Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era Chapter 9: Section 3 Ms. Garratt

Colorful background Wealthy Harvard educated Active in state politics Asst sec of navy Rough Riders in Cuba Party bosses McKinley assassination Youngest president at the time (42)

Modern President Saw presidency as a bully pulpit from which he could influence the media and shape legislation

Perceived different role of the presidency “It is the duty of the president to act upon the theory that he is the steward of the people and …to assume that he has the legal right to do whatever the needs of the people demand, unless the Constitution or the laws explicitly forbid him to do so.”

Trustbuster Was Teddy after all trusts? NO. He used the 1890 Sherman Anti-trust Act to go after those trusts that hurt the public interest the most. Those that eliminated competition

1902 Coal Strike Used power of the president to mediate disputes. Established new principle –right of fed’l gov to intervene when strike threatened the public welfare Role of experts

Railroad Regulation Interstate Commerce Act Commission was weak Elkins Act Hepburn Act ICC set maximum rates Boosted fed’l control

Upton Sinclair, the Jungle & the Meat Inspection Act

Video Segment on the Jungle XX0RAM/Upton-Sinclair%27s-The-Jungle

Pure Food & Drug Act Contaminated foods & medicines could no longer be sold. Called for truth in labeling laws

Regulating Food & Drugs

“Pure food and drug act will limit human thumb levels in meats” Oh yummy. Please pass the mustard.

Conservation of Natural Resources

Newlands Act - Reclamation Allowed large tracts of land to be irrigated in the SW Let to lots of Mexican migration

Civil Rights Like other progressives very little attention paid to civil rights

Roosevelt & the World Mediator between Japan & Russia Panama Canal Roosevelt Corollary

Criticisms of President Taft Did not use presidency as bully pulpit Payne-Aldrich bill Richard Ballinger – Dept of Interior ◦Muckraking article ◦Fired Gifford Pinchot Speaker Joseph Cannon – refused to agendize progressive bills ◦House Rules Committee - reform Rising cost of living Democrats won both Houses in 1910

TR & the Progressive Party TR’s disappointment with Taft convinces him to run again. Returns from Africa with “New Nationalism” platform ◦Fed gov role to protect public welfare Bull Moose Party platform (p. 330) ◦Init, ref, recall, primary, w.suffrage, 17 th, workers’ compensation, min hours for w, ban on child labor, 8 hour workday, FTC Incumbant has advantage

Election of 1912

Wilson Administration - Domestic Progressive Democrat Bully Pulpit Trustbuster ◦Clayton Antitrust Act  Unions exempt from antitrust  Magna Carta - Gompers ◦Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Underwood Act 16 th Amendment Federal Reserve Act

Women’s Suffrage Carrie Chapman Catt 5 pt strategy Setbacks led to new party headed by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns (Congressional Union)