buckle up

The Taft Presidency  Election of 1908…Roosevelt had just served 2 terms  William Howard Taft was handpicked by Roosevelt to replace him.  Gov. of Philippines, Secretary of War  Taft and Teddy Roosevelt were very close friends when Teddy left the Presidency.  He was always a very large man. At the time of his death his weight was 360 pounds.

1904 – Governor in Philippines

BFF

Roosevelt eventually became upset at how Taft ran the country after he left office. Progressives whom didn’t like Taft convinced Roosevelt to run for office Roosevelt said he was “fit as a bull moose” for the campaign.

Election of 1912  This election had three major candidates running for the Presidency: 1. William Taft Republican Party 2. Woodrow Wilson Democrat Party 3. Teddy Roosevelt Progressive or Bull Moose Party 4. Eugene DebsSocialist Party  Roosevelt came into the race too late, and by that time Taft had already garnered enough support to have his parties nomination.  So TR ran as an independent party, but effectively split the Republicans in two by bring over the Progressive voting block of the electorate.

Eugene V. Debs  Labor Union organizer… Pullman strike  Not yet a socialist until he was arrested after Pullman  Would run for President 4 times…would never win an electoral vote

Woodrow Wilson is elected  He was the governor of New Jersey at the time he won the Presidency.  From 1902 to 1910 he was the President of Princeton University in New Jersey.  Only US President to have a PhD  Considered a Progressive intellectual more so than a politician  He is most famous for being President during World War 1 (WWI).  His first wife died in He married his second wife while President in 1915.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms Underwood Tariff  It reduced the average tariff on imported goods by 30%.  One of the most important provisions was for an income tax which would replace the funds lost by lowered tariffs  This would open the doors of debate for the 16th Amendment.  In 1913 the 16 Amendment passed which was the federal income tax on individuals.  Progressive tax – more you make more you pay  Big deal – for the 1 st time the government was receiving taxes directly from each individual in the country

The Federal Reserve Act  This allowed for banks to keep a portion of their money in a regional bank.  This would set the interest rates for the entire country and control the amount of currency.  Many people say this was the most important piece of legislation in U.S. history. Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

Federal Trade Commission  This was set up to monitor American business. and make sure trusts were not forming.  The main job of the FTC was to work with business to limit the unfair activities.  The Clayton Antitrust Act stopped businesses from charging different prices to different customers. Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

The End of Progressivism  The Progressive era permanently changed the view of how the government should interact with its people  By the end the American people thought the government’s job was to protect the people through laws (before the govt. seemed to protect business)  Progressivism was the remedy to MANY of the social injustices of the day: child labor laws, long work days, women’s rights, etc  But for all they did…they were still lacking

Leading up to World War I  3 things help bring the war to a start: 1. Nationalism- This means to have pride in one’s own country and to want certain freedoms or independence – relates to imperialism 2. Militarism- glorification of war and the military. --European “arms race” – between military spending in Europe went up 50% --Military plans that were set in stone 3. Alliances- agreements between nations to form a group.  Due to all this tension, Europe was nicknamed the powder keg.

England vs Germany Arms Race Britain's “Two Power Standard”

British HMS Dreadnought

Formation of Alliances  Alliances were formed in Europe by certain countries for trade and protection.  It would be the formation of these alliances that would help to start World War I (WWI).  There were only two European Alliances: Triple Alliance (Central Powers)Triple Entente (Allied Powers) 1. Germany1. Britain (England) 2. Italy2. France 3. Austria-Hungary3. Russia

The Start of WWI  Due to growing tension, war in Europe was about to start.  June 28th, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand (the future king of Austria) was shot to death while visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia.  He was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip who was a member of a secret nationalist group called the Black Hand.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip

Austria-Hungary invades Serbia to begin the war

World War I Begins  After his assassination, all countries in Europe would be involved in WWI.  Assassination was the first domino to fall…Austria declares war on the Serbs, Russia declares war on Austria, Germany then declares war on Russia and France (they knew they had to), etc  US & Britain still not involved…but had eyes on the situation  WWI marked an end to a long era of international peace.  This would be the largest and most expensive war the world had ever seen.