STANDARD(S) ADDRESS: 11.2 Students analyze the relationship

among the rise of industrialization, large-scale rural-to-urban migration, and massive

immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

LESSON OBJECTIVES/ GOALS/ SWBAT

1. Summarize the events of the Taft presidency.2. Explain the division in the Republican Party.3. Describe the election of 1912.

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Section 4

Progressivism Under TaftTaft’s ambivalent approach to progressive reform leads to a split in the Republican Party and the loss of the presidency to the Democrats.

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Taft Becomes President

Taft Stumbles• 1908, Republican William Howard Taft wins with

Roosevelt’s support• Has cautiously progressive agenda; gets little credit

for successes• Does not use presidential bully pulpit to arouse public

opinion

Progressivism under Taft4SECTION

Continued . . .

• Republican William Howard Taft easily defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan to win the 1908 presidential election

• Among his accomplishments, Taft “busted” 90 trusts during his 4 years in office

Taft, right, was Roosevelt’s War Secretary

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4SECTION

The Payne-Aldrich Tariff• Taft signs Payne-Aldrich Tariff—compromise bill,

moderate tariffs• Progressives angry, think he abandoned low tariffs,

progressivism

continued Taft Becomes President

• Taft made matters worse by defending both the Payne-Aldrich Tariff and Canadian Reciprocity. 

• He traveled to Des Moines, the Iowa capital and a place seething with resentment over the failure of the Payne-Aldrich tariff to reduceduties substantially, to deliver a speech defending his administration's tariff policies.

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4SECTION

continued Taft Becomes President

Disputing Public Lands• Conservationists angry Richard A. Ballinger named

interior secretary- Ballinger puts reserved lands in public domain

• Interior official protests action, is fired, writes magazine exposé

• Gifford Pinchot head of U.S. Forest Service - testifies against Ballinger- is fired by Taft

Chapter 9 Section 4 Progressivism Under Taft

• A – How did Taft’s appointee Richard Ballinger anger conservationists?– Ballinger didn’t approve of conserving western

lands; – He permitted the sale of reserved lands to

business interests.

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Problems within the Party• Republicans split over Taft’s support of House

Speaker Joseph Cannon• Cannon weakens progressive agenda; progressives

ally with Democrats• 1910 midterm elections, Democrats get control of

House

The Republican Party Splits

Continued . . .

TAFT LOSES POWER

• Taft was not popular with the American public nor reform minded Republicans

• By 1910, Democrats had regained control of the House of Representatives

Taft called the Presidency, “The lonesomest job in the world”

Progressives Conservatives

1. Why did they support or oppose Taft?

Opposed- Taft because he had signed and defended the Payne-Aldrich Tariff, seemed to oppose conservation, and supported conservative boss Joseph Cannon

Supported Taft because they opposed progressivism, Roosevelt, and low tariffs and because they favored business

GUIDED READING:

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The Bull Moose Party• 1912 convention, Taft people outmaneuver

Roosevelt’s for nomination• Progressives form Bull Moose Party; nominate

Roosevelt, call for:- more voter participation in government- woman suffrage- labor legislation, business controls

• Runs against Democrat Woodrow Wilson, reform governor of NJ

continued The Republican Party Splits

• B – What were the differences between Taft’s and Roosevelt’s campaign platforms?– Roosevelt’s campaign platform was much

more progressive. – He advocated for change using the govt’s

power

Progressives Conservatives

2. What party did they form or stay with?

Progressive or Bull Moose Party

Republican Party

GUIDED READING:

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The Election• Wilson endorses progressive platform called the

New Freedom- wants stronger antitrust laws, banking reform, lower tariffs- calls all monopolies evil

• Roosevelt wants oversight of big business; not all monopolies bad

• Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs wants to end capitalism

• Wilson wins great electoral victory; gets majority in Congress

Democrats Win in 1912

Progressive Party

Republican Party

Democratic Party

Socialist Party

3. Who did they run for president?

Theodore Roosevelt

William Howard Taft

Woodrow Wilson

Eugene V Debs

GUIDED READING:

1912 ELECTION

• Republicans split in 1912 between Taft and Teddy Roosevelt (who returned after a long trip to Africa)

• Convention delegates nominated Taft

• Some Republicans formed a third party – The Bull Moose Party and nominated Roosevelt

• The Democrats put forward a reform - minded New Jersey Governor, Woodrow Wilson

Democrats Bull mouse / Progressives

Republicans

Progressive Party

Republican Party

Democratic Party

Socialist Party

4. What was their candidate’s position on big business?

Supported government action to supervise big business, but did not oppose all big business monopolies

Favored business, but worked to break up trusts

Supported small business and free market competition

Felt that big business was evil and that the solution involved doing away with capitalism and distributing wealth

GUIDED READING:

WILSON WIN in 1912

WILSON’S NEW FREEDOM

• As America’s newly elected president, Wilson moved to enact his program, the “New Freedom”

• He planned his attack on what he called the triple wall of privilege: trusts, tariffs, and high finance

W. Wilson U.S. President 1912-1920

• C – What might be one of Wilson’s first issue to address as president?– Wilson might concentrate on the relationship

between business and govt.

Progressives Conservatives1. Why did they support or oppose Taft?

Opposed- Taft because he had signed and defended the Payne-Aldrich Tariff, seemed to oppose conservation, and supported conservative boss Joseph Cannon

Supported Taft because they opposed progressivism, Roosevelt, and low tariffs and because they favored business

2. What party did they form or stay with?

Progressive or Bull Moose Party Republican Party

Progressive Party Republican Party Democratic Party

Socialist Party

3. Who did they run for president?

Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson Eugene V Debs

4. What was their candidate’s position on big business?

Supported government action to supervise big business, but did not oppose all big business monopolies

Favored business, but worked to break up trusts

Supported small business and free market competition

Felt that big business was evil and that the solution involved doing away with capitalism and distributing wealth

Why Gifford Pinchot is an important figure in U.S. history.

GUIDED READING: