THE PROGRESSIVE ERA
The Reforms of Roosevelt, Taft & Wilson Basic Beliefs
Government should fix problems
Working class & middle class
Government, business, & social reforms
Curb power of special interests Four Goals of Reformers
1) Protect Social Welfare
2) Moral Improvement
3) Economic Reform
4) Foster Efficiency Political Reforms included…
16th • Graduated Income Tax Amendment 17th • Direct Election of the Senators Amendment
18th • Prohibition (Temperance Amendment Movement) 19th • Women’s suffrage Amendment Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1908)
Accomplishments (#1-6) The Square Deal
Set of Progressive Reforms BUT…
A Social Darwinist
A “conservative” Progressive “Trustbusting”
Trusts controlled 80% of industry (1900)
44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act
Didn’t really oppose trusts: TRUST-REGULATOR “Trust-Buster!!” 1902 Coal Strike
140,000 miners vs. owners
Threatened to send in the army
**Fed gov expected to step in when public welfare was at risk** The Pure Food & Drug Act
Halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines
Called for truth in labeling The Pure Food and Drug Act took medicines with cocaine and other harmful ingredients off the market The Environment
Conservation movement
Newlands Reclamation Act (federal funds for irrigation & development)
National Parks Roosevelt, left, was an avid outdoorsman – here he is with author John Muir at Yosemite Park The Environment
148 million acres of forest reserves
1.5 million acres of water-power sites
50 wildlife sanctuaries Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming National Parks & Forests Civil Rights**
Mostly ignored
Supported a few individuals
Booker T. Washington (self-help approach) Roosevelt’s Legacy (#1-5)
Modern Presidency
Used the media
Used executive branch (bully pulpit) to solve economic & social problems
“Big stick” politics
Biggest mark: Conservation William Howard Taft (1908-1912)
Accomplishments (#1-3)
I’m up all night to get trustbusting But First, Some Fun Facts… (Don’t need to write this down)
The myth
The tub
The firsts
The cow
The parcel service
The Supreme Court Payne-Aldrich Tariff** viewed as a failure
Intent:
lower tariffs
**Actually: Taft, right, was Roosevelt’s Hardly lowered Tariffs on some War Secretary. TR hand- any goods increased picked Taft to be the next President. “The REAL Trustbuster”
Accused of not being progressive enough (by TR)
“Busted” 90 trusts during his 4 years in office: more than TR
Biggest anti-trust lawsuit: US Steel The Children’s Bureau
Children more prone to accidents caused by fatigue
Investigated & publicized problems with child labor
Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918 Taft’s Legacy (#1-3)
Taft disliked politics
Not popular with the public, reform minded Republicans (or TR!)
DID pass many Progressive Reforms Taft called the Presidency, “The lonesomest job in the world” 1912 Election (Read & answer)
Republicans split in 1912 between Taft and Teddy Roosevelt (who returned after a long trip to Africa)
Convention delegates nominated Taft
Some Republicans formed a third party – The Bull Moose Party- and nominated Roosevelt Republicans split in 1912 The Democrats put forward a reform - minded New Jersey Governor, Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson (1912-1920)
Accomplishments (#1-6) New Freedom
Domestic Program
Strong Federal Government
Attack on “the triple wall of privilege”:
High Trusts Tariffs finance W. Wilson U.S. President 1912-1920 Clayton Antitrust Act
Biggest “Trustbusters”
Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act
Illegal to acquiring stock from another company (Anti-monopoly)
Act also supported workers unions Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Formed in 1914
A “watchdog” agency
End unfair business practices
Today the FTC works to protect consumers from ID Protect consumers from theft business fraud Federal Reserve System
To restore confidence in banking system
Banks keep portion of deposits in regional reserve bank
Compromise b/w public & private interests The Income Tax
Lower tariffs = less federal revenue
16th Amendment (1916)
• Graduated income tax • Made up for lost revenue • Redistribution of wealth? Women’s Suffrage**
The • Native-born women • Educated (mostly): • Middle-class
The • local, state and national organization methods: • vigorous protests during WWI
The • 19th amendment (1920) result: • Women’s suffrage
Wilson’s Legacy (#1-5)
Built upon Roosevelt’s reputation
Expanded role of federal government & President
Not afraid to use American power abroad
Anti-imperialist/ “moral” diplomacy
WWI/League of Nations** Add to the bottom of chart…
Limits:
NAACP: Limits of Progressivism
Progressive era failed to make gains for African Americans
Roosevelt, Taft & Wilson ignored Civil Rights once in office
The KKK reached a membership of 4.5 million in the 1920s NAACP formed to promote rights
W.E.B. DuBois & others
Goal: full equality among the races
Encouraged African Americans to: • Seek immediate civil rights (mostly court action) 1964 Application • Go to college • Aspire to a profession