Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt 1901 - 1912

Progressive Roots Middle class --- addressed problems causing social upheavals Social Gospel = Christian teachings Journalists and writers exposed unsafe working conditions Progressive Movement Restore economic opportunities Correct injustices

Muckrakers Muckrakers = 1906 Journalists who wrote about the corrupt side of business Mass circulated magazines McClure’s, Cosmopolitan, Collier’s & Everybody’s “The Shame of the Cities” Corrupt alliance between big business and municipal government Ida Tarbell = Standard Oil David G. Phillips = Senate

Political Progressivism Modernize American institutions = 2 goals Use the state to curb monopoly power Improve the common persons conditions Reforming Elections Secret ballot Initiative --- Bill originated by the people Referendum --- Vote on the initiative Recall --- Removal of public official from elected positions by forcing them to face another election before the end of their term

Election of Senators Primary System Allowed voters instead of political machines to choose candidates for public office Special popular election 17th Amendment --- 1912 Each States Legislature had chosen its own senators Gave power to the party bosses and wealthy corporations Progressives pushed for popular election of senators Ratified in 1913

Progressivism in the Cities/ States Texas = 1901 Expert staff commissions to manage urban affairs City Manager System Took politics out of municipal administration Attack slum lords Clean up water, light streets, trolleys, sanitation Regulating public utilities

Women Settlement House Movement Suffrage “Moral and Maternal Issues” Child labor, sweatshops, TB = tenements, food, alcohol, & factory reform Activist Groups emerged National Consumers League = 1899 Women’s Trade Union League = 1903 Women / Children’s Bureau = 1912

Women Cont. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire = 1911 New York 146 women – immigrant New York Laws passed regulating hours and conditions of sweatshops

Women Cont. 1917 30 states enacted workers compensation laws Insurance to workers injured on the job Anti Liquor Campaigns Women’s Christian Temperance Union “Dry Laws” “Wet Laws” = cities / immigrants

TR’s Square Deal Square Deal Demanding a fair deal for capital, labor, and the public 3 C’s Control of Corporations Consumer Protection Conservation

Coal Strike 1902 - Pennsylvania Set new grounds 140,000 coal miners went on strike 20% raise, 9 hr workday 5 months into strike --- reserves running low Roosevelt called both sides to White House Settled strike --- arbitration 10%, 9 hr workday Set new grounds When strike threatened public welfare --- federal government will intervene Department of Commerce / Labor = 1903

TR Corrals Corporations Goal was Federal Regulation ICC had little power --- Interstate Commerce Commission Elkins Act = 1903 Illegal for railroad officials to give and shippers to receive rebates for using particular railroads Could not change set rates without notifying the public Hepburn Act = 1906 Limited distribution or free railroad passes Gave ICC power to set maximum railroad rates

Cont. Trust-busting 1902 Went after railroads --- Northern Securities Company J.P. Morgan / James J. Hill Monopoly over N.W. Railroads 1904 Roosevelt administration filed 44 antitrust suits Winning a number of them “Regulating not Fragmenting”

Caring for the consumer Regulating Foods And Drugs The Jungle --- Upton Sinclair Appointed a commission of experts to investigate the meatpacking industry Meat Inspection Act --- 1906 Dictated strict cleanliness requirements Federal meat inspection

Pure Food and Drug Act Manufacturers claimed products accomplished everything Children's medicines / opium, cocaine, or alcohol Harmful preservatives in food 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act Halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines Called for the truth in labeling

Earth Control Wasteful Americans Carey Act = 1894 Ranchers, Timbermen = destructive Desert land Act = 1877 Sold land cheaply Irrigate thirsty soil = 3 yrs Forest Reserve Act = 1891 Set aside public forests as national parks / reserves Carey Act = 1894 Gave federal land to states = irrigated and settled Newlands Act = 1902 Western states – sale of land Funds used to develop irrigation projects Roosevelt Dam = Arizona's Salt River

Conservation John Muir – Naturalist 1903 Set aside 125 million acres of forest reserves Yosemite National Park 1.5 millions acres of water power sites 80 million acres - Survey for mineral and water resources 50 wildlife sanctuaries - National Parks

Roosevelt Panic - 1907 Short Panic on Wall street “Theodore the Meddler” Unsettled industry Paved the way for overdue fiscal reform Currency shortage Aldrich-Vreeland Act = 1908 Issue emergency currency backed by various kinds of collateral Leading to the Federal Reserve Act

Taft Election 1908 Republican = William Howard Taft Secretary of War Democrat = William Jennings Bryan Taft easily won 321 - 162 Pursued a cautiously progressive agenda Did not expand – consolidated Roosevelt’s Reforms

Taft Cont. Trustbuster 90 trusts in 4 years 1911 Standard Oil U.S. Steel Corporations Platform = Lowering Tariffs Payne Bill Lowered rates on imported manufactured goods Senate proposed alternative bill Aldrich Bill Made fewer cuts and increased many rates Taft signed = Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Party splits Republican progressives refused to vote 1912 Roosevelt decided to run for 3rd term Republicans wanted Roosevelt Primary Election Taft supporters maneuvered to replace Roosevelt delegates with Taft delegates Republican progressives refused to vote Formed a new third party Progressive Party --- nominated Roosevelt Bull Moose Party