TR, Taft, & Wilson

1. TR, Taft, & Wilson

2. TR’s Early Life • Born into a well-to-do family of Dutch heritage in New York. • Was sickly as a youth, but through sports built himself up. • Went to Harvard and then Columbia Law School. • Unlike many people of the upper class at the time (who thought of politics as vulgar), TR went into politics.

3. Gained national fame as the leader of “the Rough Riders” in Cuba during the Spanish- American War. • Was then elected as governor of New York in 1898. • He was a Republican.

4. TR and the Rough Riders

5. Was chosen to run as Vice-President when William McKinley ran for re-election in 1900 (McKinley’s 1st VP had died). • Became President in 1901 when McKinley was assassinated.

6. Teddy Roosevelt as President • Brought Dynamic energy to Presidency. • “Bully Pulpit.” • Changed Presidency.

7. Cautious at first because he wants to win election in 1904 (needs to appease conservatives). • Breaks up Northern Securities (1903). • Intervenes in anthracite coal strike (1902). • Wins big over Alton B. Parker (1904) • “Square Deal” is his program

8. 2nd Term Reforms • More bold during second term. • Hepburn Act (1906) More power to regulate the RR. • Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) • Meat Inspection Act (1906) • Also favors 8-hr day, workmen’s comp., and more--begins to alienate conservatives.

9. TR and the Trusts • Thinks big corporations are inevitable. • Likes efficiency. • But does think that there are “good” trusts and “bad” trusts. • Believes the government should regulate business.

10. TR and Conservation • Conservation vs. preservation • Gifford Pinchot (National Forest Service) • National parks/forests (150 million acres) • Newlands Act (1902)--fed. Funding for water projects in west. • Hetch Hetchy controversy

11. Panic of 1907 • TR agrees to let J.P. Morgan purchase Tennessee Coal and Iron without pursuing anti-trust action. • Doesn’t run again in 1908.

13. Review • Explain TR’s attitude towards the trusts. • What was the term used to describe TR’s policies and agenda? • What did TR use the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate? • Why is TR considered a conservationist? • What two acts that protected consumers were passed when TR was president?

14. Taft • Lawyer and Judge. • Handpicked by TR. • Largest man to be president.

15. Taft’s Problems • Tough to follow popular TR. • Can’t please both Conservatives and Progressives. • A) Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1908) • B) Doesn’t take on “Uncle Joe” Cannon. • C) Active in perusing Anti-Trust (70) • D) Ballinger-Pinchot Dispute (1909) • E) Anti-Trust suit against US Steel (1911)

16. Split Between TR and Taft • TR angry with Taft’s actions. • Believes that only HE (TR) can unify the Republican party.

17. The Republican Convention • Republicans were divided over who to support—TR or Taft. • Taft eventually got the Republican nomination. • TR decided to run anyway and organized the Progressive (or “Bull Moose”) Party.

18. New Nationalism Speech • Speech by TR in Osawatomie, Kansas 1910. • Most radical of career. • Says that the federal govt. has the responsibility to protect the social welfare of the citizens. • Calls for income and inheritance taxes, workmen’s comp., minimum wage and minimum hours, etc.

19. New Nationalism Speech • Speech by TR in Osawatomie, Kansas 1910. • Most radical of career. • Says that the federal govt. has the responsibility to protect the social welfare of the citizens. • Calls for income and inheritance taxes, workmen’s comp., minimum wage and minimum hours, etc.

20. The Socialists • Socialism was very popular in 1912. • Their candidate was Eugene Debs—former leader of the American Railway Union.

21. The Democrats • They Pick Woodrow Wilson • He had been a history professor and then President of Princeton University. • He was a Progressive governor of New Jersey.

22. The Big difference between TR and Wilson • TR advocated regulation as the way to deal with the trusts. “New Nationalism” • Wilson called for breaking-up the trusts to restore competition. “New Freedom”

23. The Election of 1912 • Wilson 6,296,547 • TR 4,118,571 • Taft 3,486,720 • Debs 900,672

24. Wilson as Pres. • Lowered the Tariff (Underwood-Simmons). • 1st Income Tax (1913) • Created the Federal Reserve Board to regulate banking (1913). • Created the Federal Trade Commission to regulate business (1914).

25. What Wilson was against • At first, Wilson refused to support: • Child Labor laws • Women’s Suffrage • Bills that sought to restrict immigration. • Allowed segregation to take place in govt. • When he had to run for re-election, however, he changed and was for: workers comp., child labor laws, and 8-hour workday for railroad workers.

26. Louis Brandeis In reality, Wilson’s policies reflected more of TR’s “New Nationalism” than they did the rhetoric of his “New Freedom.” Wilson also named the ultra-liberal Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court.

27. Who was TR’s hand-picked successor? • A = William Howard Taft • Q: Who was the Democratic candidate for President in 1912? • A = Woodrow Wilson

28. Who was the Socialist candidate for President in 1912? • A = Eugene Debs • Q: What was the name of the new Progressive party that backed TR in the 1912 election? • A = Bull Moose

29. TR or Wilson • Q: Wanted to regulate the trusts? • A = Theodore Roosevelt • Q: New Freedom? • A = Woodrow Wilson

30. TR or Wilson • Q: New Nationalism? • A = TR • Q: Break-up the trusts to restore competition? • A = Woodrow Wilson

31. Progressive Foreign Policy

32. TR & “Big Stick” Diplomacy • He loved to quote the African proverb: “Speak softly, and carry a big stick.” • Called for military buildup. • ESPECIALLY THE NAVY.

33. The Roosevelt Corollary • The Monroe Doctrine told Europeans to stay out of the Americas (North, Central, & South). • The Roosevelt Corollary stated that the US would intervene in Central and South America to maintain order. • (This meant that the US was to be the policeman of the Western Hemisphere). Roosevelt Corollary

34. TR’s Beliefs • Big believer in Anglo-Saxon supremacy. • But also makes distinction between “developed” and “non-developed.”

35. TR and the Caribbean • Frequently sent troops into Central America and the Caribbean to restore order and protect American investments. • The Panama Canal (1903).

40. TR and Japan • In 1905, Russia and Japan were at war over control of the northern part of China. • TR mediated a peace agreement that ended the Russo-Japanese War. • In 1906, Japan was angry over California’s segregationist policies towards Japanese. • TR solved the problem with a “gentlemen’s agreement” in which the segregationist policies were withdrawn, while Japan agreed to limit it’s immigration.

41. The Great White Fleet • To show the world (& Japan) America’s new naval muscle, TR called for 16 new battleships (all painted white) to make a world tour.

42. Route of Great White Fleet

43. Taft and Dollar Diplomacy • When Taft succeeded TR, he called for a foreign policy in Central America and the Caribbean that emphasized US investment rather than muscle. • Nevertheless, Taft sent his share of troops into the region.

44. Wilson “Moral” Diplomacy • Was an Internationalist • Wilson’s FP predicated on his sense of morality. • Thought U.S. should take an active role in spreading American ideals and institutions. • Ushered in a new era in U.S. foreign policy (internationalism)

45. Wilson and Latin America • Between 1915—1917, Wilson sent troops into Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

46. Wilson and Mexico