Progressivism Goes National

A Twist of Fate When President William McKinley was assassinated 6 months into his second term, Theodore Roosevelt became the nations 26th president (and youngest at 42) Republicans feared his progressive nature McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in Buffalo in September of 1901

ROOSEVELT AND HIS RISE TO NATIONAL ATTENTION 1882 – Elected to State Senate of New York Appointed Police Commissioner of NYC during reform of Boss System Moved West for adventure after losing wife and mother Appointed Assistant Navy Secretary Roosevelt grabbed national attention by advocating war with Spain in 1898 His volunteer cavalry brigade, the Rough Riders, won public acclaim for its role in the battle at San Juan Hill in Cuba Roosevelt returned a hero and was soon elected governor of NY and later McKinley’s vice-president Emphasized “manliness” and saw it his duty as a man from privileged backgrounds to join the realm of politics. 1882 elected to State Senate of NY. Not long he demonstrated he was a force to be reckoned with and a familiar figure. Pioneer in getting maximum media attention. Police Commissioner in NYC as part of urban governmnet reform. Opposed the Iriash bosses of the Political Machines. 1884 on the same day his wife and mother both die. He then moved westward seeking adventure (hated the Indians and pushed for their displacement.) Skillfully manipulated the media to report about his group. Regular army hated TR and this manipulation. Returned to America a national hero.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders Started to believe in the “White Man’s Burden” and that America was strong enough to join in on the colonial acquisitions. The timid man, the lazy man, the man who lost his trust in his country, …, shrink from seeing the nation undertake its new duties.” leads the Pro-Imperialist argument. As undersecretary of the Navy he resigned his post, raised a volunteer regiment. He hoped to fashion an organization that would bring together members ofth e different factions of the different parts fo the nation to fight on behalf of the nation. Hoped the war to reconcile the differences in our nation. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders

“A Square Deal for all” “There must be ever present in our minds the fundamental truth that in a republic such as ours the only safety is to stand neither for nor against any man because he is rich or because he is poor, because he is engaged in one occupation or another, because he works with his brains or because he works with his hands. We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less.”

TRUSTBUSTING By 1900, Trusts – legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies – controlled 80% of U.S. industries Believe d there were good trusts and bad trusts Big corporations are an inevitable outcome of competition; not bad unless the corporation abuses its power Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act including JP Morgan’s Northern Securities attempt to consolidate the nation’s railroads; Rockefellers Standard Oil; and James Duke’s American tobacco Believed there were good trusts and bad trusts. Monopolies destroy the actions of competition, which hurts consumers. Its not bad as long as the monopoly does not abuse its position. Big corporations are an inevitable outcome of competition (add Northern Securities case). Victory in the trustbusting made TR extremely popular with the masses.

Regulating Unfair Monopolies Elkins Act 1903 – Outlawed Rebates by railroads and forced railroads to publish rates Hepburn Act of 1906 – Allowed ICC to regulate railroad rates

1902 Anthracite Coal Strike In 1902 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for increased wages, a 9-hour work day, and the right to unionize Mine owners refused to bargain Roosevelt called in both sides and settled the dispute with arbitration Thereafter, when a strike threatened public welfare, the federal government was expected to step in and help Recognized that trade unions played a part, but could be just as bad as corporations. We have to accept moderate unions otherwise we would be more vulnerable to socialism, which he hated.

“THE JUNGLE” LEADS TO FOOD REGULATION After reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 The Act mandated cleaner conditions for meatpacking plants TR was disgusted upon reading about the sausage packing. Written to make a case for Socialism, but known more for its description of the meatpacking industry.

PURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT In response to unregulated claims and unhealthy products, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 The Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in labeling The Pure Food and Drug Act took medicines with cocaine and other harmful ingredients off the market

ROOSEVELT AND THE ENVIRONMENT Before Roosevelt’s presidency, the federal government paid very little attention to the nation’s natural resources As the industrial revolution used and abused natural resources Roosevelt made conservation a primary concern of his administration Appointed Gifford Pinchot to watch over the natural reserves of our nation. Roosevelt, left, was an avid outdoorsman – here he is with author John Muir at Yosemite Park

ROOSEVELT’S ENVIROMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves He also set aside 1.5 million acres of water-power sites and he established 50 wildlife sanctuaries and several national parks

ROOSEVELT AND CIVIL RIGHTS Roosevelt failed to support Civil Rights for African Americans He did, however, support a few individuals such as Booker T. Washington Progressives often did not deal with Racial issues Progressive emphasis on science led many to believe in Eugenics – purifying race Jim Crow and De Facto Segregation became strong Promotion of emphasis on science led to increased racial segregation. Scientific theories such as eugenics pushed for “cleansing” of the human race.

NAACP FORMED TO PROMOTE RIGHTS In 1909 a number of African Americans and prominent white reformers formed the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People The NAACP had 6,000 members by 1914 The goal of the organization was full equality among the races The means to achieve this was the court system 1964 Application

LIMITS OF PROGRESSIVISM While the Progressive era was responsible for many important reforms, it failed to make gains for African Americans Like Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson retreated on Civil Rights once in office The KKK reached a membership of 4.5 million in the 1920s