The job of continuing progressive reform now fell to Woodrow Wilson.

Powerful public speaker who relied on substance and eloquence not flash and style. Believed that the government depended upon strong presidential leadership.

Possessed a high idealism in humanity and believed in removing evil from society. Highly educated, but lacked connection with the “common man.”

Wilson pledged to take on the “triple wall of privilege.”

Congress passed the Underwood Tariff in 1913, which was the first reduction in tariff rates in 50 years.

To make up for the money the government would lose, the 16 th amendment was added to the Constitution which called for a federal income tax.

To deal with the Trusts, Wilson convinced Congress to pass the Clayton Anti- Trust Act. Under this law, monopolies were 100% illegal.

Additionally, it made exemptions for labor unions, unlike the Sherman Anti- Trust Act.

To ensure that companies played by these new rules, Congress created the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Govt. agency in charge of enforcing the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. - The FTC investigates accusations of monopoly and files court cases against companies it believes violate anti-trust laws.

Federal Farm Loan Act (1916): Established 12 regional banks allowed to provide low interest farm loans.

Adamson Act (1916): Established an 8 hr. day for interstate railroad employees.

Wilson shared two things in common with the other great progressive president Theodore Roosevelt.

1. He courted both sides. While he was very progressive, he appeased conservatives by appointing conservative members to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Trade Commission.

2. He engaged in an expansive foreign policy.

His approach to foreign affairs is known as “Moral Diplomacy.”

Wilson modified the Roosevelt Corollary. Roosevelt had suggested the U.S. could intervene in Latin American affairs for, essentially, any reason.

Wilson disagreed, arguing that the U.S. should only get involved to protect democracy and freedom in the Western Hemisphere.

Wilson refused to recognize any Latin American government that he saw as “oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests.”

- Granted official territorial status to the Philippines. - Promised independence as soon as a stable democratic government was established.

- Sent marines to the island to protect citizens and business interests during a popular uprising. (1915) - Negotiated a treaty with the Haitian govt. under which the U.S. supervised Haiti’s finances and police. (1915) - Did the same with the Dominican Republic. (1915)

- Popular uprising began in 1913 against the elite. - Gen Victoriano Huerta took control. - U.S. businesses, with heavy investment in Mexico, called on Wilson to intervene.

- Wilson refused to get involved until the Mexican government arrested U.S. sailors anchored off the port of Tampico in April, Wilson ordered the navy to seize the key port of Vera Cruz and prepare for armed conflict. - A treaty was negotiated before war officially broke out.

Unhappy with the outcome of that treaty and its failure to change things for lower class Mexicans, Pancho Villa decided to take the fight to the United States.

Hoping to provoke a war between the U.S. and Mexico, Villa invaded the United States killing 19 miners in the New Mexico territory.

Wilson dispatched Gen. John J. Pershing to round up Villa and his “banditos.” Pershing was unsuccessful in his mission.

Wilson soon forgot about Villa as he, and the rest of the nation, turned their attention to the increasingly tense situation in Europe.

As the President and the public focused on foreign affairs, the push for progressive reform faded into the background.

When the U.S. entered WWI in 1917, this trend continued, and by the end of the 19- teens, the Progressive Era came to a close.

1. The power of the federal / U.S. government was radically increased. - Laissez faire was gone. Never again would the government totally ignore the practices of business and industry. - The Clayton Anti-Trust Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and the Meat Inspection Act all got the government involved. - Those laws were / are enforced through new government agencies (FTC & FDA).

2. The U.S. Constitution was changed, further increasing federal power. - Traditionally, amendments to the Constitution limited the power of the U.S. government. - The amendments passed during the Progressive Era, most notably the 18 th, saw the U.S. government telling the people and the states what they could and could not do.

3. The U.S. government began to supply help for those in need. - The government DID NOT provide direct help. It DID NOT provide food, clothing, money etc.. to the people. - However, it allowed the people to begin to push for what they needed (Unions could exist and push for change. States could pass laws improving conditions).

The trends of increasing federal power, the U.S. government helping those in need, and a move away from laissez faire, that started in the Progressive Era, would grow over time.