Progressive Reform

The Progressive Era Represented a dramatic shift in government People began to look to gov. to solve their problems Major change from the Gilded Age Rejection of unrestrained capitalism Progressives did not intend to destroy system only to increase government intervention Lead primarily by activist Presidents Starting with T. Roosevelt in 1901 Brings the presidency into the modern era President more powerful than Congress

T. Roosevelt ( ) Pragmatic leader Roosevelt’s strength: his ability to control public opinion “Bully pulpit” Favored increasing regulation of business Portrayed as a “trustbuster” Immediately attacks RR trust (Northern Securities) Revival of antitrust laws 1902 Coal Miner’s Strike Worked as a mediator to bring strike to an end Major change from previous Presidents Roosevelt believe in the Square Deal: Business and labor should be treated fairly by federal gov. Elkins Act Hepburn Act

T. Roosevelt ( ) Favored increasing consumer protections Meat Inspection Act Prompted by Sinclair’s The Jungle Pure Food and Drug Act Advocate of conservationist policies Public land for national parks/reserves Created National Forest Service Lead by Gifford Pinchot (multiuse approach)

W. Taft ( ) Taft was Roosevelt’s appointed successor Taft was never as effective as TR Lacked TR’s charisma and forceful personality More prolific trust buster then TR but received little credit Taft was closely tied to the “old guard” of the Rep. party Passed Payne Aldrich Tariff helping business Angered Progressive factions of his party Had a falling out with TR Ballinger Pinchot controversy Lead to TR’s decision to challenge Taft in 1912

Election of 1912 Major split occurs in Republican Party “Old Guard” Republicans able to nominate Taft TR runs as a Progressive (“Bull Moose” Party) Republican majority split by third party Democrat, Wilson easily wins election Socialist Debs receives 900k votes Progressive candidates receive approx. 77% of the vote Voters clearly favored reform Wilson’s New Freedom defeats TR’s New Nationalism Less government intervention under Wilson

W. Wilson ( ) Skillful politician and uncompromising idealist as President Tariff Reform Underwood Simmons tariff lowered rates Banking Reform Modernizes the banking and currency system Federal Reserve Act Corporate regulation Establishes Federal Trade Comission Clayton Antitrust Act Worker protection laws Keating Owen Act Workmen’s Compensation Act

W. Wilson ( ) Wilson over saw the passage of four Progressive Amendments to the Constitution 16 th Amendment (1913) Allows federal income tax 17 th Amendment (1913) Direct election of Senators 18 th Amendment (1918) Prohibition 19 th Amendment (1920) Women’s Suffrage*

Where did the Progressives fall short? What’s next?