Presidents and Reforms Progressive Era

Teddy Roosevelt Rough Riders New York Governor McKinley’s Vice President Extremely influential and progressive president – a change from his predecessors

Progressive Reforms Known as a “Trustbuster” Wants to make the trusts go “bust” Trusts are an easy way to create monopolies in an industry Enforced Sherman Antitrust Act Railroads, Standard Oil, Tobacco Government went after 44 companies during his presidency

Progressive Reforms Square Deal United Mine Workers strike Wanted to ensure equality for all. (Workers, owners, businesses, consumers) United Mine Workers strike Labor union strike (refuse to work) Roosevelt acts as negotiator Workers get better pay and hours

Progressive Reforms Meat Inspection Act Pure Food and Drug Act Signed into law in 1906 Response to Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” Pure Food and Drug Act Also 1906 Followed Meat Inspection Act to include all food and medicines Wanted to ensure Americans were getting a good product Now known as the FDA

Progressive Reforms Conservation Created the U.S. Forest Service Created five national parks (only 2 before) created 18 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon set aside 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and more than 100 million acres' worth of national forests.

Civil Rights Personally believed in equal rights for African Americans Never pushed for equality as president because it was such an unpopular idea in parts of the country Booker T. Washington

Foreign Policy “Walk softly and carry a big stick” Be peaceful, but also let people know you will fight if needed Monroe Doctrine-European Powers should stay out of the Western Hemisphere and we would stay out of European affairs Roosevelt Corollary- In order to prevent such intervention, the United States was justified in acting first.

Panama Canal Europe and the U.S. wanted control of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Roosevelt supported a revolt against Columbia Signed a treaty giving the U.S. control of the canal until 1999.

William Howard Taft Chosen by Roosevelt to be the next Republican candidate Expected to continue with progressive reforms

Progressive Reforms Also a “trustbuster” Attempted more anti-trust cases in 4 years than Roosevelt did in 7 years. (90 total) Broke up Rockefeller’s Oil Monopoly Tried to break up J.P. Morgan Steel (bought from Carnegie) but was unsuccessful

Progressive Amendments $$$ 16th Amendment- Ratified in 1913 Income Tax - Gave Congress the power to tax on people’s income and business profits. Taxed wealthy higher than those with less money 17th Amendment – Also ratified in 1913 Lets voters elect Senators Before this amendment, state legislators chose Less corruption if people get to choose

Bull Moose Roosevelt doesn’t like Taft’s actions…especially 16th amendment. Decides to challenge with a new political party – the Bull Moose Party 1912 Election has 3 Progressive candidates Roosevelt Taft Wilson Bull Moose Republican Democrat

1912 Election Woodrow Wilson Wins!! Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote giving Wilson an easy win.

Woodrow Wilson First Democratic President since the Civil War Progressive Will be president during World War I

Wilson’s Progressivism Clayton AntiTrust Act Stricter version of Sherman AntiTrust Creates more laws to stop monopolies from forming Supports labor unions for workers Federal Reserve Act Gives the government more control of the nation’s money Controls interest rate Chairman of Federal Reserve = one of most influential people in country

Women’s Suffrage Nineteenth Amendment Gives women the right to vote Ratified in 1920 Wilson is worried that Americans won’t like his decision Supports amendment because he believes it will help win the war.

Comparisons Roosevelt Taft Wilson Trustbusting Conservation Rights for African Americans Income Tax (16th Amend.) Women’s Suffrage (19th)