1. Progressive Presidents
Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson

2. Theodore Roosevelt
Huge supporter of Progressive Reform and forest conservation
His plan to fix America was the Square Deal:
Keep the wealthy and powerful from taking advantage of small business owners and the poor
Make sure that there is not corruption and crookedness in government so that everybody gets a square (fair) deal

3. Roosevelt the “Trustbuster”
Elkins Act: fined railroads that gave special rates/rebates to favored shippers
Set up because the Supreme Court had decreased the power of the Interstates Commerce Commission (ICC)
Hepburn Act: strengthened the power of the ICC
Government can set and limit shipping rates
Set maximum prices for ferries, bridge tolls and oil pipelines
Northern Securities vs. US: Roosevelt broke up a railroad trust
Anthracite Coal Strike: Roosevelt helped coal miners on strike to get a pay raise and 9 hour workday
First time government had sided with workers

4. Roosevelt Cleans House
After the publication of The Jungle, Roosevelt demands reform
Meat Inspection Act: government inspects meat crossing state lines and inspects meat processing plants
Pure Food and Drug Act: placed the same controls on other foods and medicines
Labels on food
Consumed items are now tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration

5. William Howard Taft in Office
Hand picked by Roosevelt to carry on with his plans but Taft set his own agenda
Did not distinguish between good and bad trusts…busted all big businesses that were unreasonable
Standard Oil and US Steel
Mann Act: gave the government control over telephone and telegraph rates
Payne- Aldrich Tariff: lowered tariffs but not enough to make Roosevelt happy
Led to many Progressives withdrawing their support for Taft

6. Progressive/Bull Moose Party
Roosevelt was so unhappy with Taft’s policies that he creates a 3rd party which takes votes away from Republicans
Roosevelt claims that he was as “strong as a bull moose” to break up trusts

7. The Election of 1912 Progressives: Roosevelt Republicans: Taft
Democrats: Woodrow Wilson, had the best chance
Wins because the votes were split between Roosevelt and Taft

8. Wilson’s New Freedom
Put strict government controls on big corporations (monopolies)
Provide more freedom for small businesses
Attacked tariffs, banks and trusts

9. Wilson in Office Cut tariffs 16th Amendment: graduated income tax
Wealthy pay a higher percentage than poor people
Federal Reserve Act: put banks under the control of the government and Federal Reserve
Sets interests rates and the reserve rate (how much money banks must have in the bank)
Manages the nation’s supply of currency
Clayton Antitrust Act: strengthened previous antitrust laws and spelled out what trusts could not do

10. 18th Amendment
Prohibition: Outlawed the production and sale of alcohol
Became law with the 18th Amendment
Supported by women who had supported Temperance
Carrie A. Nation attacked bars with hatchets and Bibles
Volstead Act: law that enforced the amendment
Prohibition would improve families and society
“A noble experiment”
Result: increase in organized crime to get liquor out
Moonshine
Rum runners