Progressive Presidents Teddy Roosevelt: Republican reformer

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Progressive PresidentsTeddy RooseveltRepublica
n reformer
"This country will not be a permanently good
place for any of us to live in unless we make it
a reasonably good place for all of us to live
in."Chicago, IL, June 17, 1912

• Thinking Skill Explicitly assess Presidential
  reforms and draw conclusions about their impact

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TR the President
Used the Presidency as a Bully Pulpit He
pressured politicians to enact reforms
by using his popularity with the American public.
In doing so, he expanded the powers of the
American Presidency.
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United Mine Workers Union Strike

• May 1902 coal miners demand higher wages, shorter
  hours, recognition
• How did previous Presidents handle labor strikes?
• How did TR handle the United Mineworkers Union
  strike?
• Invited owners and union leaders to DC
• Threatened to have federal troops take over mines
• Precedent first U.S. President to intervene on
  side of workers
• Negotiated miners won 10 pay increase and
  reduced workday from 10 to 9 hours

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A Square Deal for All Americans

• Goal prevent wealthy and powerful from taking
  advantage of small businesses and the poor
• Began enforcing the Sherman Anti-trust Act
• 1st anti-trust lawsuit against JP Morgans
  Northern Securities Company (RR) in 1901
• 5-4 vote Supreme Court dissolved NSC

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How does the cartoon depict TRs stance toward
trusts?
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From Trustbusting to Regulating

• Elkins Act (1903)- outlawed rebates on RR
  freights
• Hepburn Act (1906)- ICC could set maximum RR
  rates and examine RR finances
• Meat Inspection Act (1906)- provided for
  inspection of meat packing plants
• Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)- required accurate
  ingredient labels and prohibited unproven claims
  about a product

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Roosevelt was an avid hunter
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Conservation Movement

• Preservationists- John Muir, Sierra Club sought
  to maintain wilderness areas for beauty and
  aesthetics
• Developers- Big business sought to exploit
  resources for economic gain
• Mining, timber, farmers, ranchers
• Conservationists- Gifford Pinchot, U.S. Forest
  Service sought to scientifically manage lands for
  both public and commercial use
• Distinction b/w Preservation Conservation

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TR and John Muir at Yosemite
"The conservation of natural resources is the
fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem
it will avail us little to solve all others."-
TRs Address at Deep Waterway Convention Oct. 4,
1907
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William Howard Taft

• TR haunted by 1904 promise not to run for
  re-election
• Wanted successor to continue my policies
• Helped Taft win 1908 election (against Bryan)
• Past Experience
• Attorney, Judge
• Oversight of Philippines under McKinley
• TRs Secretary of War
• Moderate Republican reformer
• 2 times as many lawsuits against trusts
• Rift with Teddy Roosevelt and Progressives
• Lawsuit against U.S. Steel
• Unsuccessful in getting Congress to lower tariffs
• Fired Pinchot for criticizing Ballinger

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Teddy Roosevelt enters 1912 Election Campaign

• Teddy Roosevelt New Nationalism
• Regulation of business to serve public interest
• Taft vs. Roosevelt
• Contentious Republican convention
• Roosevelt runs under (Bull Moose) Progressive
  Party
• Republican vote is split between the two
• Woodrow Wilson wins Election
• Taft taught law at Yale
• Chief Justice of Supreme Court (1921)

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Woodrow Wilson

• Democratic Progressive Reformer
• New Freedom govt. reg. of economy
• Reigning in Banks, Tariffs, Trusts
• Underwood Tariff Bill (1913)
• Increased Competition
• Launched income tax
• Federal Reserve Act
• Regulate banks and reserve funds
• Sets interest Rates
• Clayton Antitrust Act outlawed certain business
  practices

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Presidential Legacies

• What impact did each Presidents actions have on
  the nation? On the Presidency?
• Which Progressive President do you believe made
  the best contributions?