Read the portion of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle on page 269 and answer the two questions.

What is the personality of your ideal president? Is he inspiring, a great speaker, and aggressive? Does he play by the rules, and take his time to listen to everyone? Is he intelligent, cunning, and able to solve the most difficult problems?

Read the section “Roosevelt’s Path to Presidency” on page 266. Find 3 interesting facts about Teddy Roosevelt. What kind of man was he?

Two terms ( ) Creates a new model of the US president – an active leader who looked to pass his own legislation Sworn in when president McKinley gets assassinated – youngest ever at 42 years old. He was aggressive, a great public speaker, and loved interacting with the growing media

Roosevelt came up with a policy plan known as the “Square Deal”. He promised: “The labor unions shall have a square deal, and the corporations shall have a square deal, and in addition all private citizens shall have a square deal.”

Aggressively busting up trusts and monopolies Listening to muckrakers and reformers – passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. Was a strong proponent of conservation – the effort to protect nature and its resources. Created the National Park Service

Have you ever gotten into a really big argument with a good friend? Was there ever a time when you thought they were acting stupid and that you could do a better job?

Taft was a US circuit judge who dreamed of becoming a Supreme Court Justice. But he was also friends with Roosevelt, who made Taft his Secretary of War. When Roosevelt refuses to run for a third term, he chooses Taft to run for president. Taft was much more cautious and preferred to let the law take care of things.

Starting even more anti-trust lawsuits than Roosevelt. Tried to address problems with high tariff rates, but was unable to convince congress to deal with it effectively. Roosevelt could stand Taft’s ineptitude no longer, and in 1912 ran under the Progressive Party, otherwise known as the Bull Moose Party.

Read the section “Woodrow Wilson” on page 276. How was he different than Teddy Roosevelt? How was he able to win the election of 1912, despite not having the majority of the popular vote? Look at the map on pg 277!

The first democrat to be elected in over 20 years. Serves two terms ( ) A puzzling character, could at times be very practical but also cold and distant. For instance he avoided reporters. Wilson looked to lead a democrat resurgence by passing effective legislation. Led the country through WWI

Supporting and passing the Underwood Tariff – A lower tariff that resulted in the creation of the income tax system. Reforming banks and created the Federal Reserve – a banking regulatory system which helped stabilize the economy. Passing the Clayton Anti-trust Act, which greatly stregthened anti-monopoly laws and allowed CB by unions Helping create the Federal Trade Commission – a committee aimed at investigating questionable business practices.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT Rank the three Progressive Presidents in their effectiveness using evidence from the lesson to support your argument. Do you like Roosevelt, with his swagger and aggression? But was he too much of a personality to run the country? Do you feel like Taft got a bad deal, and that being careful and patient is the right thing to do in politics? Or do you feel Wilson did it best with his cold calculating mind, even though he was distant and strange to the public he represented? USE LAWS AND ACTIONS AS EVIDENCE!