THE PRESIDENTS OF THE PROGRESSIVE ERA

From New York Cowboy Rough Rider during

Spanish American War NY State Assemblyman Police Commissioner of

NYC Governor of NY VP for McKinley

William Howard Taft(1909 – 1913)

Never held elected office until he was President

Served as a Judge Was Governor of the

Philippines during US occupation (appointed)

Later served as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

Woodrow Wilson(1913 – 1921)

From Virginia History Professor President of

Princeton University

Governor of New Jersey

Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926)

Born in Terre Haute, Indiana Immigrant parents Age 14 painted RR cars – 50 cents/day Formed American Railway Union (1893) 1893 - Jailed for “Debs’ Revolution”; sympathy

protest of Pullman RR Strike (ignore court order) 1918(-1920) convicted under Espionage Act for

criticizing the war Ran for President of the USA 5 times for Socialist

Party 1920 Election won 3.5% of vote while in GA prison!

Campaign Ideas

Conservative“Old Guard”

- Status quo

“New Freedom”

↓ tariff

Break up monopolies

Restore competition

Banking reform

“New Nationalism”

tariff

Regulate trusts

Gov’t action to help people

women’s vote; workers comp; child labor laws

End capitalism

System too corrupt; Need new system based controlled by working class.

Popular /Electoral College Votes REPUBLICAN

3,486,333 = 8 electors

DEMOCRATIC 6,293,152 = 435 electors

BULL MOOSE 4,119,207 = 88 electors

SOCIALIST 900,369 = 0 electors

Results

Importance of the Election of 1912

Presence of “third party” effected outcome of race

TR ran the role of “spoiler” (If TR couldn’t win, neither would Taft)

Split in Republican party enabled Democratic candidate to win

Ends 16 year control of White House for Republicans

Actions on : CONSERVATION

Set up the National Parks Service

Removed 1 million acres of forest land from reserved list to allow for development

Accused of letting commercial interests exploit natural resources

His Sec. of the Interior Ballinger opened public lands in Alaska for private development

Antiquities Act of June 8, 1906 – allows President to proclaim historic landmark status to preserve areas, monuments, etc.

Made conservation a primary concern for federal government

Controversy concerning environmental programs Conservation – to

use and manage the nation’s resources WISELY

Gifford Pinchot

Preservation – to leave the resources in the natural state; let nature take its course

John Muir (founder of the Sierra Club)

Actions on: Labor

In response to The Jungle, set up commission to investigate meatpacking industry

Pushed for the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act

Keating Owen Act – child labor laws

Safety Standards for maritime workers

8 hour day for Interstate railroad workers

Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act; ultimately raised the tariff

Actions on: Discrimination Women gained the right

to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment

Retreated on Civil Rights Opposed federal

anti-lynching laws Segregated federal

offices and Capitol

Did little to advance Civil Rights and equality

Established idea that Federal Government is responsible for “well-being” of the nation

Failed to support Civil Rights reforms

Did appoint African Americans to federal offices

Invited Booker T. Washington to the White House for dinner

Actions on: Trusts More

conservative approach to reform, BUT…Actually broke up more trusts than TR did

Promised a “New Freedom” which would limit big business and big government, bring reform by ending corruption and revive competition by supporting small business

Promised a “New Nationalism” and “Square Deal” for Americans with more government regulation of business & unions