1. 4.4 Reformers in the White House

2. America Comes of Age (1890-1920) Lesson 4 Reformers in the White House
Learning Objectives
Analyze how Theodore Roosevelt influenced the changing relationship between the federal government and private business.
Explain the impact of Roosevelt's actions towards managing the environment.
Compare and contrast Roosevelt's policies with Taft's and Wilson's policies.
Describe Wilson's efforts to regulate the economy.
Assess the legacy of the Progressive Era.
Key Terms
Theodore Roosevelt
Square Deal
Hepburn Act
Meat Inspection Act
Pure Food and Drug Act
John Muir
Gifford Pinchot
National Reclamation Act
New Nationalism
Progressive Party
Woodrow Wilson
New Freedom
Sixteenth Amendment
monetary policy
Federal Reserve Act
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Clayton Antitrust Act

3. Theodore Roosevelt Personal Life
Father died while TR was at college (heartbroken)
In 1884 his wife and his mother died on the same day
(The Grieving Period)
Went to live in Dakota Badlands
Became a respected rancher & conservationist
1886- married childhood sweetheart (Edith) & had 5 more kids.
B. Early Career
Elected to the New York State Legislature at age 24
Became a police commissioner in NYC
Became Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897
Fought in the Spanish-American War in Cuba
Lead the famous “Rough Riders” up San Juan Hill
Due to this war, the US acquired Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico
Became (R) Governor of New York in 1899
Attacked corruption and made many enemies
Made a name as a progressive reformer

4. McKinley Assassination
Theodore Roosevelt
Road to Presidency
1900 – Chosen as McKinley’s Vice President running mate
New York’s Conservative (R’s) supported his nomination
Felt safe with TR in this “do-nothing” job. (Harmless)
1901- McKinley was shot and killed; TR becomes president at age 42
McKinley Assassination
McKinley was shot twice by Leon Czolgosz
Leon Czolgosz was an anarchist
McKinley died 8 days later
Teddy Roosevelt became the next president

5. The Square Deal:
Roosevelt saw the presidency as a “bully pulpit” – used his role as president to expand the power of the executive branch
Platform to advocate an agenda
Government should be responsive to injustice “Big Government”
Did not wait for the legislative branch to act
Executive decision.
The Square Deal –various progressive reforms sponsored by the Roosevelt administration.
Help the common man
The Square Deal
labor and management,
consumer
business,
conservationist
Not to favor any group of Americans but to be fair to all.
Government should use its resources to help the country socially and economically

6. 1902 Coal Miners Strike UMW – United Mine Workers Union
Called for a strike
140,000 Miners
Shorter work day, better pay, right to organize in a union
Workers struck for 5 months
Theodore Roosevelt had to intervene
Coal powered 90% of the nation
Called both sides to the White House to negotiate
Government intervened in the business world Ending Laissez-Faire
Strike threatened public welfare, the government would intervene.

8. Regulating the Railroads
Interstate Commerce Commission 1887
Organization to regulate RR shipments
Elkins Act 1903
Fines to RR’s who gave special rates to favored shippers
Hepburn Act of 1906
Interstate Commerce Commission
Set maximum railroad rates
Inspected Railroad companies
Free RR passes to politicians
Government
Laissez Faire to… hands On

9. Roosevelt Changes the Relationship Between Government and Business
Analyze Charts Which of these acts do you believe was the most important? Why?

10. Regulating Food Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle 1906.
The book focused on the sickening conditions of the meatpacking industry.
The book made quite the impression on Theodore Roosevelt.
He promised to fix the problems of mass production in the US.
After reading the book he passed the Meat Inspection Act – reformed meatpacking conditions (1906)

11. Managing the Environment
Roosevelt’s Influences
Hunting in his youth
John Muir – naturalists from California
Roosevelt creates National Parks
5 National Parks
18 National Monuments
National Park Service
100 Million Acres of Land
Not all forests should be preserved = natural resources
Gifford Pinchot
Forests should be protected for future use of materials
Wood, Water, Oil, Coal
Natural Reclamation Act
Federal government has the power to decide where and how water should be distributed
Gov’t built dams
Created reservoirs, generate power, and direct water flow.

12. Managing the Environment
Analyze Maps Based on the information in the map, when were the majority of national parks established? What region of the country holds the largest parks?

13. After Roosevelt: Teddy Roosevelt Legacy
Naturalists emerged, Girls Scouts
Roosevelt was president for 8 years and accomplished a lot.
Some of Roosevelt’s policies came under scrutiny from various organizations.
1909- TR is replaced by close friend William H. Taft and Roosevelt travels the world
Now William Howard Taft would have his chance at the presidency

14. William Howard Taft Taft 1909 Successes as President (R) 1909-1913
TR decided not to run again
Hand selected and endorsed Taft
Taft would support many progressive reforms
Successes as President (R)
Added more land to public parks & forests (not as much as TR)
Broke up more than 90 monopolies, including Standard Oil in 1911
Set up the Dept. of Labor & Bureau of Mines to protect workers
Established the 8 hour day for government workers
16th +17th Amendments
16th = income tax
17th = direct election of Senators
But Taft did not run the country the way Roosevelt thought he would
Became much more conservative

15. A New Direction In Presidential Politics

16. The Republican Party Splits:
Caused Split Between Progressives & Conservative Republicans
Signed Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act ---> raised tariffs
Pleased big business
Angered progressives and especially farmers
Roosevelt is going to make a come back!!
“New Nationalism”
Restore government’s trust busting power
Returned from a hunting trip in Africa

17. The Bull Moose Party: 1912 Election
Election of 1912 (3-Way Race)
Progressive (Republicans) supported TR
Conservative (Republicans) supported Taft
Taft wins the (Republicans) nomination
TR forms Progressive Bull Moose party (split weakens R party)
(Democrat) Woodrow Wilson is elected and TR is labeled “the spoiler”

18. What did the Bull Moose Party support?
The Bull Moose Party supported:
1. Women’s suffrage
2. Worker’s compensation
3. An 8-hr. work day
4. A minimum wage for women
5. A federal law against child labor
6. A federal trade commission to regulate business.

19. A New Direction In Presidential Politics
Analyze Maps What evidence shown on the map supports the conclusion that divisions within the Republican party made the Democrats more likely to win the 1912 election?

21. So, How Did Wilson Win?
The split between Taft and Roosevelt turned nasty. (name calling) – they divided themselves.
Roosevelt = egotist
Taft = fathead , brain of a guinea pig
Woodrow Wilson endorsed a progressive platform called the “New Freedom”, it demanded:
1. Stronger Antitrust legislation
2. Banking reform
3. Reduced Tariffs
Wilson won with a 42% popular vote.
He grew up in the South, which affected his ability to use federal power to help civil rights.

22. Woodrow Wilson Successes came under New Freedom
Underwood Simmons Act (1913) lowered import tariffs
Created the Federal Reserve System to stabilize banking
Oversee banks & protect the economy
Set interest rates
Keating-Owen Act
Ended use of child labor
All 4 Progressive Era Amendments (16th, 17th, 18th, 19th) went into effect while he was president

23. The Progressives' Legacy

24. Wilson’s Antitrust Regulations
Clayton Antitrust
Legal approach to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.
Spelled out a series of illegal practices
Selling at a lass to undercut competitors
prohibited corporations from acquiring stock of another if doings so would create a monopoly
Labor unions and farm organizations could legally form
Cannot charge strikers unless they caused damage
Federal Trade commission
Administrative approach to attack businesses
“Watchdog” agency
Power to investigate possible violations of regulatory statutes to
require periodic reports from corporations
End number of unfair business practices
FTC investigated over 400 companies

25. Federal Reserve System:
Now financial reform was on the table
Currency and Banking Reform
Credit and money supply had to keep pace with the economy.
Federal Reserve Act of 1913
Wilson’s greatest piece of legislation
The Federal Reserve System was put into action.
It created a network of banks
12 sections Regional Banks
Issue currency in emergency situations
provide loans to private banks
This system still serves as the basis of our nation’s banking system.
Federal Reserve Building

26. Limits of Progressivism:
Wilson created a lot of reform policies
Failed to create enough social reforms
African American reform
Disappointed supporters throughout America
Wilson placed segregationists in the federal government
Like Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson retreated on Civil Rights when he entered office.
Did not favor anti lynching laws or segregation laws
“state issue”
Navy – do away with common drinking fountains and towels
Segregated facilities were just
“the colored men who voted and worked for you in the belief that their status as African citizens was safe in your hands are deeply cast down
The KKK reached a membership of 4.5 million in the 1920s

27. End of Progressive Movement
WWI on the horizon
“there’s no chance of progress and reform in an administration in with war plays the principal part.”
WWI 1914
US gets involved in WWI April

28. Wilson Endorses Further Regulation
Analyze Charts Which part of the Federal Reserve System determines the reserve requirements for member banks?