Progressivism Through Three Presidents Roosevelt Taft Wilson

Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt -1898 leader of the Rough Riders -National War Hero -Governor of New York -William McKinley’s vice-president in his second term in office

-William McKinley is assassinated -Roosevelt becomes the 26th president in Sept. 1901 Big Business men are NOT happy. -Youngest president at 42 -Wins a second term

Roosevelt’s Square Deal The Square Deal was based on four basic ideas: -control of corporations, -conservation of natural resources, -consumer protection -concerns of labor The Square Deal sought to protect both business and labor. It sought to ease the radical voice in both and come to compromise.

Regulating Big Business One of Roosevelt’s major goals was regulation of railroads. -Hepburn Act in 1906 -Gave Interstate Commerce Commission power to set maximum railroad rates.  

Roosevelt as the “Trust-Buster” *Another target was trusts – legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies *By 1900, trusts controlled 80% of U.S. industries. *Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Roosevelt and Labor Unions *Roosevelt was the first President to get between labor and big business. *He set himself and government up as the “middle man” to arbitrate conflicts. *He used a method called collective bargaining- - a process of negotiations between employers and a of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions. 

1902 Coal Strike- -United Mine Workers *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. *Thereafter, when a strike threatened public welfare, the federal government was expected to step in and help.

Roosevelt and Conservation of Natural Resources Before Roosevelt’s presidency, the federal government paid very little attention to the nation’s natural resources. Roosevelt made conservation a primary concern of his administration. Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves, 1.5 million acres of water-power sites, 50 wildlife sanctuaries, and several national parks.

Roosevelt and Consumer Protection *The Jungle by Sinclair leads Roosevelt to get involved in regulating food and drug companies for the good of the public. Meat Inspection Act 1906 -authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect and condemn any meat product found unfit for human consumption. This law was to protect the American diet. Pure Food and Drug Act  -principally a "truth in labeling" law designed to raise standards in the food and drug industries. All labeling on any product had to be accurate. Created the FDA – Food and Drug Administration

Lack of Progress during the Progressive Era **One issue was consistently ignored by Roosevelt and the other progressive presidents: the plight of African-Americans in the United States. -consistent racism in the form of segregation in public -lynchings -disenfranchisement from the political process, -no access to quality healthcare, education and housing. **Booker T. Washington -advisor to Roosevelt -Roosevelt supported Tuskegee Institute

Progressivism Under Taft **Republican William Howard Taft easily defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the 1908 presidential election. *Taft Presidency -“busted” 90 trusts in 4 yrs. -expanded acres of national forest -Children’s Bureau -safety rules for mining -”Dollar Diplomacy” in Central Am. dollars instead of bullets **Taft was not popular with the American public or reform-minded Republicans. He called the Presidency, the “lonesomest” job in the world.” By 1910, Democrats had regained control of the House of Representatives.

Election of 1912 **Republicans split on who should get nomination- Taft **Bull Moose Party is formed by Republicans who disagree with Taft nomination- Teddy Roosevelt **Democrats – Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson and the New Freedom **Wilson vowed to take on tariffs, trusts, and banks. (Triple Wall of Privilege) Reduced tariffs to help farmers Clayton Antitrust Act -Strengthened Sherman Antitrust -Prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company -supported workers’ unions. Federal Reserve Act -brought banks under control with rules and regulation

Federal Trade Commission -1914 -Watchdog agency to end unfair business practices -protects consumer from business fraud

16th Amendment -graduated federal income tax -made up for loss revenue from lowering tariffs

Women’s Suffrage **Native-born, educated, middle-class women grew more and more impatient. Through local, state, and national organizations, as well as vigorous protests, women finally realized their dream . 19th Amendment -1920 -women right to vote

Tennessee’s Role in Women’s Suffrage **Three-fourths of the states must ratify a proposed amendment for it to be added to the U.S. Constitution. In 1920, there were 48 states. (three-fourths of the states was 36) Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment ; therefore Tennessee is known as the “perfect 36.” Anne Dallas Dudley Albert H. Roberts Harry Burn -head of TN Equal Suffrage -governor of TN -TN legislator Association -called a special session of who cast winning TN General Assembly to vote like mom consider ratifying the 19th. said to vote

**Not all women welcomed the right to vote. **Josephine Pearson -Tennessean -Lobbied the state legislature to vote AGAINST women’s suffrage. **Why? -Promised her mom on her death bed she would fight against it. -Would be the demise of the family unit.