1. Progressivism Under Taft
Chapter 17
Section 4

2. Terms & Names Gifford Pinchot William Howard Taft
Payne – Aldrich Tariff
Bull Moose Party
Woodrow Wilson

3. Taft Becomes President
6 feet tall / 350 pounds
Was handpicked by Roosevelt to carry out his policies
Was a very cautious president
Hesitated to use the “bully pulpit”
Tariffs and conservation were his first problems

4. The Payne – Aldrich Tariff
Taft’s campaign was based on lower tariffs
The Payne Bill lowered rates on manufactured goods
Republicans discarded many of the other cuts
The people felt betrayed so Taft signed the Payne – Aldrich Tariff
Called it the “best bill the Republican party ever passed”

5. Disputing Public Lands
Appointed Richard A. Ballinger as Secretary of Interior
Decision angered conservationists
Ballinger disapproved of conservationist controls on western lands
Removed one million acres of forest and mining lands

6. Approved the sale of coal rich land in Alaska
Was criticized in Collier’s Weekly
Gifford Pinchot spoke against him in congressional hearing
Was accused of letting commercial interests exploit the natural resources that belonged to the public
Pinchot was fired by Taft for his comments

7. Problems Within the Party
Republican conservatives & progressives split over Taft’s support of political boss Joseph Cannon
“Uncle Joe”
Poker playing, rough talking, tobacco chewing politician
Disregarded seniority when filling committee slots
Appointed himself head of the Committee on Rules

8. “Uncle Joe” continued Was a virtual dictator
Ignored or weakened Progressive bills
Republicans stripped Cannon of his power
Called for the entire House to elect the Committee on Rules

9. Taft at the End The Republican Party was in shambles
Voters were concerned about the rising cost of living
Blamed it on the Payne- Aldrich Tariff
Believed Taft was against conservation

10. The Bull Moose Party
1912 – Roosevelt returns home and decides to run for president.
Taft supporters refused to seat Roosevelt at the convention
The Republicans renominated Taft.
Roosevelt created a 3rd party – The Bull Moose Party

11. Called for direct election of senators
Adoption of initiative, referendum and recall
Advocated woman’s suffrage
Advocated national workmen’s compensation
8 hour work day
Minimum wage for women
Laws against child labor
Federal trade commission to regulate business

12. Woodrow Wilson Reform governor from New Jersey
Democratic presidential candidate
“New Freedom” – Wilson’s progressive platform
Stronger anti – trust legislation
Banking reform
Reduced tariffs

13. The Election of 1912 Woodrow Wilson William Taft Teddy Roosevelt
Democrat
“New Freedom”
Strong government role in economic affairs
William Taft
Republican
Conservative
Teddy Roosevelt
Bull Moose Party

14. And the winner is . . . Woodrow Wilson Popular vote 42%
Democratic majority in Congress
Electoral victory