1. America Becomes a World Power

2.  Roosevelt chooses not to seek re-election after his second term  Roosevelt convinces the Republican party to nominate William Howard Taft  Why did Roosevelt have the option to seek election to a third term as president?

3.  Taft takes office in 1909  He has a difficult time dealing with Congress to get his agenda passed  Orders the breakup of Standard Oil  Demands restructuring of American Tobacco Company  Passes 16 th Amendment (progressive income tax)  Reformers were not sure whether the average worker should pay or just the wealthy

5.  Department of Labor (1913)  Department of Commerce (1913)  Communications companies under government control (FCC)  Campaign donations had to be made publicly  At times, Taft was accused of trying to undue Roosevelts conservation plans

6.  Progressives did not feel that Taft supported reform  Roosevelt wants to run against Taft in 1912, but the Republican party nominates Taft  Roosevelt organizes a new political party, the Progressive Party (nicknamed Bull Moose because Roosevelt makes the statement: “I feel as strong as a bull moose!”)

7.  Democratic Party nominates Woodrow Wilson  Wilson’s reform plan is called “New Freedom”  Rid country of all forms of trust companies  Wanted small companies to be able to compete  Roosevelts plan is called “New Nationalism”  Federal government should regulate big business  Government should limit workday hours  Government should set a minimim wage  Children, women, and injured required special protection by law  Expanded conservation  Women’s suffrage

8.  Taft and Roosevelt split the Progressive vote  Republican Widrow Wilson wins easily