Theodore Roosevelt & Taft Progressive presidents 1901-1913

President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) Theodore Roosevelt, who believed in Progressive ideas for the nation, took on Big Business. Took office at age 42 (youngest ever) when Pres. McKinley was assassinated. Roosevelt was Social Darwinist in Foreign Affairs (Imperialism) Domestically- he was a committed Progressive who believed GOVERNMENT should balance competing interests. His Domestic Agenda was called- The Square Deal (the Three C’s) Control Corporations, Consumer Protection, Conservation of land/resources. Roosevelt Takes on the Trusts—Control of Corporations Roosevelt did not dislike big businesses—they were what made America prosperous. He was concerned about the power of monopolies & trusts. “We draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth” Roosevelt Northern Securities vs. The United States (1904) Company owned by J.P. Morgan that, through merger, threatened to become a Railroad monopoly in Northeast. 1902- Pres. Roosevelt ordered the company to be charged with violating Sherman Antitrust Act. 1904- The Supreme Court ordered that Northern Securities be broken up. Roosevelt earns reputation as “TRUSTBUSTER”.

President Roosevelt Steps in for the People President Theodore Roosevelt thought of himself as the nation’s head manager and his job was to keep the nation functioning efficiently by mediating conflicts. The 1902 Coal Strike Fall 1902 – 150,000 coal miners went on strike (wanted increased pay, reduced work hours, union recognition). Coal prices went up due to strike (factories could shut down, homes could go unheated) Roosevelt urged the Union & Mine Owners to Arbitrate –union did ; mine owners did not. Roosevelt threatened to take over the mines with US Army Coal Miners & owners worked out a deal to end the strike Department of Commerce & Labor (1903) Roosevelt urged the creation of this federal government agency to investigate businesses and report out. US Steel Company was investigated & decided to work out problems with Roosevelt instead of being broken up==Gentlemen’s Agreement. Regulation without hurting the economy by breaking companies up.

Controlling Corporations The Hepburn Act (1906) This law strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to set Rail Road Rates. At first, Railroads fought the ICC in court but, later worked with it to set rates & rules that limited competition & prevented new competitors from entering the business. By the 1920’s—the ICC was setting rates that insured Railroads profits.

Roosevelt Protects Consumers By 1905, consumer protection had become a big issue among Progressives. Patent Medicines Samuel Hopkins Adams —published a series of articles in Collier’s Magazine about the dangers in patent medicine business. Patent medicines claimed to cure a variety of illnesses but were nothing more than colored water, alcohol, and sugar. Some contained opium, cocaine, and other chemicals= angered many Americans. 1906- Pure Food and Drug Act Prohibits the sale, manufacture, or shipment of impure or falsely labeled food and drugs. Food 1906 Upton Sinclair’s book “The Jungle” on horrible working conditions & sanitary conditions in slaughter houses in Chicago. Dr. D.H. Wiley (chief chemist) at Dept. of Agriculture- documented “embalmed meat” 1906- Meat Inspection Act- requires federal inspection of meat sold in interstate commerce & required Dept. of Agriculture to set cleanliness standards in meatpacking factories.

Roosevelt the Conservationist One of Theodore Roosevelt’s biggest contributions! American natural resources were being used up and he urged conservation. 1902 Newlands Reclamation Act Out in the West farmers & cities competed for scarce water resources. This law allowed the federal government to set aside money from sale of public land to pay for irrigation and land development projects. Transformed much of the Western landscape & economy. United States Forest Service (1905) Roosevelt appointed Gifford Pinchot to head Trained experts in forestry would use scientific standards to conserve. Drew up regulations for lumber cutting on federal public lands. Added 100 million acres to US National Forests (protected) Est. 5 new National Parks 51 Federal Wildlife Preserves

President Taft (1909-1913) Theodore Roosevelt believed William Howard Taft (Republican) would be a great person to carry on his progressive policies. Taft beat William Jennings Bryan (Dem.) Tariff Reform Many Progressives wanted to lower high tariffs because they limit competition, hurt consumers, and protect trusts. Lowering tariffs would divide the Republican Party Taft instructed Congress to lower the tariff Business Republicans in Congress & Progressive Republicans argued (divided) Payne-Aldrich Tariff- hardly cut tariffs at all & raised tariffs on some goods. (angered Progressive Republicans). Ballinger vs. Pinchot Controversy Taft replaced Sec. of Interior (James Garfield-conservationist) with corporate lawyer Richard Ballinger. Ballinger opened public land to private development= angered Progressives. Gifford Pinchot (Head of Forestry Service) was fired by Taft for insubordination= angered Progressives.

Taft’s Achievements Taft will be a one term president. By the end of his term, Progressive Republicans were urging Theodore Roosevelt to return and run again. Trustbusting Taft actually brought twice as many antitrust cases against trusts than Roosevelt. Protection of Child Workers Taft created the Children’s Bureau (1912) Federal government agency that investigates & reports problems with child labor Still exists today– deals with child abuse prevention, adoption, and foster care. Conservation of Resources Taft set up the Bureau of Mines (1910) Monitored mining activity, expanded national forests, protect water sites from development.

Roosevelt Returns Many Progressives were convinced that Taft was not as Progressive as Roosevelt had been. 1911- Taft announced an antitrust lawsuit against US Steel buyout of Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. Roosevelt had previously approved the buyout and was angered. Nov. 1911- Roosevelt publically criticized Taft. Feb. 1912- Roosevelt agreed to run in Presidential election.