1. Presidents and Reforms
Progressive Era

2. Teddy Roosevelt Rough Riders New York Governor
McKinley’s Vice President
Extremely influential and progressive president – a change from his predecessors

3. Progressive Reforms Known as a “Trustbuster”
Wants to make the trusts go “bust”
Trusts are an easy way to create monopolies in an industry
Enforced Sherman Antitrust Act
Railroads, Standard Oil, Tobacco
Government went after 44 companies during his presidency

4. Progressive Reforms Square Deal United Mine Workers strike
Wanted to ensure equality for all. (Workers, owners, businesses, consumers)
United Mine Workers strike
Labor union strike (refuse to work)
Roosevelt acts as negotiator
Workers get better pay and hours

5. Progressive Reforms Meat Inspection Act Pure Food and Drug Act
Signed into law in 1906
Response to Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”
Pure Food and Drug Act
Also 1906
Followed Meat Inspection Act to include all food and medicines
Wanted to ensure Americans were getting a good product
Now known as the FDA

6. Progressive Reforms Conservation Created the U.S. Forest Service
Created five national parks (only 2 before)
created 18 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon
set aside 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and more than 100 million acres' worth of national forests.

7. Civil Rights Personally believed in equal rights for African Americans
Never pushed for equality as president because it was such an unpopular idea in parts of the country
Booker T. Washington

8. Foreign Policy “Walk softly and carry a big stick”
Be peaceful, but also let people know you will fight if needed
Monroe Doctrine-European Powers should stay out of the Western Hemisphere and we would stay out of European affairs
Roosevelt Corollary- In order to prevent such intervention, the United States was justified in acting first.

9. Panama Canal
Europe and the U.S. wanted control of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific
Roosevelt supported a revolt against Columbia
Signed a treaty giving the U.S. control of the canal until 1999.

10. William Howard Taft
Chosen by Roosevelt to be the next Republican candidate
Expected to continue with progressive reforms

11. Progressive Reforms Also a “trustbuster”
Attempted more anti-trust cases in 4 years than Roosevelt did in 7 years. (90 total)
Broke up Rockefeller’s Oil Monopoly
Tried to break up J.P. Morgan Steel (bought from Carnegie) but was unsuccessful

12. Progressive Amendments
$$$
16th Amendment-
Ratified in 1913
Income Tax - Gave Congress the power to tax on people’s income and business profits.
Taxed wealthy higher than those with less money
17th Amendment –
Also ratified in 1913
Lets voters elect Senators
Before this amendment, state legislators chose
Less corruption if people get to choose

13. Bull Moose
Roosevelt doesn’t like Taft’s actions…especially 16th amendment.
Decides to challenge with a new political party – the Bull Moose Party
1912 Election has 3 Progressive candidates
Roosevelt Taft Wilson
Bull Moose Republican Democrat

14. 1912 Election Woodrow Wilson Wins!!
Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote giving
Wilson an easy win.

15. Woodrow Wilson First Democratic President since the Civil War
Progressive
Will be president during World War I

16. Wilson’s Progressivism
Clayton AntiTrust Act
Stricter version of Sherman AntiTrust
Creates more laws to stop monopolies from forming
Supports labor unions for workers
Federal Reserve Act
Gives the government more control of the nation’s money
Controls interest rate
Chairman of Federal Reserve = one of most influential people in country

17. Women’s Suffrage Nineteenth Amendment
Gives women the right to vote
Ratified in 1920
Wilson is worried that Americans won’t like his decision
Supports amendment because he believes it will help win the war.

18. Comparisons Roosevelt Taft Wilson Trustbusting Conservation
Rights for African Americans
Income Tax (16th Amend.)
Women’s Suffrage (19th)