913)Regulated banking, money supply and interest rates Federal Trade Commission (1914) Stopped businesses from using unfair business practices Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) Barred antitrust laws from being used against unions

17th Amendment (1913) – gave voters the right to directly elect U.S. Senators - borrowed from the Populists -18 th Amendment- Prohibition -19 th Amendment- Woman’s Suffrage (voting) Political Reforms Before 1917, U.S. Senators were chosen by the state legislatures, NOT by the voters.

Characteristics of the Progressive Era Improve working and living conditions for poor End Government corruption Government must intervene to protect consumers End monopolies and increase competition to benefit consumer Fight for equality- woman, African Americans, immigrants More political power for the citizens Improving moral values