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Essential Question: (Just think about this one.) How did progressives bring reform to urban & state governments? Bell Ringer Questions: How effective were progressive reformers in addressing: (a) Problems in cities? (b) Discrimination against African- Americans? (c) Inequalities against women?

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VP Theodore Roosevelt became president after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901 TR was a different kind of president He thought the govt ought to take responsibility for the welfare of the American people His agenda of progressive reform was called the Square Deal

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TR was committed to a series of reforms: Breaking up harmful monopolies (called trustbusting) Regulating businesses such as railroads & the meat industry Conservation of natural resources It is the duty of the president to act upon the theory that he is the steward of the people, andto assume that he has the legal right to do whatever the needs of the people demand, unless the Constitution or the laws explicitly forbid him to do it

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During the Gilded Age, Congress passed a series of laws designed to keep big business in check: The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was formed in 1886 to regulate railroads The Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 made it illegal for companies to restrict trade But neither of these laws were strict enough to control monopolies

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Roosevelt saw the benefit of efficient monopolies, but wanted to control bad trusts: In 1902, the govt ordered the Northern Securities Company (a giant railroad monopoly owned by J.P. Morgan) broken up because it violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act The Roosevelt administration busted 25 trusts in 7 years

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RESTRAINT

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In 1902, the United Mine Workers went on strike to demand higher pay & an eight-hour work day The anthracite coal strike lasted 11 months & threatened the nation as winter approached The anthracite coal strike lasted 11 months & threatened the nation as winter approached

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Unlike the Gilded Age presidents, TR did not side with the owners & break up the strike TR forced both sides to arbitrate or face govt seizure of the coal mine The result was a square deal for both sides

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When muckraker Upton Sinclairs The Jungle was published, Roosevelt pushed for regulation of the meat packing industry Congress passed the Meat Inspection Act in 1906 To ban harmful products & end false medicine claims, the Pure Food & Drug Act passed in 1906 Quick Class Discussion: Why did The Jungle generate so much outrage from Americans & politicians? Read excerpts from The Jungle

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During the Gilded Age, corporations clear-cut forests & viewed Americas natural resources as endless Roosevelt began the 1 st national environmental conservation program The govt protected 195 million acres as off limits to businesses The Reclamation Service to place natural resources (oil, trees, coal) under federal protection

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In 1908, Roosevelt decided not to run for re- election as president TRs presidency was important because for the first time, the national government: Regulated big business Protected the environment Assumed responsibility for the welfare of workers & consumers

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When Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908, his successor to the presidency was Republican William Howard Taft William Howard Taft

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Like TR, Taft believed that the U.S. needed progressive reform: In his 4 years as president, Taft helped break up twice as many monopolies as Roosevelt Created the Childrens Bureau & pushed for child labor laws Helped create safety codes for coal miners & railroad workers

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But, Taft did not always trust the govt to solve problems & often sided with conservative Republicans He angered progressives when he supported a high tariff which helped monopolies He allowed a cabinet secretary to sell 1 million acres of conservation land to businesses Progressive politicians hoped that TR would run for president again

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TR decided to run for president in 1912 but the Republican Party picked Taft as their candidate TR created the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party Taft was the Republican nominee & the Democrats ran a reform governor, Woodrow Wilson Republican voters were divided in whom to support: Roosevelt or Taft

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Im feeling as fit as a bull moose

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With the Republicans divided, Democrat Woodrow Wilson won the election of 1912 Republicans divided by a Bull moose equals a Democratic victory!

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President Wilson oversaw a great wave of progressive reforms: 16 th Amendment 16 th Amendment created the 1 st income tax in U.S. history 17 th Amendment 17 th Amendment allowed for the direct-election of U.S. Senators 18 th Amendment 18 th Amendment outlawed alcohol (prohibition) 19 th Amendment 19 th Amendment granted women the right to vote (suffrage) Progressive Amendments

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President Wilson oversaw a great wave of progressive reforms: Created the Federal Reserve to regulate the economy by adjusting the money supply & interest rates The Clayton Anti-Trust Act limited the ability of companies to form monopolies & protected workers right to strike The Federal Trade Commission monitored unfair business practices

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The Fed regulates the amount of money in circulation to help keep the economy strong

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The Progressive Era (1890-1920) brought major changes: Govt regulation of big business Improvements in U.S. cities More democracy for the people But, the outbreak of World War I in Europe distracted Americans & brought an end to the Progressive Era