Progressive Presidents

Historical Context Government traditionally supported economic expansion, NOT control it. Progressive Era: theme of reform in politics, institutions, and social relations Carried over to federal government

Theodore Roosevelt The Strenuous Life Wealthy Aristocratic family Served in… – New York State Assembly – Civil Service Commission – Navy (Assistant secretary)

Theodore Roosevelt and the Revival of the Presidency Federal government needed to direct national affairs Federal government acted as an umpire Good vs. Bad Businesses

Regulation of Trusts Good vs. Bad Trusts Northern Securities Company Case (1906) Huge alliance of Railroads under Morgan Did not prosecute U.S. Steel

Trustbusting

Regulation of Trusts Hepburn Act of 1906 Increased the strength of the ICC Some Progressives felt it was too much of a compromise

Pure Food and Drug Laws Influenced by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle Meat Inspection Act of 1906 – Drawbacks However Pure Food and Drug Act 1906

Labor under Roosevelt Good and Bad Labor Unions 1902 Coal Strike Forced Mine owners to arbitrate Higher wages, lower hours, and grievance committees was a win for the workers No recognition of the labor union was a win for management

Conservation Roosevelt favored conservation over preservation Exercised Presidential power Federal government should control land, not states

Conservation Newlands Reclamation Act 1902 Controlled the sale of irrigated land in the West Protected waterpower sites from sale to private interests

Taft’s Administration Faced the problem of the Tariff Payne-Aldrich Tariff highlighted issues inside the Republican Party

Taft’s Missteps Balked at supporting Progressives trying to liberalize committee assignments by Joseph Cannon Angered Progressives by firing Gifford Pinchot Not able to reign in both sides of Party

Taft’s Progressivism Prosecuted more trusts than Roosevelt Mann-Elkins Act Supported Labor Reforms 16 th and 17 th amendment passed

The Bull Moose Party Nickname for Progressive Party Nominated Roosevelt to run 1912 Demonstrated split in Republican Party Progressives vs. Conservatives “I’m as fit as a Bull Moose”

Election of 1912

New Nationalism Vs. New Freedom New Nationalism Government would coordinate economic activity Not destroy big business Regulatory Commissions Control over big business New Freedom Monopolies needed to be broken up Open market, but not laissez faire Little cooperation between government and big business

Woodrow Wilson and Extension of Reform 1912 was a mandate to subdue trusts and promote social reform Yet had to expand governmental regulatory powers

Reforms under Wilson Establishment of the Federal Trade Commission The Federal Reserve Act Underwood Tariff Graduated income tax – 4,000-20,000 had a 1% tax