Mr. Williams 10 th Grade U.S. History Wilson and New Freedom A
Different President Taft had no experience in elective office and
no feel for politics Believed that it was up to the courts, not the
president, to arbitrate social issues Did set up Department of
Labor and the Childrens Bureau Taft is utterly hopeless as a leader
Election of 1912 Roosevelt: New Nationalism Laws to protect
workers, ensure public health, and regulate business Joins the
Progressive Bull Moose Party Increase in the power of federal
government Decrease in the Power of the courts Active role as
President Split in the Republican vote between Roosevelt and Taft
Democrat Woodrow Wilson received 435 electoral votes Roosevelt-88,
Taft-8 Wilson: New Freedom Anti-trust legislation to get rid of big
corporations Give small businesses and famers better opportunities
in the marketplace Woodrow Wilson Fought political machines
Approved a law permitting direct primaries Enacted a program to
compensate injured workers Tariff Reduction Underwood Tariff Act:
Lowest levels for the tariff in more than 50 years Also called for
an income tax based on income levels 16 th Amendment Provided a
modest graduated income tax Granted Congress the power to levy
taxes based on an individuals income to pay for government programs
more fairly Banking Reform Federal Reserve Act 1913 Created a
central fund from which banks could borrow to prevent collapse
during financial crisis Sets the nations interest rates 12 Regional
Banks, privately controlled but regulated and supervised by Federal
Reserve Board and the President Provided larger government control
over banking than ever before Anti Trust Legislation Clayton
Antitrust Act 1914 Prohibited companies from buying the stock of
competing companies in order to form a monopoly Strikes, boycotts,
peaceful picketing are made legal at the end of 1 st Term helped to
establish 8 hour work day for Railroad Workers Federal Trade
Commission Created in 1913 Investigatory powers and authority to
prosecute corporations for unfair trade practices
