Politics & Progressivism

Politics & Progressivism

Government Reforms• Fighting corruption• Making government more connected to

the voters• Bringing professional to politics (city

mangers)• Initiative (Populists)• Referendum (Populists)• Direct primary• Recall

Robert La Follette• Gov. of Wisconsin• “Laboratory of Progressivism”

Presidential Progressivism

Theodore Roosevelt• Myth – progressive reformer• Reality – more of a conservative

interested in expanding presidential power

• Not willing to be controlled by the Republican Party

• Moderate

TR & the Role of the Government

• Mediator• More of a trust regulator than a

“trust buster”• Department of Commerce & Labor• Sherman Anti-Trust Act– Northern Securities Company (1904)

• Arbitration of Strikes– United Mine Workers (1902)

The Square Deal• Hepburn Railroad Regulation• Pure Food and Drug Act• Meat Inspection Act• Proposed – 8hr work day• “a chicken in every pot”

Conservation• Government land in the West• Gifford Pinchot• National Forest Service• Newlands Act (dams, reservoirs, and

canals in the West)

Preservation• National Park

System• Created

Yellowstone National Park

Election of 1908• TR takes a few on the chin– Panic of 1907– “the promise of 1904”– Too radical?

Election of 1908• A reluctant TR• Taft’s wife issues• Taft – choice of the Party• TR’s choice• A SAD VICTORY

Taft – Failed Compromise• Tried to pick the middle road b/t

progressives & conservatives and made no one happy

• TR felt betrayed by Taft and became publically critical

Election of 1912• Nasty primaries for the Republicans– The Old Guard gave the nomination to

Taft• Democrats – Wilson• The Progressive Party – TR (aka Bull

Moose Party)• The third party ensured the victory

for the DEMOCRATS!

Wilson’s New Freedom• Progressive – after the trusts• Expanded presidential power• Federal Reserve Act – reform of the

banking system – more flexible and reliable system of supplying banks & the nation with paper money

• Some changes BUT derailed by World War I and a stroke