Chapter 29
Progressivism and the Republican
Roosevelt
Roosevelt the Progressive


Roosevelt waged war
on monopolies
corruption,
inefficiency and social
injustice.
Writers politicians,
immigrants aided in
the progressive
movement
Whether in his exploits
with Western cowboys
and outlaws, leading the
Rough Riders in Cuba,
rattling Wall Street
plutocrats, or battling
political adversaries in
Congress, Roosevelt
always enjoyed a good
fight.
During his presidency,
Roosevelt maintained an
active life of horseback
riding, tennis, hiking,
swimming, hunting, polo,
rowing, wrestling, boxing,
and judo. He often led
visiting foreign dignitaries to
the White House on
strenuous swims in the
Potomac and hikes in
Washington's Rock Creek
Park. Among family and
friends he was famous for
challenging outdoor romps.
Young “Thee” was a
bookish and sickly
child. To overcome
severe asthma, at the
urging of his father,
he began a strenuous
regimen of exercise
and outdoor activity
that would become a
lifelong obsession.
From 1884 to 1886
Roosevelt lived the
rough life of a rancher
in the Badlands of
Dakota Territory.
Though the typical
Eastern dude in some
respects--with his
fancy cowboy outfit,
eyeglasses, books,
clean language and
hygiene--he soon
gained the respect of
the other ranchers.
Roosevelt spent entire
days in the saddle and
was physically
transformed,
developing a deep tan,
broad shoulders, a
powerful chest, and a
purposeful walk. The
western experience also
deepened his love of the
great outdoors.
At age 42, skeptics called him the “Boy
President.” He brought his wife Edith and six
children to the White House. Roosevelt wasted
no time establishing himself as a strong and
independent president.
His achievements in
domestic affairs
included trustbusting; helping
settle the 1902 coal
strike; and passage
of the Elkins Act,
Hepburn Act, Meat
Inspection Act, Pure
Food and Drug Act,
and Newlands Act.
Muckrakers







Muckrakers wrote sensationalized stories; good at
digging up dirt
Lincoln Stiffens “Shame of the Cities” – linked big
business to municipal governments
Ida M. Tarbell – factual expose on Standard Oil
David Phillips “The Treason of the Senate” – corruption
of Congress; railroads had Senators in their pockets
Ray Stannard Bakers “Follow the Color Line” – inequality
of African Americans
John Spargo “The Bitter Cry of the Children” – child labor
Dr. Harvey Wiley – poison squad uncovered medicines
that were habit forming
Political Progressives


Goals:
Use state power to curb the trusts and to
stem the socialist threat by improving the
common person’s life
Progressive Reforms






Direct election of US Senators
Initiative – voters could propose legislation
Referendum – voters could approve laws
directly
Recall – remove elected officials
Limits on campaign contributions
Australian secret ballot
Notable Reformers




Galveston (1901) – set up commission to
manage urban affairs
Robert La Follette – Progressive governor
of Wisconsin
Hiram Johnson – California
Charles Evans Hughes – New York
Settlement Housing



Women worked to
protect the public
welfare
Settlement Housing
Jane Addams and Hull
House
Labor Gets Protection


Lochner vs. New York (1905) – 8 hour
work day for bakers
1917 – 30 states had workers’
compensation laws on the books
Temperance/Prohibition




Alcohol connected to prostitution, drunken
voters, corruption in city governments,
miscounting ballots, accidents on the jobs
Women’s Christian Temperance Union –
Frances Willard
Anti Saloon League
By 1919 – 18th Amendment outlaws
alcohol
The Square Deal


TR caught up in progressive reforms
The Square Deal embraced control of
corporations and consumer protection
Successes of the Square Deal




Ended the coal strike in Pennsylvania through
arbitration – established the Department of
Commerce
Elkins Act of 1903 – stopped rebates on railroads
Hepburn Act 1906 – severely restricted the
practice of free passes
Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle leads to the Meat
Inspection Act of 1906 and the Pure Food and
Drug Act of 1906
Conservation and the Square Deal




Desert Land Act of 1877 – sold arid land
purchaser promised to irrigate
Forest Reservation Act of 1891 – set aside public
forest for national parks and other reserves
Carey Act of 1894 – federal lands to states on
the promise that it would be settled
Newlands Act of 1902 – collect money from the
sale of public lands in the western states; funds
would be used to set up irrigation projects;
settlers repaid the cost of reclamation from their
now productive soil
Panic of 1907





TR wins in 1904 – announces that he will not
seek a 3rd term
Sharp set back in the Panic of 1907 results in
“runs” on banks, suicides, and criminal
indictments against speculators
Led to fiscal reforms
Aldrich-Vreeland Act – allowed the feds to issue
emergency currency backed by various forms of
collateral
Laid the foundation for the Federal Reserve Act
of 1913
Election of 1908


Republicans nominate William Howard Taft
(hand picked by TR)
Democrats pick William Jennings Bryan
(third time in the ring – ding ding!)
Successes of Roosevelt



Enlarged the power and prestige of the
federal government
Shaped the Progressive Movement
Square Deal foundation for the New Deal
William Howard Taft






Poor public speaker
Went on world tour to boost political interest
abroad – “Dollar Diplomacy”
Problems in the Caribbean led to Taft sending
US troops (several times)
Busted 90 trusts including Standard Oil and US
Steel
Lowing the tariff major goal of Progressives –
Payne Aldrich Tariff (did little to lower the tariff)
Ballington – Pinchot quarrel – dispute over
opening of public land
Bull Moose




Taft and Roosevelt clash
Roosevelt decides to run again
Taft gets the nomination from the
Republican Party
Roosevelt starts the Bull Moose Party