National Political Reform Unit 7.2

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Presidents in the 19 th Century often sided with businesses in conflicts with labor During his first economic crisis as president, Roosevelt is going to be the first to insist on a Square Deal for both Roosevelt, Taft, & Wilson sought reforms and regulations at the national level

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Coal miners were on strike for much of 1902 – Many Americans feared they wouldn’t be able to heat their homes Roosevelt called union leaders and coal mine owners to the White House to settle a large dispute and provide an adequate and equitable remedy to their problems Mine owners stubbornly refused to compromise – Roosevelt threatened to take over the mines with federal troops Roosevelt solved the problem for Americans and they responded by electing him to office in 1904 – Earned the miners a 10% wage increase and a 9 hour work day

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Trust Busting: – First president to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) since that law was passed – Roosevelt broke up trusts in railroad monopolies, the Standard Oil Company, and 40 other large businesses – Breaking up “bad” trusts vs. regulating “good” trusts

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Consumer Protection: – The Jungle, written by Upton Sinclair, exposed the horrifying details of the meatpacking industry Americans called for a change in the food industry in 1906: – The Pure Food and Drug Act: Forbade the manufacturing and sale of mislabeled food and drugs – The Meat Inspection Act: Federal inspectors would visit meat packing plants to secure sanitation standards

The Jungle

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Conservation Efforts: – Roosevelt’s most lasting domestic effort was forest conservation Forest Reserve Act (1891) set aside 150 million acres of federal land as a natural reserve In 1908, a National Conservation Commission was established under Gilford Pinchot, first director of the U.S. Forest Service

1908 Election Roosevelt did not seek reelection and the Republicans nominated Secretary of War William Howard Taft Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan, who lost for a third time

Republican Platform Taft was another big trustbuster – Ordered the prosecution of twice the number of antitrust cases Also a conservationist – Added large tracts of the Appalachians to increase the National Forest Reserves and was the first president to set aside federal oil lands The 16 th Amendment (1913) authorized the U.S. government to collect income taxes – Originally proposed by the Populist platform

Split in the Republican Party Many Progressives in the Republican party were disappointed and disenchanted with Taft, but Conservatives loved him – Signed into law and publicly defended a higher tariff bill – Fired Pinchot for insubordination – Failed to support the Progressive Republican’s efforts to reduce the dictatorial powers of Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon – Only supported conservative candidates in the 1910 midterm elections

Rise of the Socialist Party A third party developed in the 1900s dedicated to the welfare of the working class The Socialist platform was even more radical than the Progressives – Public ownership of the railroads, utilities, and even of major industries like oil and steel

Rise of the Socialist Party Eugene V. Debs: – One of the founders of The Socialist Party of America – Was the party’s candidate in five presidential elections ( ) – Adopted socialism while in jail for the Pullman strike

Rise of the Socialist Party Socialists and Progressives: – Joined forces on some issues such as worker’s compensation and minimum wage, but were different on many other levels – Socialists were often viewed as too radical for Progressives – Eventually, society would accept some socialist ideals: Public ownership of utilities, 8 hour work days, pensions for employees

The Election of 1912 Candidates: – Republicans nominated President Taft for reelection – Progressive Republicans broke away and formed the Bull Moose Party, led by Theodore Roosevelt – Woodrow Wilson ran on the Democratic ticket – The Socialist Party, gaining strength, again nominated Eugene V. Debs

The Election of 1912 Campaign: – Taft was unpopular and Debs was too radical – Election came down to Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism” (govt. regulation of business, social welfare, and women’s suffrage) VS. Wilson’s “New Freedom” (limit big business and big government, stop corruption, and introduce reform)

The Election of 1912 Results – With the Republicans split, Wilson easily won the election by receiving 435 electoral votes – Roosevelt received 88, Taft received 8, Debs received none Overwhelming support for Progressive candidates ensured that reform movements would continue under Wilson …but the Progressives inability to elect candidates to local offices was evidence that the party would not last