1. Taft, Progressivism, the Election of 1912
Progressive Era
Taft, Progressivism, the Election of 1912

2. President Taft
Following Roosevelt’s 2nd term, William Howard Taft is elected in 1908.
TR’s hand-picked successor, hesitant to use the Presidency as bully pulpit.
Pursues cautiously progressive policies

3. Progressivism Under Taft
Trust-busting – Taft follows TR’s policies of breaking up powerful trusts; busts 90 in 4 year term
Payne-Aldrich Tariff – Taft attempts to lower tariff with Payne Bill, Conservatives in Senate counter with Aldrich Bill. Compromise with Payne-Aldrich Tariff.
Compromise angers Progressives in Republican Party

4. Struggle Over Conservation
Taft opens up public lands for developments
Angers conservationists
Fires Gifford Pinchot from US Forest Service
Republican Party begins to split
Progressives vs. Conservatives in Party
Republicans lose House for first time in 18 years
Goals and leadership under dispute

5. The Return of Roosevelt
Roosevelt returns – decides to run for a 3rd Term in 1912
Taft is the incumbent Republican
Roosevelt forms 3rd Party – Progressive BULL MOOSE PARTY 1

7. Bull Moose Party Platform: New Nationalism Direct election of Senators
Initiative, recall, referendum in all states
Women’s suffrage and minimum wage
Child labor laws
Workers compensation
8 hour workday
VERY PROGRESSIVE!

8. Woodrow Wilson and the New Freedom
Democratic Candidate is NJ reform Governor Woodrow Wilson – a progressive Democrat
Platform: New Freedom
Fight ‘Four Privileges’:
Wealth
Banks
Tariff
Trusts
Favors small business over monopolies

9. Election of 1912 Republican – William Howard Taft (Conservative)
Democrat - Woodrow Wilson (New Freedom)
Bull Moose – Theodore Roosevelt (New Nationalism)
Socialist – Eugene Debs (Socialism)

11. Results 3 Roosevelt and Taft Split the Republican vote.
Debs garners 1 million votes as a Socialist.
Wilson wins the election with 42% of popular vote. 3

12. From http://www.fineartamerica.com