1. The Progressive Presidents

2. Preview: 1. What are the three most interesting details you see?
2. What do the lions represent?
3. This cartoon is titled “The Lion Tamer.” The lion tamer is President Theodore Roosevelt. Based on the cartoon, what might his personality be like?
4. Does the cartoonist seem to believe that President Roosevelt will be able to control the trusts?

3. Theodore Roosevelt
Personality: Teddy; impulsive and physically active
Background: served in NY state assembly; from a VERY wealthy family
Square Deal: Promise of fair and equal treatment of all; balance the needs of competing groups – corporations and unions

4. Theodore Roosevelt
Used the Sherman Anti-trust Act to regulate and break up monopolies
Protected consumers by passing the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food Act
Helped coal miners by pressuring strikers and owners to use arbitration to end the 1902 strike
Backed the creation of the U.S. Forest Service and set aside nearly 150 million acres of national forests
“Bullied” through the Panama Canal Treaty

5. Theodore Roosevelt
Supported women’s suffrage when he ran for president in 1912.
“Bull Moose Party” – Progressive Party split the Republican vote in 1912

6. William Howard Taft 1909-1913 Personality: quiet and cautious
Background: former judge and member of Roosevelt’s cabinet
Reforms: continued many of Roosevelt’s reforms

7. William Howard Taft
Brought more than 90 lawsuits against trusts; prosecuted trusts that limited trade
Established Children’s Bureau – Department of Labor
Implemented an 8-hour workday for government employees
Added 2.7 million acres to National Wildlife Refuge System

8. William Howard Taft
Called for reform of banking system; Americans were divided on a solution
16th Amendment – federal income tax
17th Amendment – direct election of senators
“Dollar Diplomacy” – joining business interests of a country with diplomatic (ambassadors, state department) issues abroad

9. Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921 Personality: idealist and scholar
Background: Governor of New Jersey
“New Freedom” – gave more economic freedom to small businesses and average citizens
Edith Wilson – “Secret President” ran the government after president had a stroke

10. Woodrow Wilson
Clayton Antitrust Act: made it harder for trusts to form and exempted unions from antitrust laws
Signed Keating-Owen Child Labor Act and secured an 8-hour workday for railroad workers
Supported creation of the National Park Service to manage and preserve land for public use

11. Woodrow Wilson
Federal Reserve System created to stabilize the banking system
Underwood Tariff Act – lowered tariffs
18th Amendment – prohibition of alcohol
19th Amendment – suffrage for women