1. Progressivism Under Taft
Taft was the son of a prominent judge, attended Yale, and practiced law in Ohio. He much preferred studying and practicing the law to politics. Later, he would become a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

2. Taft Becomes President
Endorsed by Roosevelt as 1908 Republican candidate
Many believed he would continue Roosevelt’s progressive policies
Ran against William Jennings Bryan
Democratic nominee for 3rd time
Prior to serving as President, Taft was the Chief Civil Administrator to the Philippines and Secretary of War under Roosevelt

3. Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909)
Taft promised lower tariffs
Followed Progressive Party ideals
House
Payne Bill that increased rates on imported goods
Senate
Aldrich Bill made fewer cuts to tariffs
Payne-Aldrich Bill combined both
Taft signed and outraged Progressives
-Representative Sereno E. Payne (R–NY) and Senator Nelson W.Aldrich (R–RI) - bill raising certain tariffs on goods entering the United States.

4. Ballinger Secretary of Interior Richard A. Ballinger
Disapproved of conservation
Removed 1 million acres of forest and mining reserve
Returned it to public domain
Muckraking article published
Gifford Pinchot (head of U.S. Forest Service) supported article
Fired by Taft

5. Republican Party Splits
Division
Progressives
Promoted reform
Conservatives
Did not want reform
“I am afraid I am a constant disappointment to my party. The fact of the matter is, the longer I am president the less of a party man I seem to become. “ – William H. Taft

6. Republican Party Splits
Joseph Cannon Controversy
Failed to play party politics
Did not acknowledge seniority
Failed to support progressive reforms
Progressive Republicans tried to remove him from office
Republican split leads to Democratic victory in 1910 mid-term elections

7. Republicans Split Election of 1912 Taft (Republican)
Roosevelt (Bull Moose)
Wilson (Democrat)
Debs (Socialist)

8. Democrats Win in 1912 Wilson’s “New Freedom” Views on Business
Promoted reforms for trusts, banking, and tariffs
Views on Business
Roosevelt: Gov’t should supervise big business
Wilson: All trusts and monopolies are bad
Debs: Gov’t should distribute wealth equally among all people

9. Democrats Win in 1912 Wilson wins and has support for his policies
"No one but the President," Wilson said, "seems to be expected ... to look out for the general interests of the country."