Politics & Progressivism. Government Reforms Fighting corruption Making government more connected to the voters Bringing professional to politics (city.

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