Progressive Era

1. Presidents and Reforms Progressive Era

2. Teddy Roosevelt • Rough Riders • New York Governor • McKinley’s Vice President • Extremely influential and progressive president – a change from his predecessors

3. Progressive Reforms • Known as a “Trustbuster” • Wants to make the trusts go “bust” • Trusts are an easy way to create monopolies in an industry • Enforced Sherman Antitrust Act • Railroads, Standard Oil, Tobacco • Government went after 44 companies during his presidency

4. Progressive Reforms • Square Deal • Wanted to ensure equality for all. (Workers, owners, businesses, consumers) • United Mine Workers strike • Labor union strike (refuse to work) • Roosevelt acts as negotiator • Workers get better pay and hours

5. Progressive Reforms • Meat Inspection Act • Signed into law in 1906 • Response to Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” • Pure Food and Drug Act • Also 1906 • Followed Meat Inspection Act to include all food and medicines • Wanted to ensure Americans were getting a good product • Now known as the FDA

6. Progressive Reforms • Conservation • Created the U.S. Forest Service • Created five national parks (only 2 before) • created 18 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon • set aside 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and more than 100 million acres' worth of national forests.

7. Civil Rights • Personally believed in equal rights for African Americans • Never pushed for equality as president because it was such an unpopular idea in parts of the country Booker T. Washington

8. Foreign Policy • “Walk softly and carry a big stick” • Be peaceful, but also let people know you will fight if needed • Monroe Doctrine-European Powers should stay out of the Western Hemisphere and we would stay out of European affairs • Roosevelt Corollary- In order to prevent such intervention, the United States was justified in acting first.

9. Panama Canal • Europe and the U.S. wanted control of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific • Roosevelt supported a revolt against Columbia • Signed a treaty giving the U.S. control of the canal until 1999.

10. William Howard Taft • Chosen by Roosevelt to be the next Republican candidate • Expected to continue with progressive reforms

11. Progressive Reforms • Also a “trustbuster” • Attempted more anti-trust cases in 4 years than Roosevelt did in 7 years. (90 total) • Broke up Rockefeller’s Oil Monopoly • Tried to break up J.P. Morgan Steel (bought from Carnegie) but was unsuccessful

12. Progressive Amendments $$$ • 16th Amendment- • Ratified in 1913 • Income Tax - Gave Congress the power to tax on people’s income and business profits. • Taxed wealthy higher than those with less money • 17th Amendment – • Also ratified in 1913 • Lets voters elect Senators • Before this amendment, state legislators chose • Less corruption if people get to choose

13. Bull Moose • Roosevelt doesn’t like Taft’s actions…especially 16th amendment. • Decides to challenge with a new political party – the Bull Moose Party • 1912 Election has 3 Progressive candidates Roosevelt Taft Wilson Bull Moose Republican Democrat

14. 1912 Election • Woodrow Wilson Wins!! • Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote giving • Wilson an easy win.

15. Woodrow Wilson • First Democratic President since the Civil War • Progressive • Will be president during World War I

16. Wilson’s Progressivism • Clayton AntiTrust Act • Stricter version of Sherman AntiTrust • Creates more laws to stop monopolies from forming • Supports labor unions for workers • Federal Reserve Act • Gives the government more control of the nation’s money • Controls interest rate • Chairman of Federal Reserve = one of most influential people in country

17. Women’s Suffrage • Nineteenth Amendment • Gives women the right to vote • Ratified in 1920 • Wilson is worried that Americans won’t like his decision • Supports amendment because he believes it will help win the war.

18. Comparisons