WILLIAM TAFT

Taft’s Problems TARIFF TROUBLE House passed bill that lowered tariffs on imports Several amendments were added to law which made it high-tariff bill instead Outraged Progressives because tariff reduction was way to lower consumer goods prices

Taft’s Problems CONSERVATION TROUBLE Richard Ballinger let business leaders buy millions of acres of land illegally in Alaska Taft fired Gifford Pinchot (head of U.S. Forest Service) for accusing Ballinger Progressives outraged that Taft wasn’t committed to conservation – Roosevelt refused to support Taft after that point

Republican Party Splits ELECTION OF 1912 Republican Party nominated Taft for its Presidential candidate in 1912 election Progressive Republicans didn’t support Taft after his decisions during his 1 st term With the Republicans split, Woodrow Wilson easily took the election

Woodrow Wilson

Wilson’s New Freedom Tariff Reduction – Underwood Tariff Act Lowered taxes but graduated income tax Banking Reform – Banks failed when people withdrew at same time – Federal Reserve Act Created central fund from which banks could borrow

Federal Reserve Act LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3

Wilson’s New Freedom Stronger Antitrusts Laws – Clayton Antitrust Act Prohibited companies from buying stock in competing companies to form monopolies Made strikes, boycotts, and picketing legal – Federal Trade Commission Enforced antitrust laws and was tough on companies that used deceptive advertising Could undertake special investigations of businesses

Women Gain The Vote NAWSA started to campaign on both state and federal levels Participation of women in the World War I efforts helped weaken opposition to suffrage. Nineteenth Amendment proposed by Congress in 1918 and passed in 1920 with support from President Wilson, finally gave women the RIGHT TO VOTE

Progressivism & African Americans Woodrow Wilson on segregation….. – Said states should deal with anti-lynching laws – Allowed Cabinet members to segregate offices – Allowed Congress to pass law making it illegal for blacks and whites to marry in Washington DC With the outbreak of World War I, the Progressive movement end