The Progressive Presidents CHAPTER 6 SECTION 4

Theodore Roosevelt  With the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, became the youngest President in the Nation's history ( ).  He brought new excitement and power to the office, vigorously leading Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy.  Saw his office as a “bully pulpit”: a powerful platform to publicize important issues and seek support for his policies.  Implemented the Square Deal:  Supported labor unions  Busted trusts apart with the Sherman Anti-trust Act  Protected consumers  Conserved the environment

William Howard Taft  Succeeded Roosevelt as president from  Supported Roosevelt’s progressive reforms:  Created a Department of Labor  Increased national forest reserves  Continued to break up trusts  Had a troubled presidency: was reluctant to run.  Eventually became Supreme Court chief justice

Split in the Republican Party  There was a split between more conservative Republicans and more Progressive Republicans  The Republicans nominated Taft as their presidential candidate  The more Progressive Republicans broke away and created their own political party called the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party  The Bull Moose party nominated Teddy Roosevelt as their presidential nominee. Roosevelt was running for his 3 rd term as president  With the Republican party split, the Democrat nominee, Woodrow Wilson won the election of 1912

Woodrow Wilson  His plan for action was called the New Freedom :  Tariff reductions:  Lowering tariffs which increased trade, but lowered government revenue. This was possible because of new Income Tax legislation (16 th Amendment)  Banking reform  Created the Federal Reserve  Stronger Anti-Trust legislation  Clayton Antitrust Act: clarified and strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act  Created the FTC (Federal Trade Commission): regulated businesses

Impact of The Progressive Era  The Progressive Era came to an end with the outbreak of World War 1 in Europe in  This event pulled national attention from reforms and moved toward international concerns  The Progressive Era led to…  1. Constitutional Changes: 16 th, 17 th, 18 th, and 19 th amendments resulted from Progressive Reform  2. Government regulation of business = more government power  3. Government was more democratic and less corrupt  4. The US became a safer place to live and work