Some images, Some images, text courtesy text courtesy Ms. Susan M. Ms. Susan M.

PojerPojer

Some images, Some images, text courtesy text courtesy Ms. Susan M. Ms. Susan M.

PojerPojer

TR said that TR said that Taft, “had Taft, “had the most the most lovable lovable

personality personality I have ever I have ever

come in come in contact contact with”with”

Handing off responsibility to Taft in 1909

““I very keenly share I very keenly share your your

disappointment in disappointment in Taft, and in a way Taft, and in a way

perhaps feel it perhaps feel it even more deeply even more deeply

than you do, than you do, because it was I because it was I who made him who made him

President” ~ T.R.President” ~ T.R.

““Roosevelt was my Roosevelt was my closest friend,” he closest friend,” he

said brokenly. said brokenly. Then he could Then he could

restrain himself no restrain himself no longer, and he longer, and he

began to weep. ~ began to weep. ~ TaftTaft

Roosevelt and Taft brawl

while Uncle Sam looks on in the British

magazine Punch

The Republican

Party &

President William H.

Taft

The Republican

Party &

President William H.

Taft

Keepthe

Whistle

Blowing

Keepthe

Whistle

Blowing

Taft was Taft was determined to determined to defeat TR and preserve the defeat TR and preserve the conservative heart of the Republican conservative heart of the Republican Party.Party.

The GOPAfterthe

Circus

The GOPAfterthe

CircusTR TR The Republican The Republican

Party must stand for Party must stand for the rights of the rights of humanity, or else it must stand for humanity, or else it must stand for special privilege.special privilege.

The Progressive

Party

&Former

President Theodore Roosevelt

The Progressive

Party

&Former

President Theodore RooseveltPeople should risePeople should riseabove their sectarianabove their sectarianinterests to promote the general good.interests to promote the general good.

Theodore Roosevelt atOsawatomie, KS: New Nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt atOsawatomie, KS: New Nationalism

Big business requires big Big business requires big government.government.

TheAnti-Third-Term

Principle

TheAnti-Third-Term

Principle

The “Bull

Moose”Party:The

LatestArrivalat the

Political Zoo

The “Bull

Moose”Party:The

LatestArrivalat the

Political Zoo

We stand at We stand at Armageddon, Armageddon,

and we battle for the and we battle for the Lord!Lord!

ONWARD, CHRISTIAN ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!SOLDIERS!

The Socialist Party

& Eugene V. Debs

The Socialist Party

& Eugene V. Debs

The issue is Socialism The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I for Socialism because I am for humanity.am for humanity.

Growth of the Socialist VoteGrowth of the Socialist VoteYear

Socialist Party

Socialist Labor Party Total

1888   2,068 2,068

1890   13,704 13,704

1892   21,512 21,512

1894   30,020 30,020

1896   36,275 36,274

1898   82,204 82,204

1900 96,931 33,405 130,336

1902 223,494 53,763 277,257

1904 408,230 33,546 441,776

1906 331,043 20,265 351,308

1908 424,488 14,021 438,509

1910 607,674 34,115 641,789

1912 901,873901,873

The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow

Wilson (NJ)

The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow

Wilson (NJ)

Liberal reformer, Liberal reformer, trust-buster, trust-buster, independent of independent of party bossesparty bosses

The ReformGovern

orof NJ:

It TakesTime

to Remov

ethe

Grime

The ReformGovern

orof NJ:

It TakesTime

to Remov

ethe

Grime

Pres. William

Taft(Republica

n incumbent

)

Teddy Roosevelt

(Progressive/Bull Moose

Party)

Woodrow Wilson

(Democrat)

Eugene Debs

Socialist Party

Both Reformers – fought for votes in

the middle (Moderates)

Liberal

Conservative

• Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights• Civil RightsCivil Rights• Child Labor/Workers’ Rights Child Labor/Workers’ Rights • Protective TariffProtective Tariff• Big Business/TrustsBig Business/Trusts

Reform Party Platforms:Reform Party Platforms:• New Nationalism – TRNew Nationalism – TR• New Freedom – WilsonNew Freedom – Wilson

** both called for a more active ** both called for a more active government role in economics and government role in economics and social welfare issuessocial welfare issues

“FATHEAD!”

“dangerous egotist!”

“guinea pig brain!”

“Don’t interfere when your enemy

is destroying himself.”

In groups:In groups:– Develop your PlatformDevelop your Platform – What are – What are

your views on the following big your views on the following big issues? issues? •Women’s suffrage, Race relations, Women’s suffrage, Race relations,

Trusts, Tariff, LaborTrusts, Tariff, Labor– Each person in the group should be Each person in the group should be

able to present ONE element of your able to present ONE element of your platform to the classplatform to the class

– Now…Let’s run your campaign and see if you’d win!

An Actual 1912 BallotAn Actual 1912 Ballot

GOP Divided by Bull Moose

Equals Democratic Victory!

GOP Divided by Bull Moose

Equals Democratic Victory!

Wilson was the second of only two Democrats to be elected President between

1860 and 1932.

¾ of Americans voted ¾ of Americans voted for parties of CHANGEfor parties of CHANGE

– T.R. and Taft – T.R. and Taft – 7 million7 million– Wilson - 6 millionWilson - 6 million– Debs - Debs - 1 million1 million

Wilson didn’t have a Wilson didn’t have a majority, BUT Republicans majority, BUT Republicans

split the vote – WILSON split the vote – WILSON WINS!WINS!

• Cartoon depicting William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt lying exhausted after the 1912 presidential campaign and saying, “Cheer up! I might have won.”

• Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Election ResultsElection Results

By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.1908.

The 1912 election marked the height of The 1912 election marked the height of the Socialist movement in America.the Socialist movement in America.

The nature of government The nature of government was debatedwas debated

- The people WANTED the - The people WANTED the government to be involved government to be involved

in their lives!in their lives!

As Big As a BalloonAs Big As a Balloon

Tariff ReformTariff Reform

ConservationIssue:

TheBallinge

r-PinchotControv

ersy

ConservationIssue:

TheBallinge

r-PinchotControv

ersy

The Unanswerable Argument for Suffrage

The Unanswerable Argument for Suffrage

Never Again!Never Again!

Taft Abandons Support for Women’s Taft Abandons Support for Women’s SuffrageSuffrage

TR&

Women’s

Suffrage:

The Militan

t Recruit

TR&

Women’s

Suffrage:

The Militan

t Recruit

Woman Suffrage Before 1920

Woman Suffrage Before 1920

Songs of the Sunny South

Songs of the Sunny South

Lynching

& theRaceIssue

Lynching

& theRaceIssue

Trying to Catch the Colored Vote

Trying to Catch the Colored Vote

Mr. Lewis Gets His Share

Mr. Lewis Gets His Share

Oh, That ThisToo, Too

Solid SouthWould Melt!

Oh, That ThisToo, Too

Solid SouthWould Melt!

On Uncle Sam’s FarmOn Uncle Sam’s Farm

The Democratic party took control of The Democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 the Senate for the first time in 20 years.years.

TheGOP:

AnExtinctAnimal

?

TheGOP:

AnExtinctAnimal

?

For Further ReadingFor Further Reading

The Industrial Worker: I. W. W.

The Industrial Worker: I. W. W.

The first American labor group to open its The first American labor group to open its membership to all wage-earning workers, membership to all wage-earning workers, regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or gender.gender.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

““1912—Competing Visions for 1912—Competing Visions for America.”America.”Ohio State University.Ohio State University.http://history.osu.edu/projects/1912/

HarpWeek/Elections. “Election of HarpWeek/Elections. “Election of 1912.”1912.”http://www.elections.harpweek.comhttp://www.elections.harpweek.com//