THE PROGRESSIVE ERA I
UNIT 10
ROOSEVELT: SHAPING THE MODERN PRESIDENCY
Industrialization and imperialism changed America with cities crowded with new immigrants, awful working conditions,
and failing political systems. These problems would give rise to the Progressive Movement in which the government
became more involved in the lives of Americans. Throughout this era, social, political and economic issues take center
stage in American lives.
ISSUES
 Dangerous working conditions
 Child Labor
 Long hours, low wages, no job security, no benefits
 Employment of women
GOALS OF PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
 Government controlled by the people
 Guaranteed economic opportunities through
government regulation
 Elimination of social injustices
THEODORE ROOSEVELT’S PRESIDENCY
Republican Party tried to get Roosevelt out of power by nominating him as vice president in 1900 fearing his progressive
ideals  it failed when he takes over after McKinley’s assassination at age 42 (the youngest president to take office)
As Roosevelt took office, many in the nation argue over who was the most powerful man in America: the president or the
big bankers and financiers like J.P. Morgan. Roosevelt felt that this most be settled taking his cues from the American
people as he implemented his Square Deal.
Square Deal – name given to Roosevelt’s progressive reform movement intended to give Americans a better life under
the economic prosperity America was experiencing but was absent in the lives of many.
3 “C” of Roosevelt’s Scare Deal
 Corporation Control
 Consumer Protection
 Conservation Movement
Corporation Control
Using the Sherman Antitrust Act, which outlawed monopolies, Roosevelt set his eye on the large trusts that dominated
not just economy but the nation itself
Northern Securities v. United States (1904) – when three of the largest railroads couldn’t agree on control of a
railroad they merged forming a holding company called the Northern Securities owned by J.P. Morgan that
controlled all railroads and shipping from Chicago to the Northwest (tremendous power in the hands of few)
- this much control and power worried Roosevelt who took J.P. Morgan to court for violating the Sherman
Anti-Trust Act winning the case that no one should have that much power and orders the break up of
Northern Securities  this act to break up monopolies earning him the name “trustbuster”
- in true, Roosevelt wasn’t a much a trustbuster, but a “trust regulator” going after those trusts he felt had
too much power and therefore were dangerous to America
Department of Commerce and Labor (1903) – federal cabinet positions with the authority (through the
Bureau of Corporations) to investigate corporations for illegal activity and issue public reports
Expedition Act (1903) – allowed antitrust lawsuits to be given priority status and therefore tried sooner
Hepburn Act (1906) – allowed ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) to regulate railroad rates
Consumer Protection
Anthracite Coal Strike (1902) – ended when Roosevelt threatened to use the Federal Army to take control of
the business  sides with workers rather than employers
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) – required proper labeling of the contents of food and drugs
Meat Inspection Act (1906) – required all meat to be inspected to insure that it meets sanitary guidelines
The Progressive Era I 1
Conservation Movement
An avid outdoorsmen, Roosevelt saw the benefit in protecting the nation’s valuable resources along with his Sec. of the
Interior who took up the growing conservation movement.
Antiquities Act (1906) – gives the president the ability to declare public lands as National Monuments
preserving the area and land from development (Devil’s Tower was the first)
- preserved 230 million acres of land by the end of his presidency
- started the conservation movement to protect American wildlife and land
Under Roosevelt, the power and authority of the federal government and the president changed as it was allowed to set
prices (ICC-railroad rates), inspect products (Meat Inspection Act/Pure Food and Drug Act), and investigate illegal
activity in business (Dept. of Commerce and Labor). In the middle of all these progressive reforms was the president in
a new role as visionary leader and compass of the nation.
Roosevelt also created the modern image of the president having numerous photos taken of him wherever he went,
having press releases and interviews frequently, and always speaking to the public  Roosevelt kept himself and the
image of the presidency at the forefront of the nation
- Roosevelt also oversaw the greatest expansion to the Executive Mansion adding the West Wing and
renaming the entire building – the White House
Roosevelt later handpicked William Howard Taft (Sec. of War) to replace him and carry on the progressive reforms
HOWARD TAFT’S PRESIDENCY
Hand picked by Roosevelt, Taft proved to be more conservative and less progressive than his predecessor by reversing
many of Roosevelt’s accomplishments and alienating himself against Roosevelt.
Payne Aldrich Tariff (1909) – after pledging in the 1908 election to lower tariffs, Taft tries to push through a law to
lower tariffs and stimulate competition
- it lowered 650 tariffs, raised 220, and left 1,150 unchanged doing very little to lower tariffs altogether
Mann-Elkin Act (1910) – interstate telecommunications was brought within the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce
Commission  more government control
Trustbuster
In regards to trusts, he proved to be more of a progressive “trustbuster” than the Roosevelt, the “trust regulator”, going
after 90 trusts in all.
American Tobacco v. United States (1911) – dealt with an attempt by American Tobacco to monopolize the
business of tobacco in interstate commerce
- court rules trusts that hurt the consumer are illegal and breaks up American Tobacco
RISING RIVALRY
In the four years of Taft’s first term, he had not pursued progressive reforms and aggressively as Roosevelt had, and in
many ways reversed much of what Roosevelt had set in motion during his presidency. Two events helped signifying
Roosevelt’s split from Taft:
Antitrust Lawsuits – Taft filed many more lawsuits against corporations for violation of antitrust laws  a
move that Roosevelt felt upset the delicate balance of regulation he had put in places as president between
big business and government
Richard Ballinger – Taft’s Secretary of the Interior opened protected forests to private companies reversing
much of the conservation movement that Roosevelt had championed
In the end the rivalry between these two friends made them bitter enemies and helped to split the Republican Party
between the conservative Taft and the progressive Roosevelt which would have disastrous consequences in the election
of 1912.
The Progressive Era I 2