Tell me about it What is a

Tell me about it… • What is a muckraker? Give 1 example of muckraking and what the intended result was supposed to be. • Explain, in your own words, 2 ways how Progressives accomplished their goal of ending government corruption and gave power back to the everyday person.

Progressive Presidents Teddy Roosevelt William H. Taft Woodrow Wilson

Teddy Roosevelt • Became President at 43 in 1901 • Mc. Kinley Assassination • TR used his powers to convince ppl of the need for change and push through his reform proposals

TR Background • Originally a representative of the NY State Assembly • Mother and 1 st wife died on the same day • Left politics to live in the Dakota Territory as a cattle rancher where he developed a love of nature

TR Background • Returned to NY in the late 1880 s to resume his political career, ending up as the governor of NY in 1898 • Briefly left politics during the Sp. Am War to form a volunteer cavalry brigade • Nominated for VP under W. Mc. Kinley in an attempt to keep him quiet

TR As a Man of the People • TR was extremely charismatic and believed strongly in Progressive policies and the need for change socially, politically, and economically

TR’s Square Deal • Keep the wealthy and powerful from taking advantage of small business and the poor

TR’s Square Deal • “When I say I believe in a square deal, I do not mean to give every man the best hand. If good cards do not come to any man, or if they do come, and he has not the power to play them, that is his affair. All I mean is that there shall be no crookedness in the dealing. ”

TR’s Trustbusting • Roosevelt earned reputation as a trust buster (44 Trusts) • Law to fine railroads that gave special rates to favored shippers • Law to give gov’t authority to manage rates of railroads and ferries

Other Policies • Meat Inspection Act (1906) • Pure Food and Drug Act • Soon FDA • What do you think these are in response to?

Roosevelt and the Environment • "To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them. "

Conservationism "Optimism is a good characteristic, but if carried to an excess, it becomes foolishness. We are prone to speak of the resources of this country as inexhaustible; this is not so. " "We of an older generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we have used, but for what we have wasted. . . So any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life. "

TR and the Environment • Conserve or Preserve? • “If we wish to do good for our country, we must be unselfish” • TR will close off more than 100 million acres of land • National Parks

TR’s Departure • After 2 terms as President, Roosevelt moves to Africa to spend time with his family • Hand picks William H. Taft as successor

Election of 1908 • Republican nominee. William H. Taft (Secretary of War) • Democratic Nominee. William Jennings Bryan • Taft wins easily 321162

Taft’s Policies • Promised to carry on Teddy Roosevelt’s policies • Pursued some 90 antitrust cases • Failed to reduce tariffs • Lack of Progressive leadership hurt his popularity within Republican Party

The Ballinger-Pinchot Affair • Taft upset Conservationists when he allowed business men to buy land in Alaska. • Richard Ballinger, in Taft’s Cabinet, is investigated by the head of Forest Services Gifford Pinchot for giving special preferences • Pinchot fired by Taft, Ballinger resigns • Republicans angered at Taft

The Return of Teddy Roosevelt • TR returned from Africa in 1910 • Begins speaking in support of progressive candidates • Political Platform: • New Nationalism- stronger workplace protection for women and children, income tax • 1912 - Will oppose Taft for Republican nomination for President

Election of 1912 • Republican Candidate- William Taft • Democratic Candidate- Woodrow Wilson • Bull Moose Candidate- Teddy Roosevelt • While campaigning in Wisconsin, TR is shot in the chest but continued speaking

Election 1912 Results • With the Republican Party split, Woodrow Wilson wins the election with 435 electoral votes • Roosevelt receives 88 votes, Taft 8 votes

1908 and 1912 elections

Woodrow Wilson as President Clayton Antitrust Act- 1914 • Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act • Companies can no longer acquire the stock of another company if it creates a monopoly. • Strikes, peaceful picketing, boycotts are now legal •

Wilson as President cont… • Federal Trade Commission- 1914 • Set up fair trade laws and enforce antitrust laws • Investigates possible violations of laws and unfair business practices • Federal Reserve System- 1913 • 12 Federal Reserve Banks (Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta…) • Issues paper money currency, expand circulation • Allows banks to issue loans to customers and businesses • 16 th Amendment- Income Tax

Impact of World War I- 1916 • Wilson seeks a second term as President in 1916 • Opposed by Republican Charles Hughes Evans • Wilson won the election by promising to keep the US out of the war