Progressivism Under Roosevelt and Taft Goal 7

Essential Idea Theodore Roosevelt is known as the progressive president who used regulation to help the American people.

TR After President ___________________ was ___________________ in 1901, ___________________ became president. Roosevelt is known for being _________________ and highly _______________. After President MCKINLEY was ASSASSINATED in 1901, TEDDY ROOSEVELT became president. Roosevelt is known for being STRONG WILLED and highly COMPETITVE.

Social Darwinist AND Progressive? Roosevelt believed in BOTH Social Darwinism and Progressivism TR’s Foreign Policy: Social Darwinism- TR believed that the United States and other countries were in competition (survival of the fittest) Social Darwinism- theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals.

Domestically Progressive Domestic Policy: Progressivism- TR believed the government should balance the needs of ALL groups of people

Making a Square Deal Roosevelt said, “I will see to it that ________ man has a ________________, no less and no more.” Roosevelt’s reforms became known as the _______________. Roosevelt was not against all ____________, but against trusts that ___________ the ___________. Roosevelt said, “I will see to it that EVERY man has a SQUARE DEAL, no less and no more” Roosevelt’s reforms became known as the SQUARE DEAL. Roosevelt was not against all BUSINESSES, but against trusts that HURT the PUBLIC INTEREST.

Northern Securities v. United States TR’s Reforms: The Square Deal Issue #1: Northern Securities v. United States The problem: Northern Securities (owned by J.P. Morgan) was a trust that violated the Sherman Anti-trust Act Roosevelt had his attorney general sue Northern Securities, and the Supreme Court broke up the company. TR became popular and was nicknamed the “trustbuster” During Roosevelt’s first year in office, a fight for control of the Burlington Railroad erupted on the New York Stock Exchange- one side was E.H. Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad, the other side was James H. Hill and J.P. Morgan of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroads. The stock battle almost triggered a financial panic that could have plunged the nation into a recession. The three men ultimately compromised by creating a giant new holding company called Northern Securities. This alarmed many Americans, including TR- the stock battle that led to its creation seemed a classic example of private interests acting in a way that threatened the nation as a whole. TR decided that the company was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and ordered his attorney general to file a lawsuit against Northern Securities. TR’s action pleased progressives but baffled J.P. Morgan, who traveled to the White House with two supportive senators. TR proceeded with the case. In 1904, in Northern Securities v. The United States, the Supreme Court ruled that Northern Securities had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. TR declared it a great victory. Newspapers hailed him as a “trustbuster” and his popularity among the people increased.

Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 Issue #2: Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 The problem: coal miners went on strike, which caused prices to rise and hurt people who NEEDED coal for jobs or heat Roosevelt threatened to use the military against the miners until the union agreed to arbitration with the mine owners United Mine Workers (UMW) union had called a strike of miners who dug anthracite (hard coal) and nearly 150,000 workers walked out of eastern Pennsylvania’s mines demanding a pay increase, a reduction in work hours, and recognition for their union. Months passed, the strike continued, and coal prices began to rise. TR saw this as another example of groups pursuing their private interests at the expense of the nation. If the strike continued, the country would face a coal shortage that could shut down factories and leave people without heat in the winter. TR urged the union and the owners to accept arbitration (settlement imposed by an outside party)- union agreed, mine owners did not (were determined to destroy the union. The owners’ stubbornness infuriated TR and much of the public. TR threatened to order the military to run the mines. Fearful owners finally accepted arbitration. TR had taken the first step toward establishing the federal government as an honest broker between powerful groups in society.

A Square Deal Both incidents involved Roosevelt protecting Americans against the interests of a private group The Square Deal

Expanding Government Regulation Roosevelt did not want to break up big business, only REGULATE it He created the Department of Labor and Commerce (two separate departments today) to keep big business activities PUBLIC to help stop abuses TR believed most trusts benefited the economy and that breaking them up would do more harm than good. He proposed the creation of a new federal agency to investigate corporations and publicize the results. He believed the most effective way to keep big business from abusing its power was through knowledge and publicity of the facts. 1903- Department of Commerce and Labor was created- within this department would be a division called the Bureau of Corporations with the authority to investigate corporations and issue reports on their activities.

Gentlemen’s Agreements Many big businesses were afraid of public embarrassment and offered to let the government inspect them The two sides came together using “gentleman’s agreements”, where the government agreed to PRIVATELY inform businesses of needed corrections so they could avoid going to court These arrangements gave TR the ability to regulate big business without having to sacrifice economic efficiency by breaking up the trusts. And, it gave the businesses a way to avoid potential antitrust lawsuits and negative publicity.

Hepburn Act _____________________ - passed in 1906, this act _________________ the ____________ of the ________________________________, allowing them to set _________________ rates. Who did this help? HEPBURN ACT- passed in 1906, this act STRENGTHENED the POWER of the INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, allowing them to set RAILROAD RATES. The Interstate Commerce Commission had been ineffective at regulating the railroad industry because it lacked sufficient authority- The Hepburn Act was meant to to strengthen the ICC by giving it the power to set railroad rates. The agency originally was intended to regulate rates to ensure that companies did not compete unfairly. At first, railroad companies were suspicious of the ICC and tied up its decisions by challenging them in court. Eventually, the railroads realized they could work with the ICC to set rates and regulations that limited competition and prevented new competitors from entering the industry. Over time, the ICC became a supporter of the railroads’ interests, and by 1920 it had begun setting rates at levels intended t oensure the industry’s profits.

Reaction to The Jungle One of the muckrakers, Upton Sinclair, wrote “The Jungle”, which exposed the corruption of the meat-packing industry Two laws came as a reaction to Sinclair’s book: Meat Inspection Act Established the federal inspection of meat Pure Food and Drug Act Prohibited manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure or falsely labeled food or drugs Sinclair’s book, The Jungle, described corruption in the meat-packing industry and became a best seller. Consumers became angry. TR and Congress responded: Meat Inspection Act- required federal inspection of meat sold through interstate commerce and required the Agricultural Department to set standards of cleanliness in meat-packing plants. Pure Food and Drug Act- prohibited the manufacture, sale, or shipment, of impure of falsely labeled food and drugs.

TR’s Legacy Roosevelt’s ___________ - used the ___________ government to __________ Americans through ______________. He also ________________ the power of the __________ government. Roosevelt’s LEGACY- used the FEDERAL government to HELP Americans through PROBLEMS. He also INCREASED the power of the FEDERAL government.

Election of 1908 The Election of 1908 was between _______________________ and ______________________. __________________ had hand-picked _______ to be his ________________. Since ________________ was so _____________, Taft easily _____ the election. The Election of 1908 was between WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT and WILLIAMS JENNINGS BRYAN. ROOSEVELT had hand-picked TAFT to be his SUCCESSOR. Since ROOSEVELT was so RESPECTED, Taft easily WON the election.

How close was the election? How close was the election- 321 to 162 electoral votes, 29 to 17 states carried, 51.6% to 43% What area voted for Bryan- South What area do you think liked TR and how do you know- North, because Taft carried that vote strongly How close was the election? What area voted for William Jennings Bryan? What area do you think liked Teddy Roosevelt, and how do you know?

A Poor Successor Taft was not the ______________ that ________________ hoped he would be. By the end of his term, some Americans believed Taft had “sold the ________________ down the _________.” Taft was not the SUCCESSOR that ROOSEVELT hoped he would be. By the end of his term, some Americans believed Taft had “sold the COUNTRY down the RIVER.” Taft was the opposite of TR in many ways. He was a skilled administrator and judge but be disliked political maneuvering and preferred to avoid conflict with others. Taft responded slowly, approaching problems from a legalistic point of view. Taft’s handling of issues angered Progressives and caused problems within his party.

Taft’s Accomplishment One major accomplishment of Taft was that he established the Children’s Bureau At the time, it publicized the problems of child labor Roosevelt and Taft Today, it deals with abuse prevention, adoption, and child care Despite his political problems, Taft did have successes- he brought twice as many antitrust cases in four years as TR did and he led Progressive reforms such as the establishment of the Children’s Bureau and conservation efforts.