Progressive PresidentsT. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson

Created by Aaron Yonke

Bay Port High School Green Bay, WI

Teddy Roosevelt (R) 1901-1909

Teddy Roosevelt (R) 1901-1909

• Was VP when President William McKinley was assassinated 1901• Known as the “Trustbuster”–Enforced Sherman Anti-Trust Act–Took on Northern Securities Company

(RR) 1904–Also took on Oil, Tobacco, and beef

trusts

Roosevelt and Trusts

• Believed in “good trusts” and “bad trusts”–(Good) company did not take

advantage of monopoly, overall helped the USA–(Bad) company took advantage of their

monopoly, overall hurt the USA

Roosevelt and Labor

• 1902 100k coal miners went on strike in PA– Wanted shorter work day, better pay, and right to be

represented by their union– Owners refused to meet demands of workers– TR upset w/owners, threatened use of army if they

did not negotiate, owners finally agreed to talk• TR departed from past where govt. aided big

business

Roosevelt’s “Square Deal”

• Domestic plan was known as square deal–Fair and equal treatment for all–Govt. regulation of business (opposite

of laissez-faire approach)• Examples–Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food & Drug

Act (1906)

Roosevelt and Conservation• Known as 1st

environmental president

• Created National Forest Service 1905

• Preserve America’s natural resources for future

William Howard Taft (R) 1909-1913

William Howard Taft (R) 1909-1913• Hand picked to be successor to TR• Won more antitrust cases in 4 years

than TR did in 7 years• Favored safety standards for mines

and RR’s• Supported 16th amendment 1913

(income tax)

Election of 1912

Woodrow Wilson (D) 1913-1921

Woodrow Wilson (D) 1913-1921

• Domestic policy was called “New Freedom”– Lowed tariffs on foreign exports– Created Federal Reserve system to regulate

banking– Created Federal Trade Commission– Clayton Anti-trust act 1914 strengthened Sherman

Anti-trust Act– 19th amendment 1920 (women's suffrage)