1. The ‘Progressive’ Presidents
Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson

2. The Other Roosevelt – “Teddy”
Asst. Secretary of Navy
Resigned to serve as Lt. Colonel in Spanish-American War (Rough Riders)
Governor of New York
Republican V.P to McKinley (1900)
“Speak softly and carry a big stick and you will go far”

3. The 1st Progressive President
McKinley assassinated (1901)
TR - 26th P.O.T.U.S.
Youngest at age of 42
Dynamic personality won reform
Federal Government should assume control when states could not handle problems
President should be “steward” of the people

4. Roosevelt’s ‘Square Deal’ Progressive Reforms
Control of Corporations
Curb the power of the corporations
“Trust-buster”: 44 anti-trust suits
Elkins Acts (1903) & Hepburn Act (1906)
Regulation on the railroads
Consumer Protection
Intervened when strikes threaten public welfare
Coal Strike (1902)
Meat Inspection Act: Required USDA Meat Inspection
Pure Food and Drug Act: Paved way for FDA
Conservation of Natural Resources
Environmental Awareness: 148 mil. acres for Forest Preserves

7. William H. Taft Handpicked successor by Roosevelt
Never lived up to ‘Progressive’ tag – restrained concept of presidency
Best known as largest president (350 Lbs)

8. Wilson’s Progressive Reforms
Unrivaled reforms until FDR ‘New Deal’
Assault on the “Triple Wall of Privilege”
Federal Reserve Act
Central banking system of the U.S.
Clayton Antitrust Act
sought to prevent non-competitive practices
Federal Trade Commission Act
oversight committee to curb unfair business activities
Sixteenth Amendment
Levy of Federal Income Tax

9. The Progressive Era Not a complete success
Sparked new ideas and thinking
Challenged traditional ideas
Goals were contradictory due to different schools of thought
Federal Government still too influenced by big business/industry