Three Progressive Presidents

1. Three Progressive Presidents • Teddy Roosevelt and the Big Stick • William Howard Taft and Dollar Diplomacy • Woodrow Wilson and the New Freedoms

2. Teddy Roosevelt

3. Progressive Presidents: Teddy Roosevelt • 1901-1909 • Personality: • Impulsive, physically active. • Background: • Served in New York State’s Assembly • Was McKinley’s Vice President • Reform Programs • “A Square Deal” for all Americans

4. Definition of a Trust • Any large industrial or commercial corporation or combination having a monopolistic or semi-monopolistic control over the production of some commodity or service.

5. Roosevelt & Addressing the Effects of Industrialization • Used the Sherman Antitrust Act to regulate and break up monopolies • Protected consumers by passing the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act. • Helped coal miners by pressuring strikers and owners to use arbitration to end the 1902 strike. • Backed the creation of the U.S. Forest Service and set aside nearly 150 million acres of national forests

6. Roosevelt & Reforming National Government • Roosevelt supported women’s suffrage when he ran for president in 1912. • *He was not elected

7. The “Roughriders”

8. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine • Monroe Doctrine (1823): European Powers should stay out of the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. would stay out of European affairs. • Roosevelt Corollary: In order to prevent such intervention, the United States was justified in acting first. • Known as Big Stick Diplomacy • “Walk softly and carry a big stick, you will go far.”

9. William Howard Taft

10. The Progressive Presidents: William Taft • 1909-1913 • Personality: • Quiet and cautious • Background: • Member of Roosevelt’s cabinet • Former judge • Reform Programs: • Continued some of Roosevelt’s progressive reforms

11. Taft & Addressing the Effects of Industrialization • Taft brought more than 90 lawsuits against trusts. He prosecuted trusts with limited trade. • He established the Children’s Bureau in the Department of Labor. • Implemented 8-hr workday for govt employees • Added 2.7 million acres to the National Wildlife Refuge System.

12. Taft & Reforming the National Government • Called for reform of the banking system, though Americans were divided on proper solution • Congress proposed the 16th Amendment, establishing a federal income tax during Taft’s presidency • Congress passed the 17th Amendment, which called for the direct election of senators in 1912

13. Dollar Diplomacy • To use the military strength of the United States to protect private American investments abroad.

14. Woodrow Wilson

15. The Progressive Presidents: Woodrow Wilson • 1913-1921 • Personality: • Idealist • Scholar • Background: • Governor of New Jersey • Reform Programs: • New Freedom • Gave more economic freedom to small businesses and average citizens

16. Addressing the Effects of Industrialization: Wilson • Helped pass the Clayton Antitrust Act, which made it harder for trusts to form and exempted Unions from antitrust laws • Signed the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act and secured 8 hour workdays for railroad workers • Supported the creation of the National Park Service to manage national parks for preservation and public use.

17. Reforming the National Government • Supported the creation of Federal Reserve System to stabilize the banking system. • 16th & 17th Amendments were ratified under his presidency • 18th Amendment, which prohibited alcohol, was ratified during his presidency • Wilson supported women’s suffrage, and the 19th Amdt. was ratified when he was in office.

18. Trends of Progressive Presidents • Limiting the power of big businesses / corporations • Defending the rights of the “common man” • Limiting work hour • Allowing people to vote directly for senators • Preserving land through national forests.