Progressive Presidents Teddy Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt became a
Progressive Presidents – Teddy Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt became a war hero in the Spanish-American War and later was elected to governor of New York. He then ran as the VP with Mc. Kinley. When Mc. Kinley was assassinated in 1901, Teddy Roosevelt became president at 42 years old…”It is the duty of the president to act upon theory that he is the steward of the people. ” Federal Power: Ø‘Trustbusting’ – breaking up large, harmful trusts • sued Northern Securities Company (RR monopoly) & won Ø 1902 Coal Strike – 5 month strike. • Roosevelt called in a mediator to end the strike ØRailroad Regulation – • Passed to acts to regulate the RR & activities w/ elected officials Health & Environment: Civil Rights: ØMeat Inspection Act– strict ØNot as progressive w/ idea cleanliness requirements for of civil rights for Afr. -Am. meat packers & inspections ØInvited Booker T. inspired by The Jungle Washington to the White ØPure Food & Drug Act– no House sale of contaminated food & ØAfr. -Am. Held a civil rights medicine, & truth in labeling conference in Niagara Falls ØNatural Resources – Ø 1909 – NAACP formed; ignored in late 19 th Century National Association for the • TR set aside millions of Advancement of Colored acres in parks, forests & People; worked for political water reserves & social justice for blacks ØConservation – resources not unlimited, preserve some wilderness areas; John Muir
Progressive Presidents – Teddy Roosevelt s r. ” s e e s uln the u f e us r of s t i e fle; aract i r a h ke the c i l e is upon t o v “A ends dep “C in hara the ct life er, i of n th an e l ind ong ivi du run, al an is th do ed f n ec ati isiv on e s a fac lik tor e. ” “A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues. ” 1901 -1909
Progressive Presidents – Howard Taft After defeating Wm. Jennings Bryan in the 1908 election, Taft took the presidency as the next progressive Republican. Taft wanted to consolidate rather than expand Teddy Roosevelt’s reforms. Tariffs: Public land: Republicans split over • Wanted to lower tariffs • Appointed Richard progressivism: • Met w/ opposition from Ballinger as Interior • Party is in shambles, voters voiced congress Secr. (wealthy lawyer) concern & democrats • Payne – Aldrich Tariff • Ballinger removed 1 control the House , which mil acres from • As a result of the Rep. Convention, increased some rates reserved list the Repub. Party splits into 2 wings, üAngered many as a • Again, angered Progressives & Conservatives betrayal of progressives Progressives üNominated T. Roosevelt for President (Bull Moose Party!) Election of 1912: Despite breaking up 90 trusts during his presidency, Taft was in for a messy election. Democrats nominated Woodrow Wilson, who had a progressive platform. Republicans split their vote between Progressives for TR & Conservatives for Taft. Wilson, the democrat, won , & Taft went to Yale to teach law.
Progressive Presidents – Howard Taft. ” nt s ime s arp e dgm ju w “Po litic t s thu n “E ias mf or a se u a c e som sm ake sm “I'll be damned if I am not getting tired of this. It seems to be the profession of a President simply to hear other people talk. ” 1909 -1913 es ick . ”
Progressive Presidents – Woodrow Wilson 1913 -1921 Women: §Locally, suffrage movements strengthened §Carrie Chapman Catt, new leader of NAWSA §Alice Paul & Lucy Burns form Congressional Union § 19 th Amendment Wilson’s New Freedom Civil Rights: §Wilson spoke of equal rights in election of 1912 §Afr. -Am. Leaders were dismayed at the lack of action by the white leaders §During his 2 nd term, Wilson would be even more pitiable, extended segregation – gov’t Financial Reform: Wilson wanted to attack big corporations. §Clayton Antitrust Act: (1914), forbid corporations from forming monopolies; also said that unions were legal organizations §Federal Trade Commission : given power to investigate corporate activities §Tariffs: Underwood Act cut tariff rates §Income Tax: 16 th Amendment started a graduated income tax system §Federal Reserve System: (1913), set up a system of ‘banker’s banks’; had 12 districts in the U. S. each with a regional central bank
Progressive Presidents – Woodrow Wilson he t ip. ” s i h s e r s e cau ful lead s ' e n th o success i w y of ntit n e o d i i t i e olut eat cond s b A “ d gr n a t firs “De m gov ocrac ern men y is no t so t as a se muc ha t of prin form cipl es. ” of . “Neutrality is a negative word. It does not express what America ought to feel. We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we are trying to preserve the foundations on which peace may be rebuilt. ” 1913 -1921
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