The Battle
for National Reform
Do Now: Review
1. Write one sentenced describing the
progressive era.
2. Who are the three progressive era
presidents?
3. What are the 3 c’s of Roosevelt’s “Square
Deal”?
4. What piece of legislation did Roosevelt use
to break up trusts and monopolies?
Do Now: Preview
1. How did Howard Taft anger progressives?
2. What was the name of Taft’s foreign policy?
3. What was the name of the newly formed
third party in the election of 1912?
4. What was the name of Wilson’s progressive
era plan?
5. What was the name of Wilson’s foreign
policy?
Main Ideas
Progressive reformers
responded to economic
instability, social inequality,
and political corruption by
calling for government
intervention in the economy,
expanded democracy, greater
social justice, and conservation
of natural resources.
Progressives
promoted federal
legislation to
regulate abuses of
the economy and the
environment, and
many sought to
expand democracy.
3 Areas to Focus On
• Work, Exchange, Technology
• Environment and Geography
• Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture
Work, Exchange, and Technology
This theme focuses on the development of American
economies based on agriculture, commerce, and
manufacturing.
• Students should examine ways that different economic
and labor systems, technological innovations, and
government policies have shaped American society.
• Students should explore the lives of working people and
the relationships among social classes, racial and ethnic
groups, and men and women, including the availability
of land and labor, national and international economic
developments, and the role of government support and
regulation.
Work, Exchange, and Technology
Objectives
• Major Historical Question
– How have debates over economic values and the role of
government in the U.S. economy affected politics,
society, the economy, and the environment?
• Be able to explain how arguments about market capitalism, the
growth of corporate power, and government policies influenced
economic policies from the late 18th century through the early
20th century
• Be able to compare the beliefs and strategies of movements
advocating changes to the U.S. economic system since
industrialization, particularly the organized labor, Populist, and
Progressive movements
• Explain how and why the role of the federal government in
regulating economic life and the environment has changed
since the end of the 19th Century
Environment and Geography –
Physical and Human
This theme examines the role of environment,
geography, and climate in both constraining and
shaping human actions.
• Students should analyze the interaction
between the environment and Americans in
their efforts to survive and thrive.
• Students should also explore efforts to
interpret, preserve, manage, or exploit natural
and man-made environments, as well as the
historical contexts within which interactions
with the environment have taken place.
Environment and Geography
Objectives
• How did economic and demographic
changes affect the environment and lead to
debates over use and control of the
environment and natural resources?
– Be explain how and why debates about and
policies concerning the use of natural resources
and the environment more generally have
changed since the late 19th century.
Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture
• This theme explores the roles that ideas,
beliefs, social mores, and creative expression
have played in shaping the United States.
– Students should examine the development of
aesthetic, moral, religious, scientific, and
philosophical principles and consider how these
principles have affected individual and group
actions.
– Students should analyze the interactions between
beliefs and communities, economic values, and
political movements, including attempts to change
American society to align it with specific ideals.
Ideas, Beliefs and Culture
Objectives
• How and why have changes in moral,
philosophical, and cultural values affected
U.S. history?
– Be able to Analyze ways that philosophical,
moral, and scientific ideas, were used to defend
and challenge the dominant economic and
social order in the late 19th centuries.
Progressive Era Presidents
• Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
• William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
• Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
Progressive Era Presidents
• Progressive Reform
– Economic Regulation
– Political Reform
• Domestic Programs
– Conservation
– Civil Rights
• Foreign Policy
– Imperialism
• Big Stick Policy
– Roosevelt Corollary
• Dollar Diplomacy
• Moral Diplomacy
Objectives
• Understand how Teddy Roosevelt used his power
as president to support progressive movement
goals.
• Improvement of conditions for workers and
consumers (social welfare)
• Providing a more responsive and responsible
government (economic/political reform)
• Women gaining the right to vote and the
outlawing of alcohol in the United States (moral
welfare)
• Fostering efficiency
Theodore Roosevelt
•
•
•
•
•
•
1901-1909
assumed presidency September
1901 after President McKinley
assassinated.
Reputation as an independent
and wild man
became champion of cautious and
moderate change,
reform to protect society against
more radical changes
Roosevelt saw fed government as
mediator of the public good.
– Not opposed to industrial
combinations but realized
potential for abuse of power
Theodore Roosevelt
•
•
•
Supported regulation of trusts
– EX. Created Department of
Commerce and Labor 1903 to
publicly investigate corporations.
Did make effort to break up some
trusts
– used Sherman Antitrust Act to
break up Northern Securities
Company monopoly over RRs in
Northwest
Saw government as impartial
regulator for labor as well
– 1902 strike by United Mine
workers led Roosevelt to ask
labor and management to accept
impartial federal arbitration
– threatened to seize mines if
management balked
Progressive Era Presidents
• Theodore Roosevelt
– “Square Deal” for all Americans – 3 C’s
• Incorporates Progressive Reform and
Domestic Policies
1. Control of Corporations
2. Consumer Protection
3. Conservation of Natural
Resources
Control of Corporation
• 1902 Coal Strike:
– Miners in PA
• 20% pay raise
• 9 hr. day
• union
– T.R. called both sides to
White House to negotiate
– Threatened to take over
mines
– Legislation: none
• Trusts:
– “Good” v. “Bad” trusts
– Filed suits under Sherman
Antitrust Act
• Railroad, beef, oil, tobacco
and others
– Ordered Justice Dept. to
sue Northern Securities
Company
• NSC est. monopoly over
Northwestern Railroads
– Legislation: Sherman
Antitrust Act
– Know as a Trustbuster
Control of Corporation
• Unregulated Big
Business:
– Strengthened the
Interstate Commerce
Act
– Fought for passage of
:
• Elkins Act
• Hepburn Act
– Legislation: Interstate
Commerce Act,
Elkins Act, and
Hepburn Act
• Worker’ Rights
– Favored
• 8 hour work day for labor,
• workmen’s compensation
• inheritance and income
taxes
Control of Corporation
• Panic of 1807
– Despite reforms government still
had little control over industrial
economy
• in 1907 production outgrew
domestic and foreign demand,
speculation and poor
management led to panic.
• JP Morgan pooled assets of NY
banks to prop up banks, made
deal with President to allow U.S.
Steel to purchase Tennessee
Coal and Iron Company shares
– Roosevelt makes a deal with Big
Business to save economy
Consumer Protection
• Dangerous Foods and Medicine:
–Appointed a commission to study the
meatpacking industry.
• Response to Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
–Legislation:
• Meat Inspection Act
• Pure Food and Drug Act
– can’t change or alter goods or labels on goods
Conservation of National Resources
• Shrinking Wilderness and Natural Resources:
– Promoted conservation of natural resources
– Set aside thousands of acres of forest reserves
• Water-power sites
• Wilderness sanctuaries
• National parks
– Pinchot to head U.S. Forest Services
• Irrigation projects
– saw goal of “conservation” to carefully manage development
and to apply same scientific method of management being
used in cities
– Legislation: National Reclamation Act (Newlands Act)
• Act funded dam construction, reservoirs, canals in West to open
new lands for irrigation, cultivation and power development
Conservation of National Resources
• Hetch Hetchy Controversy
– Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite seen as beautiful land by
naturalists, but San Francisco residents and Roosevelt’s head of
National Forest System Gifford Pinchot wanted land to build dam
and reservoir for city’s growing water needs.
• Pinchot saw needs of city more important than claims of preservation
• Issue placed in 1908 referendum, dam approved by large margin in election
• Referendum: a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that
has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Other Policies During Roosevelt’s
Administration
• Tariff
– During early administration called on Congress
to lower tariff (a progressive demand),
– refused to oppose Republican Old Guard.
• Wanted to get re-elected in 1904
– Result was Payne-Aldrich Tariff
• reduced tariffs little, raised others
– progressives resented inaction
Roosevelt on Racial Discrimination
•
On February 13, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt delivers a stirring speech to the New York City
Republican Club.
•
Roosevelt had just won his second reelection, and in this speech, he discussed the country’s current state
of race relations and his plan for improving them. In 1905, many white Americans’ attitude of superiority
to other races still lingered. Much bitterness still existed between North and South and, in addition,
Roosevelt’s tenure in office had seen an influx of Asian immigrants in the West, which contributed to new
racial tensions. In his argument for racial equality, Roosevelt used the rising tide raises all ships metaphor,
stating that if morality and thrift among the colored men can be raised then those same virtues among
whites, already assumed to be more advanced, would rise to an even higher degree. At the same time, he
warned that the debasement of the blacks will in the end carry with it [the] debasement of the whites.
•
Roosevelt’s solution to the race problem in 1905 was to proceed slowly toward social and economic
equality. He cautioned against imposing radical changes in government policy and instead suggested a
gradual adjustment in the attitudes of whites toward ethnic minorities. He referred to white Americans as
the forward race, whose responsibility it was to raise the status of minorities through training the
backward race[s] in industrial efficiency, political capacity and domestic morality. Thus, he claimed whites
bore the burden of preserving the high civilization wrought out by its forefathers.
•
While Roosevelt firmly believed in the words of the Declaration of Independence that all men are created
equal, his administration took only a passive, long-term approach to improving civil rights. His successors
in the 20th century would take the same route–it was not until Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act
in 1964 that government efforts to correct racial bias would be encoded into law.
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
• Roosevelt wanted to use American power in
the world
• Believed “civilized” countries (based on race
and degree of economic development,
industrialization) had right to intervene in
“uncivilized” nations in order to access
markets and raw materials, provide stability
and order
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
• Big Stick Diplomacy
• The use of military force when
necessary to protect American interests
in other parts of the word.
• Mainly Latin America
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
• Roosevelt believed in the idea that U.S. had special
interest in Latin America
• After European powers threatened Venezuela over
debts, Roosevelt 1906 issued “Roosevelt Corollary”
• Roosevelt Corollary
– Addition to Monroe Doctrine
– America will help Latin American countries in debt pay off
European debtors
– US had right to oppose European intervention in W.
Hemisphere and intervene itself in Latin countries to
maintain order and sovereignty
– “Bad Neighbor Policy”
• U.S. looks like an Empire
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
• Platt Amendment
– 1902
– Gave Cuba independence, also gave US right to
intervene in case of foreign threat
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
• Panama Canal
– Needed for trading
– Needed to move military easily
– Panama chosen as site for canal b/c of French canal
work that had already been started there.
– Colombia controlled Panama and would not allow US
Sec of State John Hay to negotiate lands for building
• US Supports Panamanian revolution
• Panama breaks from Columbia in revolution, America looks bad
– New independent government granted US 6-mile wide
“canal zone” for $10 million
– “Cowboy Diplomacy” – America looks bad
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
• Preserving the Open-Door Policy in Asia
– Roosevelt won Nobel Peace Prize 1906 for
negotiating end to Russo-Japanese War.
– Japan now dominant naval power in Pacific and
began blocking some US trade.
– Roosevelt sent “Great White Fleet” around
world to remind Japan (and other nations) of US
power.
Roosevelt’s Presidency
• Reform not priority during first years as president, more concerned with
winning re-election by not alienating conservative Republicans
– winning support of businessmen and using patronage—won 1904
election
• Under Roosevelt U.S. becomes imperial power in Latin and Central
America
• Because of Panic of 1907 and promise made in 1904 to step down four
years later Roosevelt did not seek re-nomination and reelection for 1908
bid
– Supported William Howard Taft
• Teddy Roosevelt used his power as president to support progressive
movement goals.
• Roosevelt becomes known in history as the first modern-day president.
William Howard Taft
• 1909-1913
• Bigger trustbuster than
Roosevelt
– 90 indictments vs. 44
• Ballinger-Pinchot controversy
– Ballinger selling public land
– Pinchot complains then
fired.
• Angered Roosevelt
– Payne-Aldrich Tariff
• actually signs bill that
increases tariffs on most
items
• angers support
Do you know I
got stuck in a
bath tub!!!!
Successes and Failures
Successes
• Trust-busting
• Empowering of the Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC)
to set railroad rates.
• Support of constitutional
amendments
– Mandating a federal income
tax
– Direct election of senators by
the people (as opposed to
appointment by state
legislatures).
Failures
• Raising of protective tariff
• Firing of Pinchot
• Angered many progressive
supporters including
Roosevelt
Taft’s Foreign Policy
•
“Dollar Diplomacy”
–
–
Use of money not force to protect economic interests in foreign countries
Taft interested in overseas economic interest
• worked to extend US investment in less developed countries. Called “Dollar Diplomacy” by
critics
Election of 1912
Candidates
Party Views
• Progressive- Theodore Roosevelt
• Progressive: Supported govt.
action to supervise big business,
but did not oppose all big business
monopolies.
• Republican: Favored business,
but fought to break up trusts.
• Democratic: Supported small
business and free market
competition; thought that all big
business monopolies were evil.
• Socialist: Felt that big business
was evil and that the solution
involved doing away with
capitalism and distributing wealth
more equally among the people.
– Bull Moose Party
– Formed when Roosevelt did not get
Republican nomination
– 1910 outlined “New Nationalism”
that moved away from
conservatism and argued only
effort of strong fed government
could bring social justice
• Republican- William Howard Taft
• Democratic- Woodrow Wilson
• Socialist- Eugene Debs
Election of 1912
Wilson Wins!
Woodrow Wilson
• 1913-1919
• Scholar
• Wilson bold and
forceful
• Used position as
leader of Dems to
build coalition to
support his program
– (Dem majorities existed
in both houses)
Woodrow Wilson
• Held that bigness was unjust and wanted to
destroy, not regulate monopoly
• “New Freedom”
– assault on “the triple wall of privilege”
– tariff
– banks
– trust
New Freedom
• Tariff
– Greatly lowered tariff in Underwood-Simmons
Tariff in order to introduce competition into
market and breakup trusts
– to make up for revenues past graduated income
tax (16th Amendment)
New Freedom
• Banks
– Federal Reserve Act 1913
– 12 regional banks run by gov’t - Money now
easily increased
• regional Fed banks made up of regional banks +
issued loans at “discount” rate
• issued Fed Reserve notes backed by government,
• shifted funds to meet credit demands and protect
banks.
• Supervising Federal Reserve Board members
selected by President
New Freedom
• Trusts
– Anti-Trust Act of 1914
• Clayton Anti-Trust Act
– allows for labor protests
– tries to control sneaky tricks of trusts
» one man runs 4-5 different companies,
controls costs
– Federal Trade Commission Act
• regulatory agency to help business determine
whether their actions were legal, also power to
prosecute “unfair trade practices”
Domestic Reform
• Wilson Retreats on Civil
Rights:
– Opposed federal antilynching legislation
– Appointed segregationists
to his cabinet
– Failed to oppose the
resegregation of federal
offices
• New developments that
brought success of female
suffrage movement:
– Increased activism of
local and grass roots
groups
– Use of bold new strategies
to build enthusiasm for
the movement
– Regeneration of the
national movement under
Carrie Chapman Catt
Regulation of Working Conditions
• 1916
• Keating-Owen Act
– regulated child labor
– Forbid interstate sale of
goods made by children
• 1914
• Smith-Lever Act
– help agricultural
extension education
– Help educated farmers
about new technologies
Wilson’s Foreign Policy
• Moral Diplomacy
– This promotes the growth of the nation's ideals
and damages nations with different ideologies.
– Used by Wilson to support countries with
democratic governments and to economically
injure non-democratic countries
• seen as possible threats to the U.S.
• He also hoped to increase the number of democratic
nations, particularly in Latin America.
Wilson’s Foreign Policy
• Mexico
– 1911-1913-Mexican government had been
overthrown 2 times and the new leader,
General Victoriano Huerta, favored the
wealthy and foreign investors while many
citizens were living in poverty and were being
treated unfairly.
– Moral Diplomacy-Woodrow Wilson tried to
aid morality to foreign affairs and refused to
back Huerta.
– He sent the military to support Carranza, and
forced Huerta to resign.
Wilson’s Foreign Policy
• “Pancho” Villa
– Revolutionary who led an uprising against the
new government and also came across the
border to raid the town of Columbus, New
Mexico.
– President Wilson sent John J. Pershing to
capture Pancho Villa.
– After a year of pursuing him, his forces came
back to the U.S. without him. He is viewed as a
folk hero in Mexican history