Progressives on the National Stage

Three Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson Shared a commitment to reform Shared a commitment to reform Challenged industrial giants and worked to end corruption Challenged industrial giants and worked to end corruption All expanded the power of the presidency All expanded the power of the presidency

Theodore Roosevelt Square Deal Square Deal –Regulate big business –Protect workers and consumers

William Taft Supported by TR Supported by TR Limited power of big corporations Limited power of big corporations Added land to national forest system Added land to national forest system Passes Payne-Aldrich Tariff Passes Payne-Aldrich Tariff –Tarnished his record as a progressive

Election of 1912 Roosevelt believes Taft betrayed progressive ideals Roosevelt believes Taft betrayed progressive ideals –TR decides to run again –As 3rd party after Taft chosen by Republicans –Bull-Moose Party –Wilson= Democrat

Woodrow Wilson New Freedom New Freedom –Limit power of trusts –Greater voice to American citizens –Reduce corruption –Creation of Federal Trade Commission

Industrialization led to… Unsafe products Unsafe products Environmental damage Environmental damage Corruption in public life Corruption in public life

Busting Trusts Roosevelt Roosevelt  Sherman Anti-Trust Act –Fairly ineffective  Reputation of “trustbuster”  Hepburn Act –Gave gov’t authority to set maximum railroad rates

Wilson Clayton Anti-Trust Act Clayton Anti-Trust Act –1914 –Strengthened the Sherman Anti-trust Act –Prohibited corporations from acquiring the stock of another if doing so would create a monopoly –Company officers could be prosecuted for doing this –Today, still on the books –When companies merge, they have to get approval from the federal government

Protecting Consumers and Workers Roosevelt Roosevelt –Pure Food and Drug Act  Created Food and Drug Administration –Test and approve drugs before going to market –Meat Inspection Act  Inspect packaged meat  In reaction to novel The Jungle –Government involved during United Mine Workers Strike

Taft/Wilson Taft/Wilson Laws stop hiring of kids under 14 yrs. Old Laws stop hiring of kids under 14 yrs. Old 8 hr. workday created for most jobs 8 hr. workday created for most jobs Environment Environment –Preservation vs. Conservation???  Preservation- protection of wilderness lands from all forms of development (John Muir)  Conservation- limited use of resources –Roosevelt –Created US Forest Service –Protect natural areas from excessive development

Banking System Banking System Federal Reserve Act Federal Reserve Act –12 regions each with a Federal Reserve Bank –Private banks remain independent but agree to operate under rules of Federal Reserve System –Safety net to private banks –Regulate amount of $ in circulation –Makes financial system more stable

Taxes Taxes –Gov’t needed $ to pay for new programs –16th amendment- allowed gov’t to impose an income tax –Graduated income tax- people with higher incomes pay a larger % of earnings than those with lower incomes

Senators Senators –Constitution says senators are chosen by state legislatures –Senators often had connections to corporations –17th amendment- direct election of senators by popular vote –Gave avg. citizen more influence

Prohibition Prohibition –Women’s Christian Temperance Union and Anti-Saloon League –Believe that drinking alcohol made men unable to support their families –18th amendment- bans manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol End of Progressive Movement End of Progressive Movement –With the advent of WWI in Europe, the Progressive era ended –Wilson’s new focus would be on how to stay out of the European fight, and remain neutral