Progressivism Under Taft Wilson The day after T

Progressivism Under Taft & Wilson The day after T. Roosevelt becomes president in 1904 he announces that he would not seek another term as president. n T. Roosevelt handpicks a reluctant Taft as his Republican predecessor. Taft would have preferred becoming the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. n

Taft’s Presidency n n n 1908 -Taft easily defeats William Jennings Bryan (who ran 3 times) Taft pledges to carry on T. Roosevelt Progressive reform, however he had trouble from the start by not appointing any progressives to his cabinet, and dealing with Republic Congressmen who did not support progressive reform. 1908 -Taft attempts to lower tariffs while still appealing to Rep. In the Senate wishing to protect tariff increases…. . the Payne-Aldrich Tariff caused progressives to be furious with Taft. Progressives were furious with Taft’s management of Public Lands and the Ballinger-Pinchot affair. Conservationists are people who favor the protection of natural resources. They were upset with Taft’s appointment of Richard Ballinger as Secretary of the Interior. Ballinger opposed conservation policies on western lands, in favor of business interests. His ideas put him in direct opposition of George Pinchot, head of the U. S. Forest Service.

Turmoil in the Republican Party n Angry Republican progressive members of the House joined forces with Democrats to clean up the Republican Party. However though most progressive legislation was blocked by Republican because they controlled the Rules Committee. n New Nationalism 1. Business Regulation 2. Welfare Laws 3. Workplace Protection for Women and Children 4. Income/Inheritance Tax 5. Voting Reform n n n

n 1912 -Roosevelt challenges Taft for the Republican Nomination, when he is not successful he and the other progressives organize the Progressive Party. The party was named the Bull Moose Party. With a Moose as a symbol. (republican’s had the elephant and democrats had the donkey)

Bull Moose Party Platform n n n n 1. Tariff Reductions 2. Women’s Suffrage 3. Business Regulation 4. Child Labor Ban 5. Eight Hour Work Day 6. Federal Worker’s Compensation System 7. Direct Election of Senators

Men Running for President in 1912 Top-Teddy Roosevelt(Bull Moose) Top-Woodrow Wilson(Democrat) Bottom-William. Taft(Republican) Bottom-Eugene V. Debs(Socialists) Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote allowing Wilson to emerge as the v

Wilson’s Policies as President n n n Wilson was a dedicated reformer who believed in offering major legislation to Congress, promote it, and see it through. 16 th Amendment- Income Tax-this tax made up for the losses of funds created by the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913. This Act reduced tariffs from 40% to 25%. Clayton Antitrust Act 1914 - Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act, which outlawed trusts. This Act said exactly what business’s were allowed to do. Also set up the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Commission that enforced these laws. Labor Unions really favored the Clayton Antitrust Laws Federal Reserve System-was set up in 1913 to control the banking system, and help prevent bank failures. This system sets up twelve districts, each having a FRB. Wilson appoints Louis Brandeis, a “progressive” to the Supreme Court. He was considered a “people’s lawyer” arguing for many public causes. He was the first Jewish person to serve on the Court.

1916 -Wilson barely wins a second term against the Democrat candidate, Charles Hughes was endorsed by Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party. Wilson used the slogan, I kept the U. S. out of WWI. n n n Limits of Progressivism Ignored migrant farmers and African Americans, non unionized workers and many other social concerns, however it focused mainly on urban residents. Progressivism ended as the U. S. was forced to prepare to join the grow conflict in Europe, WWI.