The Progressive Presidents - Saint Mary of the Lakes School keynote chp 19 sect 2.pdf · The Progressive Presidents Progressives had made important gains in state and local governments

The Progressive Presidents

The Progressive PresidentsChapter 19, Section 2

1


Progressives had made important gains in state and local governments. By the early 1900s, they began to succeed at the national level.

Reformers try to end government corruption and limit the influence of big business.

2


Theodore Roosevelt was the nation’s first Progressive President.

• State legislator

• Police chief

• Assistant secretary of the navy

• Governor of New York

• Vice President

• Became President when McKinley was assassinated

3


Though he was not against all big businesses, Roosevelt was against what he called the “bad trusts.”

• Efficient

• Fair

• Should be left alone

“Good Trusts” “Bad Trusts”

• Took advantage of workers

• Cheated the public

• Must be controlled or broken up

4


Roosevelt soon earned a reputation as a trustbuster, winning court rulings that eventually broke up the bad trusts.

The courts broke up Northern Securities because it had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Finally, the Antitrust Act was used to limit trusts, instead of unions.

Because of Roosevelt, Standard Oil and the American Tobacco Company were also broken up.

5


Roosevelt also supported Progressive goals in other areas.

When miners went on strike to demand higher pay and shorter hours, he supported them.

He encouraged Congress to require stricter inspections in meatpacking houses.

He supported the Pure Food and Drug Act to protect consumers from false drug claims and harmful additives.

6


In 1904, Roosevelt ran for President promising to give Americans a Square Deal.

Square Deal

Everyone should have the same opportunity

to succeed.

TR, as he was called, won a huge victory.

7


During Roosevelt’s presidency, resources were being used at a frantic pace to fuel industrial growth.

Roosevelt loved the outdoors and promoted conservation.

In 1905, he formed the U.S. Forest Service to help protect the nation’s woodlands.

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He also set aside thousands of acres for national parks.

9


Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908.

Many Progressives, including Roosevelt, supported William Howard Taft, who won easily.

Taft• Trustbuster• Favored graduated income tax• Supported workplace safety rules• Supported eight-hour workday• Controlled child labor

ProgressiveSupport

10


Despite his record of reform, however, Taft soon lost Progressive support.

Taft

• Raised tariffs

• Blocked conservation efforts

ProgressiveSupport

11


Roosevelt decided to challenge Taft for the Republican party nomination in 1912.

When Roosevelt lost, he formed his own party.

Progressive Party

• Called the Bull Moose Party

• Nominated Roosevelt for President

12


The Democratic candidate in the 1912 election was Woodrow Wilson.

Wilson promised to support Progressive goals.

• President of Princeton University

• Governor of New Jersey

13


On election day, Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote, and Wilson won.

14


Like other Progressives, Wilson disliked the ruthless business practices of the trusts.

He created a plan to restore free and fair competition among businesses.

He called his program the New Freedom.

15


Wilson’s New Freedom put further limits on big business.

Federal TradeCommission

(FTC)

• Stops businesses from using unfair practices to eliminate competition

ClaytonAntitrust Act

• Banned business practices that limit competition

• Stopped antitrust laws from being used against unions

16


Wilson and Congress also took steps to regulate banking.

Federal ReserveAct

• Set up a system of federal banks

• Gave the government the power to raise or lower interest rates and to control the money supply

By 1914, the Progressives had gradually achieved many of their goals under Wilson, Taft, and Roosevelt.

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The Progressive Presidents - Saint Mary of the Lakes School keynote chp 19 sect 2.pdf · The Progressive Presidents Progressives had made important gains in state and local governments