WHAT WAS ROOSEVELT’S SQUARE DEAL? TUESDAY APRIL 13, 2010 BELL RINGER: WHAT WAS ROOSEVELT’S SQUARE DEAL?

TAFT AND WILSON PRESIDENCIES

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT President Roosevelt supported the nomination of William Howard Taft because he had been Roosevelt’s Secretary of War. Like Roosevelt, Taft promoted environmental conservation by adding more areas of the nation’s forest reserves. With his approval, Congress created the Department of Labor to enforce labor laws.

TAFT AND THE PROGRESSIVES Taft began to lose support of the Progressives by passing bill that raised taxes on the import and export of goods. He also lost the support of Roosevelt because of his actions.

REPUBLICAN PARTY DIVIDES For the 1912 presidential election, Roosevelt decided to run against Taft. Roosevelt lost the Republican nomination to Taft, but created his own political party, the Progressive Party. Because of this division, the Democrats swept the election and Woodrow Wilson became president.

WOODROW WILSON Wilson’s agenda was known as the “New Freedom” program and planned to address tariffs, or taxes, banking, and big business. Wilson lowered tariffs, or taxes on imported and exported goods. Wilson helped draft the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 which created a 3-tiered banking system: Federal Reserve Board that ran the system Federal Reserve banks that served other banks Private banks that could borrow from the Federal Reserve banks

WILSON CONT… Wilson also created the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which investigated businesses. Wilson worked with laborers and ensured benefits to federal workers injured on the job.

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE Met opposition because politicians feared they would vote for prohibition and empower women to demand better wages and working conditions. Wilson supported women’s suffrage. After gaining support during WWI, the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote.

POLITICAL CARTOONS