Ch. 22 Battle for National Reform

1. Ch. 22Battle for National Reform The Presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson

2. Changing role of Federal Government • Prior to the twentieth century most power belonged in the hands of Conservative Republican leaders in Congress. • Most change on a national level came slowly if at all. • Such leadership sought to maintain the status quo and protect powerful industrial interests. • Progressive changes would depend on a strong figure as President to gain momentum • Theodore Roosevelt provided such a figure for change.

3. Accidental President • Following the fame of Rough Riders and war in Cuba, Roosevelt ran for office when he returned. • Easily won Senatorial race in New York. • Was wildly popular with progressives, but party leaders despised him. • In an attempt to re-elect McKinley, Republicans put Roosevelt on the ticket as V.P. in 1900. • Unfortunately for his political enemies, McKinley was assassinated a few months into his presidency and Roosevelt took office.

4. Trust Busting and the Square Deal • At the heart of Roosevelt’s policies was a desire to use the government to regulate business, not destroy trusts. • Northern Securities Co.: became the first Republican President to use Sherman Anti-trust Act on powerful Railroad magnets. • First President to actually side with coal miners when they struck in 1902. • Roosevelt gain the nickname “Trustbuster” filing over 40 anti-trust suits during his presidency.

5. Square Deal • Once re-elected in 1904, Roosevelt sought to reform multiple aspects of society to create “a Square Deal” for every American. • Passed Hepburn Act through congress to regulate railroads and interstate commerce. • Pure Food and Drug act to ensure safe over the counter medicines. • Provided the first steps for an 8 hour work day. • Compensation for victims of industrial accidents.

6. Big Stick Diplomacy • Roosevelt’s motto “speak softly and carry a big stick” • Tried to intimidate to achieve objectives with little action. • The Great White Fleet • Roosevelt reallocated government funding to bolster the U.S. Navy • With a powerful fleet he could use it to influence foreign policy.

7. The Panama Canal • It was increasingly difficult for ships in the Pacific to reach the Atlantic. • Battleships struggled to reach Cuba from the West Coast during the war • America wanted to ship commercial goods to the new territories in Guam, and Hawaii. • The best place to put a canal to accomplish this was in Panama, but the Colombian gov’t. would not allow it. • Roosevelt openly encouraged a revolt in Panama so that they would freely be able to build the canal.

8. The Roosevelt Corollary: • Roosevelt’s addition to the Monroe Doctrine. • According to Roosevelt, the U.S. could intervene in foreign affairs so long as they were within American interests. • This also extended our influence further than the Western Hemisphere. • The Roosevelt Corollary was intentionally vague since it was difficult to determine where U.S. interests ended because of new colonies.

9. The Russo – Japanese War: • Conflict between Russia and Japan over control in Korea and Manchuria. • Roosevelt became involved in the conflict because he feared the two might interfere with American issues in the Philippines. • The Russo – Japanese War was eventually brought to an end with the Treaty of Portsmouth. • Roosevelt won the Noble Peace Prize for his efforts in this treaty.

10. Boxer Rebellion • The Boxers were a group of Chinese rebels who resented foreign influence in the larger Chinese markets. • America intervened when the rebellion became violent. • Sec. of State – John Hay – convinced European powers to release China and open the region for international trade. • This was known as the Open Door Policy. • These actions opened the American Spheres of Influence to Pacific markets. • Spheres of Influence: anywhere a country trades or owns territory.

11. The Taft Presidency • Upon leaving office Roosevelt threw his support behind close friend and advisor, William Taft. • With endorsement from the popular Roosevelt he easily won the election of 1908. • While progressives considered Taft one of their own, his record actually suggested he was more moderate.

12. Problems of the Taft Administration • Payne-Aldrich Tariff • Taft believed the high tariffs under TR had held back the development of American investments. • Against warnings from Roosevelt and progressives he called Congress into special session to pass the bill. • Immediately split the Republican Party in two and alienated him from the Progressives.

13. The Downfall of Taft • Ballinger-Pinchot Dispute • In 1909 Taft replaced Roosevelt’s friend and Secretary of Interior, James Garfield, with Richard Ballinger. • When Ballinger removed 1 million acres of forest land for private speculation the decision was questioned. • Gifford Pinchot, friend of Roosevelt and head of the Forest Service, publicly charged Ballinger with wrongdoing. • Even after investigation the charges were found groundless • When Pinchot took his claims to the press and continued, Taft fired him. • Progressives believed Taft sold Roosevelt and the Square Deal “down the river”

14. Taft’s Successes • While Progressives and Roosevelt thought of the Taft Presidency as a failure, actually much success. • Taft filed nearly twice as many anti-trust suits in 4 years as Roosevelt had in 7 years as president. • Created the Federal Children’s Bureau in 1912 that regulated child safety and labor laws. • By the Election of 1912 Roosevelt returned from an African hunting trip to “throw his hat in the ring” and run for re-election.

15. Roosevelt vs. Taft • In the election of 1912 the Republican Party was bitterly divided. • At the Convention in Chicago, Party leaders were refusing to allow many delegates expected to support Roosevelt. • Roosevelt responded by leaving with his delegates and vowing to run independent. • Conservative Party leaders quietly selected Taft as their candidate. • Roosevelt then summoned his own delegates back to Chicago, formed the Progressive Party and declared himself their candidate. • When asked if he felt up to task, he claimed he was “fit as a bull moose!”

16. Woodrow Wilson • Democrats then selected their own progressive candidate in Woodrow Wilson. • Wilson was Political Science professor at Princeton University until 1902, then became University President. • Elected Governor of New Jersey in 1910. • Reluctantly ran for President in 1912. • Democrats selected him since he was their only real progressive candidate. • Biggest difference between he and TR, he wanted to destroy big business, not reform it.

17. Election Results • Taft – resigned to defeat, barely campaigned at all. • 23% popular vote, carried only two states in Electoral College. • Roosevelt – energetically campaigned, but forced to sidelines after being shot. • 27% popular vote, carried six states in electoral college. • Eugene Debs – socialist party candidate, supported by union workers. • 6% popular vote, carried no states. • Woodrow Wilson – basically held most of the Democrats. • 42% popular vote, 435 of the 531 electoral college votes.