1. United States History The Progressives: “Taft and Wilson”
Unit 2, Chapter 6, Section 4

2. Main Idea
Progressive reforms continued during the Taft and Wilson presidencies, focusing on business, banking and women’s suffrage.

3. Progressivism under taft
Passed 16th Amendment giving Congress the power to tax based on a person’s income.
Created Dept. of Labor to enforce labor laws
Increased national forest reserves
Lost Progressive support with signing of Payne- Aldrich Tariff, and by firing Gifford Pinchot, U.S. Forest Service head.
Split in Republican party in 1912, Woodrow Wilson, democrat won election

4. Wilson’s new freedom
Wilson’s “New Freedom” platform drew Progressives to Democratic party
Tariff Reduction: Underwood Tariff Act in reduced tariffs to lowest level in 50 years
Banking Reform: Federal Reserve Act in 1913, created central fund to prevent collapse
Stronger Antitrust laws: Clayton Antitrust Act in 1914 prevented monopolies

5. Women Gain the vote
National Women’s Party (NWP) formed in 1916, fought for suffrage at federal level
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) changed strategy to campaign on both state and federal levels
After WWI, which women supported, there was less opposition.
Nineteenth Amendment ratified in 1920

6. Progressivism and the rights of African Americans
Wilson opposed anti-lynching laws, allowed cabined members to segregate offices, passed law making it illegal for blacks and whites to marry in D.C.
World War I ended the Progressive Era