“We recognize and are bound to war against the evils of today. The remedies are partly economic and partially spiritual, partly to be obtained by laws, and in greater part to be obtained by individual and associated effort.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Declares “Square Deal!”

• Federal responsibility for national welfareEx.-1902 Coal Strike• “bully pulpit” (influence media/shape

legislation• “Common people should receive a Square

Deal”• Known as…Trustbuster, Public Servant,

Conservationist

Trustbuster• Weak Sherman Act allowed Trusts

to prosper• “not all harmful, only those

against public interest”• Broke RR monopoly of Northern

Securities Company• Elkins Act- illegal to give or

receive rebates for RR use• Hepburn Act – Limited free RR

passes (bribery)

Public Servant• 1902 Coal Strike: reserve

low, TR settled strike• Arbitration led to

compromise• Precedent- a strike

against public welfare led to gov’t intervention

• Settlements reached with experts became “trendy”

“They use everything about the hog except the squeal.”

Upton SinclairThe Jungle

Public Health

• “The Jungle” creates action• Investigates meatpacking• Shocked, Meat Inspection

Act passed in 1906• “cleanliness standards and

inspections”• no date of processing info• Pure Food and Drug Act-

truth in labels

Conservationist• Natural Resources were

abused and unprotected• Not limitless, conserve• Set 148 million acres of forest

reserve• Set 1.5 million acres for water

power sites• Set 80 million acres for

exploration of resources• Wildlife reserves and national

parks• Set some aside, develop others

Roosevelt and Civil Rights• No major civil rights

legislation• Supported individuals, i.e.

Booker Washington• Du Bois still angered, wants

immediate equality• Weak progressive reform on

racial injustice led to NAACP in 1909

• Full equality among the races

William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930)

• Born in Cincinnati, Ohio• 27th President of the United

States• Later the 10th Chief Justice

of the United States. • Only person to have served

in both offices.

William Howard TaftProgressive

• President Roosevelt, then a political ally of Taft, appointed Taft Secretary of War to groom Taft as his successor to the presidency.

• Taft easily wins the 1908 Election, thanks Teddy!

Taft’s Platform• In his first and only term, President Taft's domestic agenda

emphasized trust-busting, civil service reform, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, improving the performance of the postal service, and passage of the Sixteenth Amendment.

• Abroad, Taft sought to further the economic development of undeveloped nations in Latin America and Asia through the method he termed "Dollar Diplomacy."

Is Taft Still a Progressive?• Payne-Aldrich Tariff- called

for fewer reductions and more increases in tariffs. (angered progressives)

• Appoints secretary of interior, Richard Ballinger- removes 1 million acres off reserved list

• Taft sides with Ballinger, fires Gifford Pinchot (head of US Forest Service)

Election of 1912 Republican Party Splits

• Progressives and conservatives split

• Republicans in disarray, TR decides to run again in 1912

• Taft runs as incumbent, TR runs for Bull Moose Party or Progressive Party

• Democrats run Woodrow Wilson

Presidential Election of 1912

“A House Divided Cannot Stand”Abraham Lincoln

• Wilson calls for progress, wants “New Freedom”

• “Antitrust, banking reform, and reduced tariffs”

• TR and Taft get ugly• Eugene Debs runs for

Socialist Party• Wilson wins 42% popular

and majority of electoral votes