The Progressive Era: 1890-1920

Today, I will learn . . .

Identify changes in domestic policy during the Progressive Presidencies of Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson.

I have learned it when I can . . .

recognize that key issues in third party platforms became focal points for the major political parties.

Instructional Statements

What were the domestic policies under Presidents William H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson?

Essential Question

PowerPoint by Mr. Hataway

Revised 11.01.04

Revised 10.01.12

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT(1857-1930)

TWENTY-SEVENTH PRESIDENT1909-1913:REPUBLICAN

"Next to the right of liberty, the right of property is the most important individual right guaranteed by the Constitution and the one which, united with that of personal liberty, has contributed more to the growth of civilization than any other institution established by the human race."

"The President cannot make clouds to rain and cannot make the corn to grow, he cannot make business good; although when these things occur, political parties do claim some credit for the good things that have happened in this way."

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Progressivism Under Taft

Election of 1908

William H. Taft (R) v. William J. Bryan (D)

Secretary of War under Roosevelt

Endorsed by Roosevelt

Easily defeated Bryan

Progressivism Under Taft

Antagonizing Progressives

Promised lower tariffs but anger the Progressive wing of the Republican Party when he signed the Payne Aldrich Tariff.

Allowed development on federal lands that Roosevelt had set aside to preserve.

Brought twice as many antitrust cases as Roosevelt (90)

TAFT HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE CONSERVATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE WINGS OF HIS REPUBLICAN PARTY. THIS EVENTUALLY LED TO A SPLIT BETWEEN HE AND THEODORE ROOSEVELT CULMINATING IN THE 1912 ELECTION WHERE THEY RAN AGAINST EACH OTHER, SPLITTING THE REPUBLICAN VOTE, ASSURING A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY. A MAJOR REASON FOR THE SPLIT WAS TAFTS FIRING OF PINCHOT. THIS WAS SEEN AS AN ATTACK ON THE CONSERVATION AND VIOLATION OF ROOSEVELTS CORE BELIEFS.

TAFT DID PROMOTE SEVERAL PROGRESSIVE AGENDAS INCLUDING INITIATING MORE ANTI-TRUST CASE THAN ROOSEVELT.

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Election of 1912

Split in the Republican Party

Roosevelt refused to criticize Taft until the president brought an antitrust lawsuit against U.S. Steel.

Attempt to replace Taft as the Republican nominee in the 1912.

Election of 1912

Split in the Republican Party

Republicans chose Taft over Roosevelt

Roosevelt and the Progressives bolt, form Progressive Party, a.k.a. the Bull Moose Party

Election of 1912

Democrats

Woodrow Wilson, former president of Princeton U. and governor of New Jersey

Platform called New Freedom

Stronger antitrust legislation

Bank reform

Lower tariffs

Election of 1912

Socialist Party

Eugene V. Debs

Wants government redistribute the wealth of the nation.

Election of 1912

Results

Republicans split, Wilson easily won.

Democrats take majority control of Congress.

WOODROW WILSON (1856-1924)

TWENTY-EIGHTH PRESIDENT 1913-1921 :DEMOCRAT

"Government should not be made an end in itself; it is a means only,a means to be freely adapted to advance the best interests of the social organism. The State exists for the sake of Society, not Society for the sake of the State."

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Busting the Trusts

Clayton Antitrust Act (1914)

Increased the power of the federal government to prevent unfair business practices.

Created the Federal Trade Commission

Protected consumers against unfair business practices by corporations.

Regulating the Economy

Underwood Tariff (1913)

Lowered tariffs by 25%

Regulating the Economy

16th Amendment (1913)

Gave Congress power to tax personal income & business

Established by the Income Tax

Regulating the Economy

Graduated Income Tax (1913)

Rich taxpayers taxed at a higher rate.

Regulating the Economy

Federal Reserve System (1913)

12 regional reserve banks

The Bankers bank

Regulating the Economy

Federal Reserve System (1913)

Allowed the Fed to regulate the circulation of the money supply.

Bank Reform: required banks to keep some deposits in a reserve.

Labor

Department of Labor

Created Cabinet Post to study the problems of labor, collect statistics, and enforce federal labor laws.

In 1900, over 1.7 million children under 16 worked mostly in unsafe factories and mines.

LEWIS HINE

In 1908, the National Child Labor Committee provided Hine with a monthly salary and assigned him to photograph child labor practices. For the next several years, Hine traveled extensively, photographing children in mines, factories, canneries, textile mills, street trades and assorted agricultural industries. Hines photographs alerted the public to the fact that child labor deprived children of childhood, health, education and a chance of a future. His work on this project was the driving force behind changing the publics attitude and was instrumental in the fight for stricter child labor laws. By the early 1900s, 28 states had laws regulating child labor.

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Child Labor

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

First federal law regulating child labor.

Prohibited children under age 14 from working in factories.

Declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court

Th.. th.. tha.. Thats all folks!