1. William Howard Taft
1908 hand picked by Teddy Roosevelt to succeed him as President
Served as President from
Taft more conservative than Roosevelt but did continue many of his reforms – Including
Added landed to public parks and forests
Broke up more than 90 monopolies – most famously Standard Oil in 1911
Established the Department of Labor and Bureau of Mines to protect workers
Established the 8 hour work day for government workers
Became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921 – served until 1930

2. Underwood Tariff 1913 Federal Reserve Act 1913
Was the first major reduction on tariffs
The average tariff dropped from 41% to 27%
In all, tariffs were lowered by 25%
To replace the lost revenue an income tax was proposed
Federal Reserve Act 1913
Allowed for the issuing of Federal Reserve Notes – The U.S. Dollar
Was a way to reform and regulate the banking industry
All nationally chartered banks had to become members of the Federal Reserve Banks
The Federal Reserve can regulate the circulation of money
12 regional banks make up the Federal Reserve – sometimes called the “bankers” bank

3. Clayton Antitrust Act 1914
Was passed to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act
Stated that the federal government can block the merger of 2 or more companies if it feels if would lessen competition
Stated no person can be the director of 2 or more competing companies
Baseball was exempted from the act because of its national heritage

4. 16th Amendment
Because of the Underwood Tariff reduction revenues were needed
The 16th Amendment was a tax on personal income
It was a graduated tax meaning the more you earned the more you paid
It was necessary because other attempts to impose income taxes on the people were declared unconstitutional

5. Federal Trade Commission
Was created so the government could crack down on anti-competitive practices by business
Today it also protects consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices
Two of its biggest areas of concern today are telemarketing scams and identity protection

6. Woodrow Wilson 1910 elected governor of New Jersey
Won the 1912 election with just 40% or the popular vote – defeated Republican Taft and Progressive Roosevelt
Passed the Underwood Simmons Act with lowered import tariffs by 25%
Created the Federal Reserve – 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks which would regulate the circulation of money – an attempt to reform the banking industry
Served from 1913 – 1921 for the Democratic Party

7. Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir
National Park System
His friend and fellow conservationist John Muir convinced Roosevelt to set aside land for future generations
Roosevelt expanded the National Parks by adding 5 new parks and 150 national forests
John Muir is often called the “father of the National Park System”
Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir

8. Pure Food and Drug Act 1906
Forbid the sale, manufacturing, or transportation of poisonous patient medicines
Demanded that medicines be labeled with contents and amounts
Manufactures must have proof that the medicine does what it claims
Help lead to the Food and Drug Administration
Coca-Cola was forced to replace cocaine in the product with caffeine

9. Bull Moose Party Officially known as the Progressive Party
Theodore Roosevelt ran for President under this party after the Republican party picked William H. Taft over him in 1912
His running split the Republican vote and allowed the Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the election

10. Coal Miners Strike of 1902 Stike of the coal mines in Pennsylvania
Roosevelt suspended the strike because it was hurting consumers who had no fuel for the winter
It was the first time the federal government mediated a dispute between business and a union
Miners received more pay and less hours, owners received higher prices for coal

11. Square Deal Teddy Roosevelt’s domestic policy Three main points were –
Conservation of natural resources
Government control over corporations
Consumer protection

12. Department of Labor New cabinet position in 1913
Signed into existence by William Howard Taft just hours before he left office and Woodrow Wilson took over
Was created to study the problems of workers, collect statistics on workers and enforce federal labor laws

13. Meat Inspection Act 1906
Was a direct result of Teddy Roosevelt reading Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle
Was designed to:
prevent altered or non-meat products being sold as meat
ensure that meat products were slaughtered and processed under sanitary conditions
Lead to the creation of The Food and Drug Administration

14. New Freedom Woodrow Wilson’s campaign slogan for the 1912 election
Was his promise to “tame” big business by:
Attacking tariffs
Reforming banking system
Breaking up trusts
He promised more freedom to individuals but really led to more power for the government

15. Theodore Roosevelt (Teddy)
New York State legislator at age 24
Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897
Quit in 1898 to fight in the Spanish American War in Cuba
2nd in command of the “Rough Riders” a volunteer cavalry unit famous for it charge up San Juan Hill
Governor of New York in 1899
1900 chosen as William McKinley’s Vice Presidential running mate
1901 McKinley assassinated T.R becomes the youngest president ever at age 42
Serves as President from 1901 – 1908 as a Republican

16. Hepburn Act 1906
Allowed the government to set maximum railroad rates
The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) would set “fair and reasonable rates”
The ICC could also look at railroad company books to make sure they were complying with the law
Might have led to the trucking industry becoming the preferred way to ship goods
Elkins Act
Made it illegal for railroad companies to offer rebates to its largest users

17. Child Labor Act 1914
The law said goods produced by child labor could NOT be sold interstate
Congress was given the power to tax companies that broke the law
Congress could also outlaw the use of mail to advertise products made by child labor
The Act was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
It wasn’t until 1938 that child labor under the age of 14 was made illegal