Chapter 18 Section 3 Progressivism Under Taft

Chapter 18 Section 3: Progressivism Under Taft & Wilson

Taft’s Presidency l. Taft had Roosevelt’s backing to easily win the election of 1908 over Democrat William Jennings Bryan

Conflict over Tariffs l Special session of Congress in 1909 to pass reductions l Effort backfired l House passed some reductions; Republican Senate added highly protective tariff increases l Payne- Aldrich Tariff- protective measure

The Ballinger-Pinchot Affair l. Progressives felt betrayed on the management of public lands l. Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger sided with business interests that sought unrestricted development

l. Created conflict with Gifford Pinchot, head of the U. S. Forest Service l 1909 - Ballinger allowed a private group to obtain several million acres of Alaskan land containing coal deposits

l. Pinchot said Ballinger had shown special preference l. Pinchot was fired after suggesting corruption l. Ballinger eventually resigned

The Midterm Elections of 1910 l. TR campaigned for Progressive candidates in 1910

l. Democrats houses gained control in both

The Election of 1912 l. TR Challenged Taft for the Republican nomination l. Taft won l. Progressives charged him with fraud & marched out & held their own convention l“Bull Moose Party”

The Bull Moose Party l. Platform included tariff reduction, women’s suffrage, more regulation of business, child labor laws, 8 hour work day.

Wilson’s New Freedom l. Criticized big business & big government l. Promised to enforce antitrust laws without threatening economic competition

A Four Way Election l Republican- Howard Taft l Progressive- Theodore Roosevelt l Democrats- Woodrow Wilson l Socialists- Eugene V. Debs l Republican voters split between Taft & Roosevelt, Wilson emerged the victor (42% of the popular vote)

Wilson’s Policies as President l. Tariff’s & Taxes l. Underwood Tariff of 1913 reduced average tariff rates from 40% to 25% l. October 1913 - Wilson signed into law a federal income tax 16 th amendment

Attacking the Trusts l. Clayton Antitrust Act- spelled out specific activities big business couldn’t do l. Couldn’t prevent their buyers from purchasing goods from competitors

l. Holding companies used to create monopolies were banned l. Price cutting in local markets to squeeze out competition was forbidden, as well as some rebates l. Legalized unions & strikes, peaceful picketing, & boycotts

l. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was set up in 1914 l. Given the power to order firms to “cease & desist” the practice of business tactics found to be unfair

The Federal Reserve System (FED) l. Federal Reserve Act of 1913 created the FED l. Divided the country into 12 districts each with a Federal Reserve Bank owned by its member bank

l. Federal Farm Loan Board in 1916 l. Made loans available to farmers

Brandeis to the Supreme Court l. Nominated Louis Brandeis to the Court- drew a storm of protest l. Accused of being too radical st Jewish court nominee l 1 l. Confirmed by the Senate & served until 1939

Wilson Wins a Second Term l. Wilson v. Republican Charles Evans Hughes l. Wilson won 277 to 254

The Limits of Progressivism l. Did little to aid tenant & migrant farmers & nonunion workers l. Many supported immigration limits & literary tests

Social Justice & Progressivism l. Allowed Jim Crow practices of separating the races l. Wilson originally opposed women’s suffrage