Progressives in the White House President William McKinley is shot by an anarchist at the NY World’s Fair in 1901 VP Theodore Roosevelt became president – 42yrs old = youngest president to take office – Strong supporter of Progressivism

Teddy Roosevelt – Came from wealthy NY family & was embarrassed by how the rich acted – Wanted to end corruption & work for public interest – Worked for Civil Service Commission, headed the NY city police department, then became assistant secretary of the Navy (led troops in the SPAM war 1898 = war hero) elected Gov. of NY until he became VP

Teddy Roosevelt Mocked by other politicians as a “goo-goo” for wanting “good government” Upon taking Presidential office, he pledges to “make an old party Progressive”

TR and Big Business TR sees a difference between good & bad trusts. It’s government’s job to control them or break them Good: efficient & fair & should be let alone Bad: took advantage of workers & cheated public

Trustbuster: a person who wanted to destroy all trusts - TR simply wants to regulate, not “bust” them - He’s the first President to side with labor in a union dispute (mediation is key)

Square Deal TR promises the people a Square Deal: everyone from farmers & consumers to workers & owners should have the same opportunity to succeed.

Consumers – Shocked by The Jungle, TR sends newspaper companies copies of government reports exposing meatpacking plant conditions – Muckrakers had exposed drug companies for making false claims about medicine – Pure Food & Drug Act: 1906 passed by Congress- requires food & drug makers to list ingredients on packages. It worked to end false advertising & impure ingredients

Resources -Industrialism = drain on natural resources -TR supports conservation: protection of natural resources New trees planted where they were uprooted/ mining is controlled to not waste coal 194,000 acres set aside for national parks – National parks: area set aside for people to visit, run by the federal government

Taft & Progressives – TR didn’t want to run for reelection in 1908 – he backs William Howard Taft (his secretary of War) – “Taft’s policies, principles, purposes & ideals are the same as mine. The Roosevelt policies will not go out with Roosevelt” – Taft held the same values, but didn’t approach politics how TR did – doesn’t have as many followers

1912 – 3 Way Election – TR comes back from hunting trips in Africa to see Taft isn’t doing too well – He runs against Taft for Republican nomination Taft is current Republican President (he wins the vote of the presidential convention)

Progressive Republicans: Republicans in support of Teddy Roosevelt Progressive Republicans are annoyed at convention results & sets up a new party with TR as their candidate – He feels proud & says “I feel as strong as a bull moose” – This new party becomes known as the Bull Moose Party

Democrats chose Woodrow Wilson (Progressive) as their candidate – Known as a brilliant scholar & a cautious reformer TR & Taft were more popular BUT they split the Republican vote – This division = more solid votes for Wilson

A New Freedom – New Freedom: President Wilson’s program to break up trusts and restore American economic competition – Federal Reserve Act: 1913 Congress – sets up a system of federal banks. Gave government the power to raise or lower interest rates & control the money supply

Regulating Competition Federal Trade Commission: FTC – 1914 – power to investigate companies & order them to stop using unfair practices to destroy competitors

Today (In-Class/Homework) 1.Make a ½ sheet with notebook paper 2.Top Half: Draw a yin-yang -What is something (anything) that plays a large role in YOUR life that is both good and bad? Something important… -5 good aspects -5 bad aspects -Why you chose what you chose 3.Bottom Half: You are running for president of your grade… -What will your “party” be called? -What will your logo look like & why (draw + be creative) -What aspects of society do you stand against? -What 5 principles will you stand for -(Why would your peers vote for YOU & not someone else?…must be realistic)