Becoming a World
Power- Imperialism
1872-1912
Chapter 14
The Imperialist Vision
14 Section 1
America’s Imperialist Vision
Immediately after the Civil, most Americans
showed little interest in expanding the nation’s
territory.

Beginning in the 1880’s, economic & military
competition from other nations & a feeling of
superiority led America to become a world power.
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New Imperialism- many European powers were
ALREADY expanding.
Overseas.
Imperialism- the economic & political domination of
a Strong nation over weak nations.
Why?- 1. High tariffs- led nations to seek new
markets.
2. Raw materials- Europe’s factories needed
resources
Anglo-Saxonism
Protectorates
 To protect their investment, Europeans set up
Protectorates (local rulers who protected investors
against rebellion).
 Why America became an imperialist Power
 1. Need for overseas markets & raw materials
 2. Feelings of superiority

Social Darwinism- argued that nations competed
& strongest survived.

* Anglo-Saxonism- (John Fiske & Josiah
Strong)- English speaking nations had superior
character, ideas, & government.

Strong linked Anglo-Saxonism to missionary ideals.
 *“the White Man’s Burden”
Push for a Modern Navy
3. *Alfred T. Mahan

wrote the book The
Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890).
argued that a nation needed a large navy to
protect trade ships & defend the right to trade.
Americans began to call for a large modern navy
to be built.
America Eyes the Pacific
American businessmen wanted trade with
China & Japan.
 Asian countries worried that contact with the
west would destroy their culture.
 1852- Pres. Millard Fillmore sent
Commodore Matthew Perry to force a trade
agreement on Japan.
 1853- Perry arrived off coast of Japan (4
warships)= Treat of Kanagawa
 Japan signed a trade treaty- & slowly began
to modernize & industrialize.
Hawaii
Increased trade with Japan & China led to more
interest in Hawaii.

1820 New England missionaries had settled there;
US whaling ships used it as a base.

the fertile soil was good for growing sugarcane=
American settlers built sugar plantations there.
 1872- recession hit Hawaii & the US exempted them
from sugar tariffs & in exchange Hawaiians granted
the US the right to use Pearl Harbor as a naval base.
US Planters Want Hawaii
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1891- Queen Liliuokalani took the throne;
American planters disliked her
1893- the Queen attempted to impose a
constitution that would have given her authority
US Planter settlers tried to overthrow the Queen
supported by US Marines & set a temp.
government & asked the US to annex Hawaii.
the Queen did not resist because she feared for
her people
Within 5 years- the US annexed Hawaii.
Latin America
Latin America
Most Latin Americans bought their goods from
Europe.
1889- The Pan-American Conference- US wanted
all American nations to reduce tariffs.
 Sponsored by Sec. of State James G. Blaine
 All Latin American nations except Dominican
Republic attended.
 Goal- get Latin Americans to shift from buying
European to buying American.

14 Sec. 2 The Spanish-American War
1898- Cuba & Puerto Rico were Spain’s oldest
colonies in the Americas.

Cuba produced great wealth for Spain (1/3 of
world’s sugar)

Until 1886- 1/3 of Cuba’s population was
enslaved

1868- Jose Marti led an unsuccessful revolt in
Cuba against Spain (Marti escaped to the US).
America became economically linked to Cuba
Cuba exported sugar to the US
 Americans invested more than $50 million in
Cuba: mines, railroads, & sugar plantations.

1894- US imposed a new tariff (McKinley Tariff)
that hurt Cuban sugar & economy.

1895- Jose Marti returned to Cuba to start a new
revolt; declared the Republic of Cuba est.

Yellow Journalism
** Yellow Journalism- sensationalistic &
exaggerated stories merely to attract readers
* Contributed to US INVOLVEMENT IN WAR
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When the Cuban revolt began-Pres. Cleveland
declared that the US would be neutral.
most Americans came to support the Cuban
rebels because of stories of Spanish cruelty
printed in US newspapers.
New York Journal & New York World were
competing newspapers (OWNED BY William
Randolph Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer).
Both newspapers printed exaggerated stories
about the Spanish treatment of Cubans
Yellow Journalism
Hearst
“You provide the pictures,
I’ll provide the war”
Pulitzer
Cuba Heats up
Spain sent almost 20,000 troops to Cuba &
appointed Gen. Valeriano Weyler (“the
Butcher”) as governor.

Cuban rebels targeted plantations,
railroads, & sugar mills (hoping to lead the
US to get involved).

Weyler used “re-concentration camps” =
thousands of Cuban civilians died.

1897- William McKinley became President
& did not want to get involved.
McKinley got Spain to make concessions:
1.
Remove Weyler from power
2.
Offer Cuban autonomy (self rule)-Cubans
refuse
America Enters the Conflict
Jan. 1898- Pres. McKinley sent the USS
Maine to Havana Harbor, Cuba to evacuate
Americans if needed.
 Feb. 1898- New York Journal printed the
private letter of Enrique Dupuy de Lome.
 In the letter, de Lome described the US
president as “weak”= US citizens angry!!
 ** Feb. 15, 1898- USS Maine exploded &
sank.
 US citizens believed Spain was responsible
(“Remember the Maine”)
USS Maine
Before
After
Congress Authorized War
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Congress authorized $50 million to prepare for war
Jingoists- Republicans who pushed for war
(nationalistic); like Theodore Roosevelt
April 1898- McKinley asked Congress to declare war!
The War was Fought on Two Fronts
1. Cuba & the Phillipines

the US navy blockaded Cuba
 The Philippines- a Spanish colony was the location of
the Spanish fleet.
 *US Commodore George Dewey & US navy sent to
destroy Spanish Fleet at Manila Bay in Philippines.
1. The Philippines
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20,000 US troops were sent from SF & on the way captured
Guam (today American territory)
US sought help from Emilio Aguinaldo (Filipino
revolutionary) to rebel against the Spanish.
Aguinaldo & rebels seized islands & the US seized the
Philippines & Manila.
After the US captured Manila, it prevented Aguinaldo from
entering= Filipino rebels will turn against the US.
2. Battle Front Cuba
Spanish troops in Cuba: weak from fighting
rebels,
 poorly trained, weak from disease.
 Americans- poorly equipped & trained- lots
of volunteers.
 June 1898- 17,000 US troops land east of
Santiago (capital).
 Big Spanish guns at Santiago protected
Spanish ships in Santiago Harbor (US
wanted to capture those guns).
 **The Rough Riders: US volunteer
Calvary unit; composed of cowboys &
sports jocks.
 led by Leonard Wood; second in command
Theodore Roosevelt
American Objective- Santiago
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July 1- US troops launch a 3 pronged attack
Village of El Caney, San Juan Hill, Kettle Hill
Rough Riders & all black 9th & 10th Calvary
captured Kettle Hill & next helped capture San Juan
Hill.
Spanish commander ordered Spanish navy out of
harbor= US navy sank or beached all Spanish ships!
The War Comes to an End
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1.
2.
3.
Spanish troops in Santiago (Cuba)
Surrendered & US troops captured
Puerto Rico (still US territory today).
Dec.10 1898- US & Spain signed The
Treaty of Paris.
Cuba became an independent nation
US gets Guam & Puerto Rico
US paid Spain $20 million for the
Philippines (we had captured Manila a
day after the cease fire was signed)
San Juan Hill Charge!!
Charge of San Juan Hill- by Remington
**The Platt Amendment
Cuba was independent but, President
McKinley took steps to ensure Cuba would
be tied to the US.
 Cuba could create a new constitution but
the following conditions were supplied by
Sen. Orville Platt:
a) Cuba could not make a treaty with
another country that weakened its
independence.
b) Cuba had to allow the US to buy or lease
a naval base in Cuba (Guantanamo Bay!)
c) Cuba had to maintain low debts
d) US could intervene to keep peace or
protect Cuban independence.
Puerto Rico
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**The Foraker Act (1900)- established a civil
government, elected legislature, governor
appointed by the US.
Supreme Court ruled that Puerto Ricans are not
US citizens & have no constitutional rights.
1917- Puerto Ricans given US citizenship
Today- Should Puerto Rico be a state,
independent, or continue as a common wealth of
the US??
The Philippines
Americans debated whether to annex
To annex: would provide Pacific base, large
market, stop over on the way to China.
The Philippines
The White Man’s Burden
 annex because America had the duty to civilize
“less civilized people” .
Opposition to annexation

William Jennings Bryan, Andrew Carnegie & others

cost of empire outweighed benefits

cheap Filipino labor would drive down American
wages

its Anti-American
 US decided to annex the islands
Rebellion in the Philippines

Emilio Aguinaldo & rebels attacked US forces

126,000 US troops sent to combat insurgency
 US used “re-concentration camps”

Americans try to win the hearts & minds
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William Howard Taft: chosen as civilian
governor of the Philippines.
improved education, transportation, &
healthcare
public schools built
certain diseases virtually wiped out- small
pox
Filipino people became less hostile to the US
March 1901- Aguinaldo captured & rebels
surrender
1930’s allowed to elect own congress &
president
1946- US granted them independence
American Imperialism
14 Section 3 New American
Diplomacy
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1899 US was a powerful force in Asia
3rd largest navy in world
China only bought 2% of US exports
Primary interest in Asia: commerce
Open Door Policy & China
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War: China vs. Japan for control of
Korea
Japan easily defeated China; awarded
Manchuria
Proved Japan’s military technology
was catching up to Western
technology
Open Door In China
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Russia did not want Japan controlling
Manchuria; bordered Russia
France, Germany and Russia forced
Japan to give land back to China
1898- Russia demanded China to
lease the territory to Russia.
China then leased the land out to
Russia
Still belong to China but a Russian
gov’t would control it (“leaseholds”)

Germany, France and Britain also demanded to
lease Chinese land (“leaseholds”)
*Spheres of Influence: foreign nation control
economic development (railroads or mining)
 American officials became worried that they
would be cut out of trade in China.
 Pres McKinley & Sec. of State John Hay asked for
*“Open Door Policy”
 **Every country should be allowed to trade with
China

All countries involved accepted the Open Door
Policy

Political Cartoon- Open Door
The Boxer Rebellion
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Chinese people disagreed on foreign control
Western countries called these rebels Boxers
(“Society of Harmonious Fists”)
The Boxers believed that foreigners were “devils”
Boxer Soldier
Russian troops in Beijing
The Rebellion Begins
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Boxer Rebellion: took over some foreign
embassies, killed 200+ foreigners and
took others prisoner
Killed German Ambassador
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Britain,
France, Italy, Japan, Russia and US sent
troops in response.
Countries agreed China would pay for
damages as long as China would not be
broken up into European colonies
1900 Election
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McKinley chose Theodore Roosevelt as
running mate & defeated Williams
Jennings Bryan, again (Imperialism vs.
Anti-Imperialism)
Shot and killed by an anarchist (Leon
Czolgosz) in Sept 1901
Theodore Roosevelt becomes Pres (42
years old-youngest person to become
pres.)
Favored increasing US prestige in the
world
accepted Anglo-Saxonism- civilize the
less civilized
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policies
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Roosevelt's Foreign Policy
“Speak softly and carry a big
stick”
Roosevelt & Asia
Maintained “Open Door” policy
in China
Japan & the US relationship
began to deteriorate after this
(both struggled for power in
Asia)
Sent the “Great White
Fleet” (16 warships) around
the world to show off our
might.
T. Roosevelt & Japan
1. Roosevelt helped Russia & Japan
negotiate an end to their war (RussoJapanese War); won the Nobel Peace
prize!
2. *The Gentleman’s Agreement:
 Japan will limit emigration to the US/
Roosevelt will get California to repeal
discriminatory laws.
Roosevelt & the Panama Canal
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1850’s US & Britain agreed to build a canal
through Central America.
1881- A French company began to build a canal
but failed & sold its rights to build in Panama to
the US
1901-* Hay-Poncefote Treaty: Britain gave the
US the right to build canal alone & control it.
2 areas long considered a good place for a canal:
Nicaragua or Panama
Panama was controlled by Columbia; US offered
Columbia $10 million plus $250,000/year
Columbia refused the offer.
Panama wanted the canal & independence from
Columbia
TR Makes the Canal Happen
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The US & France collaborated & sent Philippe
Bunau –Varilla to Panama to help start a revolt.
Nov. 1903 TR sent 10 US warships to Panama to
ensure that Columbia did not interfere in the
revolt.
US recognized Panama as independent
US got the right to build & control the Panama
Canal for many years.
Facts: canal cut 8,000 miles off the trip from
Atlantic to Pacific, cost $250 million, thousands of
workers to build (1000’s died).
Panama Canal Under Construction
Roosevelt & Latin America
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*Roosevelt Corollary:
an addition to Monroe Doctrine
*The US has the right to
intervene in Latin America
when necessary to maintain
stability
Goal was to prevent Europe
from using debt problems to
justify intervention
TR used the Corollary in the
Dominican Republic in 1905
The Dominican Republic had
fallen behind in debt payments
to Europe so TR used the
Marines to collect the debt on
behalf of Europe.
1904- 1924 US presidents will
use Roosevelt Corollary to send
forces to Haiti, Honduras,
Nicaragua= poor relations with
LA
President William Howard Taft (19091913)
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** T. Roosevelt stepped down after 2 terms; still
tradition--- chose his friend William Taft
Election 1908- Taft (R) v. William Jennings
Bryan(D); Taft won & continued TR’s policies
placed much less emphasis on military
intervention in Latin America
*Dollar Diplomacy: believed that if American
business supported Latin American businessesLatin America could rise out of poverty.
American banks took over loans Latin America
owed to Europe.
Ex) Nicaragua: shaky government; US bankers
loaned them money in 1911- US Marines entered
& replaced collector agent with US agent.
Foreign Policy-President Woodrow
Wilson
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Inaugurated 1913
University Professor
Strong on domestic issuesnot foreign policy
Wanted a new foreign
policy of “sheer honesty
and even unselfishness”
Opposed imperialism
Wanted to promote
democracy by moral
example

President 1913-1921
Mexico & Wilson
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Mexico- ruled by a dictator for more than 30 years
(Porfirio Diaz)
Mexico became industrialized & foreign investors
owned much of the factories & RR
Mexican citizens were poor & landless
1911- a revolution erupted led by Francisco
Madero
Feb. 1913- Gen. Victoriano Huerta seized power &
killed Madera.
President Wilson angered- did not recognize the
government of Huerta.
Wilson allowed arms to be shipped to opponents
of Huerta.
The Tampico Incident
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April 1914- US sailors were seized while
visiting the port of Tampico
Sailors quickly released
US commander demanded an apology from
Mexican government- did not get one
Wilson asked Congress if he could use
force
Wilson ordered US warships to shell
Veracruz & sent Marines to seize the city.
International mediation ended the
showdown
Mexico’s new president Carranza was
supported by the US
Pancho Villa & Wilson
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Many Mexican citizens did not like
Carranza
conducted raids on US soil hoping to get
Wilson to intervene
March 1916- Pancho Villa & rebels
attacked Columbus, NM (KILLED 16
AMERICANS)
Wilson sent 6,000 troops under Gen. John
Pershing to capture Villa
Villa was never captured by US troops
Wilson withdrew troops as US involvement
in WWI came close
Wilson & Latin America
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Wilson damaged US relations with Latin
America & around the world
1914- got rights to naval bases & canal in
Nicaragua
1915- sent US Marines to Haiti to put down
a rebellion (stayed until 1934).
1916- sent US troops to Dominican
Republic to keep order & set up democratic
government there
Chapter 15 Sec. 1- Roots of Progressivism –
(T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson)
*Progressivism- a collection of ideas &
activities; responses to problems caused by
industrialization & urbanization in US society.

Progressives offered solutions to many of
societies problems (many left over from the
Populist Movement).
Characteristics of Progressives:
1.
*Mainly white, middle class, and well educated
2.
Found in both the Republican Party & Democrat
Party.
3.
*Demanded that government take a more
active role in solving society’s problems.
4.
*Strong faith in science & technology to
improve society also.

Problems Targeted by Progressives
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Poor sanitation & safety- crowded cities & unsafe
workplaces.
Poor working conditions, unsafe factories, child
labor, no min. wage laws, monopolies & trusts.
Corrupt Politicians- Political machines, machine
“bosses”
Alcohol abuse- blamed for many of society’s
problems
Women denied the right to vote (suffrage)
Segregation (Jim Crow), lynching, poll taxes,
The “Muckrakers”
*Muckrakers- journalists who investigated & reported
social & political problems.

Popular magazines: McClure’s, Collier’s; 5 & 10
cent magazines- popular among US citizens.

Stories printed by muckrakers- were not “yellow
journalism”- could be sued by corporations &
people they wrote about if not true!
*Notable Muckrakers
1.
Jacob Riis- “ How the Other Half Lives”- wrote
about immigrant life in NYC.
2.
Lincoln Steffens- “Shame of the Cities”- wrote
about corruption of Political machines
3.
Ida Tarbell- investigated Standard Oil Co.
4.
Upton Sinclair- “The Jungle”- wrote about
meatpacking industry.
Progressive Reforms- Government
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A.
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Progressives wanted to make government more
efficient.
Efficient Government Reforms
Modern cities needed to use business
management techniques (break tasks down into
smaller units).
*Commission Plan- divided city government into
several departments (each department under an
expert commissioner's control)-Galveston, Texas
1901 adopted.
* Council-Manager system- city council hires a
city manager to run a city instead of a mayor
Progressives wanted government to be
more democratic
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1.
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Goal- make elected officials more accountable to
voters.
“The Wisconsin Idea”- Progressive Governor of
Wisconsin- Robert La Follette
La Follette- attacked the way parties ran
conventions (bosses ran convention= chose who
was nominated).
La Follette endorsed the *direct primary
system= all party members vote (nominate) for
a candidate to run in the general election
Other states began to use the direct primary
Progressive Government Reforms
*Initiative- allows a group of citizens to
introduce legislation (laws)
2.
*Referendum- allows citizens to vote
directly on a proposed law (such as a
proposed lottery or tax) without going to
the state legislature.
3.
*Recall- allows citizens of a state to
demand a special election to remove an
elected official.

** all of these are still in use today in the
US
4. Secret Ballot (Australian Ballot)- voters
allowed to secretly mark ballots.
1.
Government Reforms-The Senate
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The US constitution allowed only state
legislatures to elect 2 Senators for each
state= citizens had no say!
Political machines & businesses bribed
state officials – once elected, Senators
gave special favors to businesses & political
machines
Progressives demanded *Direct election of
Senators by state voters.
*1913- 17th Amendment – allows direct
election of US Senators by citizens.
Women Suffrage History
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1.
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1848-* Seneca Fall Convention- Elizabeth Cady
Stanton pushed women to demand the right to
vote.
Before the Civil War- women suffragists focused
efforts mainly on abolition of slavery- not voting
rights.
After the war, Congress granted equal rights &
right to vote to black men (women were angered
& split over the 14th & 15th Amendments).
*The National Woman Suffrage Association
(NWSA)- Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B.
Anthony founded 1869- NY.
Focused on getting a constitutional amendment
allowing women the right to vote.
Woman Suffrage
2.
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The American Woman Suffrage
Association (AWSA)- Lucy Stone/ Julia
Ward-leaders.
Focused on getting the right to vote in
states first.
1890- AWSA & NWSA joined together =
*The National American Woman’s
Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
Progressive era (1890-1920)- middle
class women & working class women
became for vocal about suffrage.
1900- only Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, &
Colorado allowed women to vote
The Fight for Suffrage
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During the Progressive Era the fight to vote
intensified= marches, lobbying law makers,
speeches.
*1913- 1 day before President Wilson's
inauguration day- NAWSA held a march on
Washington – organized by *Alice Paul for
NAWSA.
NAWSA- members were shocked by Paul’s
tactics= Paul begins National Woman’s
Party= picketed the Whitehouse, blocked
sidewalks, chained themselves to
lampposts- hunger strikes.
Women get Suffrage
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1915- Carrie Chapman Catt became
NAWSA’s leader- pushed for Wilson’s
reelection.
1920- *19th Amendment –gave women
the right to vote (3/4 of states ratified it)
Carrie Chapman Catt
Alice Paul
Social Reform
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1.
2.
3.
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Many Progressives focused on reforming social
problems.
Settlement Houses- provided help for
immigrants- *Jane Addams (Hull House)
Child Labor- states passed laws that set min. age
for work or set max. hours children could work.
(John Spargo- “Bitter Cry of Children”)
Health & Safety –
*Worker Compensation Laws- states set up
insurance funds for injured workers.
Lochner v. NY (1905)- turned down a 10 hour
work day for bakers in NY law.
Muller v. Oregon (1908)- court recognized that
women needed ‘special protection in workplace”=
shorter workday etc.
Progressives & health & safety
*Zoning laws- created zones in cities set
aside strictly for residential, commercial
etc.
5.
* Building Codes- set min. standards for
light, air, room size, sanitation, & fire
escapes.

* Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911)

doors locked from inside- no fire escape

150 mostly female workers died= showed
need for strict building codes.
6. *Health codes- inspection of restaurants.
4.
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Prohibition
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Progressives blamed some of society’s
problems on alcohol abuse.
Movement led by women (settlement house
workers & others), religious groups,
business groups.
1911- Woman’s Christian Temperance
Union (WTCU) = 250,000 members
Anti-Saloon League
1919 *18th Amendment- outlawed alcohol
in the US (Prohibition)
1933-*21ST Amendment – ended
prohibition
Progressives vs. Big Business
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Progressives pushed for regulations for
businesses & break up of big companies.
1890- Sherman Anti-Trust Act- ineffective at
stopping monopolies; used to break up
Unions!
1914- Clayton Anti-Trust Act - more
effective; specified that Unions could strike &
bargain- “Magna Carta for Unions”
Some Progressives pushed for socialism=
government ownership of businesses.
1912 Election- Socialist candidate Eugene V.
Debs gained almost 1 million votes.
*Failure of the Progressives
Progressives pushed for more democracy
& efficiency in government but only for
whites.
 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson- set up “Jim
Crow” segregation in the US for 60 years.
 *Progressives did not address
segregation, lynching, poll taxes, literacy
tests, black poverty in the South
 Disenfranchisment
Why did Progressives fail to address racial
issues?
 Shared the prejudices of the time period
 Favored reforms that helped a wider
portion of the US

African –American Leaders
Booker T. Washington- educator at Tuskegee
Institute; advocated black education &
vocational training.
 W.E.B. Dubois- advocated blacks receive
equal rights immediately.
*1905 Niagara Falls Movement- led by W.E.B.
Dubois- met to discuss how to achieve civil
rights.
 Led to the creation of the *NAACP (1908)STILL EXISTS!

Chapter 15 Sec. 2- Theodore Roosevelt Domestic Policies
1901-1909
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During the 19th century presidents had
consistently taken the side of business.
TR insisted he wanted a “Square Deal” for
workers, business owners, & public.
* Coal Strike 1902- United Mine Workers Union
called a strike (150,000) miners walked off the
jobs.
coal prices went up- winter was coming on
TR tried to mediate- the mine owners refused to
bargain – TR threatened take over the mines.
Mine owners decide to increase wages & 8 hour
workday- but do not recognize the Union!
Roosevelt the “Trust-Buster
TR busted up Northern Securities (a
combination of several Railroad
companies)- Northern Securities v. US
 Roosevelt took action against Standard
Oil & 40 other companies
 TR -1st president to enforce the Sherman
Anti-Trust Act (1890).
 allowed “good” trusts (which used
efficiency & low prices) like utilities.
 Elkins Act 1903- gave ICC more power to
stop Railroads from giving rebates to big
corporations.
 Hepburn Act (1906): allowed ICC to set
fair RR rates.
TR as “Trustbuster”
Roosevelt Protects Consumers

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Reaction to Upton Sinclair's book, The Jungle
forced Congress to act
*Pure Food & Drug Act (1906): prohibited sale,
manufacture, & transporting of adulterated or
mislabeled foods & drugs.
*Meat Inspection Act (1906): federal
government inspectors visit meatpacking
factories & enforce sanitation standards. (still
used today)
Roosevelt & Conservation of Natural
Resources
*Roosevelt’s most lasting legacy
* set aside 150 million acres of federal land-not
to be used for private business (becomes national
parks)
Chose Gifford Pinchot to head conservation
Theodore Roosevelt’s Impact


** power of the executive branch
(presidency) increased.
** Americans look to federal government
to solve societal problems.
Election of 1908
1909-1913
 Close friend of
Theodore Roosevelt
 Election of 1908Taft (Republican) vs.
William J. Bryan (3 time
Loser)

Taft’s Tub
•Could hold
4 average sized
Men!!!
*Payne-Aldrich Tariff
Most Progressives wanted lower tariffs
 TR warned Taft- not to reform the tariff
because it would divide the Party
 Taft – called on Congress to lower tariffs
*The Payne-Aldrich Tariff
 Barely cut tariffs- actually raised tariffs on
a few products
** angered some Republican Progressives &
split the Republican Party

Taft v. Pinchot
Taft angered Republican Progressives by
replacing Sec. of Interior James R.
Garfield with Richard Ballinger.
 Ballinger tried to open 1 million acres of
public forests to private businesses.
 Head of the Forest Service (Gifford
Pinchot) criticized Ballinger= Taft fired
Pinchot (TR had personally hired Pinchot)
* By 1910 most Americans believed Taft
was not a real Progressive
1910- Congressional Elections=Democrats
won majority in House; Progressive
Republicans took control of Senate

Was Taft a True Progressive?

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Twice as many anti-trust cases in 4 years as
Roosevelt had in 7 years
1912 Children’s Bureau- created federal
agency that publicized problems of child labor
(still exists today)
1910- Bureau of Mines- created to monitor
mining companies, expand national forests.
Theodore Roosevelt is back!
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1911- Taft stopped the merger of US Steel
& Tennessee Coal & Iron (TR had ok’ed the
merger before he left office)
Nov. 1911- TR criticized Taft’s decision
(allow trusts to exist but regulate them)
Progressives begged TR to run for President
again!
Feb. 1912- TR announced that he would
attempt to replace Taft as nominee for
Republicans in 1912 election.
The 1912 Election
Republican convention (Chicago) 1912Conservatives backed Taft- Progressives
backed TR.
 Conservative Republicans had more votes &
nominated Taft= Progressives walked out.
*The Progressive Party *(Bull Moose Party)
 Formed by Progressive Republicans to
nominate TR.
Democrats
 Nominated Woodrow Wilson (Progressive
Democrat)
 Former Gov. of NJ
Socialist Party- nominated Eugene V. Debs

Election Political Cartoons
Political Cartoon- Republican
Convention 1912
“I believe in giving
Every man a square
Deal”

Roosevelt's **New Nationalism
Really a contest between TR & Wilson (2
Progressive candidates)
Roosevelt's- * New Nationalism
1.
Accept large trusts as a fact of life &
regulate them more
2.
New laws to protect women & children in
workplace
3.
Supported worker compensation laws
4.
Supported women’s suffrage

*Wilson’s New Freedom Plan

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Monopolies & trust should be destroyed
Regulated monopolies did not improve
competition
TR’s programs gave US government too
much power
1912 Election Result!
 TAFT & TR split the Republican vote=
Wilson won!
 Socialist candidate Debs won about 1
million votes!!
Wilson’s Accomplishments
Wilson promised to attack (reform) the
*“triple wall of privilege” – Tariffs,
banking, & trusts
1.
Tariffs- Wilson believed that lower tariffs
meant better competition = better quality
& lower prices.

*1st president to appear before a joint
session of Congress in person
*1913- Underwood Tariff- reduced the
average tariff by 30%

Called for an income tax on individuals

*1913- 17th Amendment- gave
government power to tax income.

Wilson’s Banking Reform

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1.
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US Bank had not been around since 1830’s
Economic depressions destroyed banks &
wiped out savings= citizens don’t trust
banks!
*The Federal Reserve Act (1913)established a system in which banks keep a
portion of deposits on reserve in a regional
bank .
Set up 12 regional banks supervised by
Board of Governors appointed by Pres.
Board sets interest rates
Allows federal supervision of banks
12 Federal Reserve Districts
Wilson & Trust Reform
Wilson promised to restore competition to the US
economy.
1.
1914- Federal Trade Commission created.

Monitors business

Can stop companies from interfering with
competition
2. 1914 Clayton Antitrust Act – more effective law
than Sherman Antitrust law.

Stopped price discrimination

Stopped “tying agreements”

*Allowed unions to exist legally

“the Magna Carta” for labor unions (Samuel
Gompers)

Wilson & Business Regulation
1.

•
•
Keating-Owens Child Labor Act (1916)1st federal law regulating child labor.
Prohibited employment of children under
age 14 in factories producing goods that
would be transported from state to state.
**Supreme Court & constitution allowed US
government to regulate interstate
commerce.
1918- Supreme Court declared the law
unconstitutional because child labor was
not interstate commerce (so only states
can regulate).
Wilson’s Reforms for Workers
1.
2.
Adamson Act- est. a 8 hour
workday for Railroad workers.
The Federal Farm Loan Act- gave
farmers low interest loans.