Progressive Presidents

Progressive PresidentsAngela Brown

Chapter 19 Section 31

• 1912 – progressive reformers created own political party

• Ideas caught the attention of American voters and politicians.

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Taft’s Presidency

• 1904 – TR announced he would not seek another term. (day after election)

• 1908 – Roosevelt handpicked , Secretary of War, William Howard Taft to be Republican nominee.

• William Jennings Bryan tried for a third and final time for the democrats.

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• Taft pledged to carry on TR’s progressivism.

• Pursued 90 anti-trust cases but gave in to republican “old guard” resisted many progressive programs.

• Tariff reduction compromised – caused a faction of progressives to develop within republican party who disliked Taft.

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The Ballinger-Pinchot Affair

• Taft ignored conservationists – people concerned with care and protection of natural resources

• Richard Ballinger, Taft’s Sec. Of Interior, allowed private group of business men to obtain millions of acres of Alaskan Public lands containing rich coal deposits.

• Gifford Pinchot, TR appointee to head forest service felt Ballinger had shown preference to group and complained to Congressional Committee. 5

• Taft fired Pinchot!• Upset progressive faction joined democrats –

voted to investigate Ballinger.• Ballinger resigned.• House Rules Committee- run by “Old Guard”

had been able to block reform legislation.• 1910, amended rules committee would be

appointed by House (not Speaker) and the Speaker could not serve on committee – blocked powerful Speaker, Joseph Cannon

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The Midterm Elections of 1910

• TR began speaking in support of progressive candidates in 1910 midterm elections.

• TR called for more federal regulation of business, welfare legislation, progressive reform, stronger workplace protections for women and children, income and inheritance taxes, direct primaries, initiative, referendum, and recall.

• TR called this New Nationalism.

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• Republicans lost seats – Progressives dominated Senate

• 1912 TR announced opposition to Taft for republican nomination.

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The Election of 1912

• Taft controlled party machines and won nomination.

• Progressives marched out and formed own party with Roosevelt as candidate.

• TR stated, “I feel fit as a Bull Moose!” = Progressive Party nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party”

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http://progressive.notanumberinc.com/trmoose.jpg11

The Bull Moose Party

• Platform tariff reduction, women’s suffrage, more regulation of business, end to child labor, 8 hour work day, federal workers compensation system, popular election of Senators.

• Women joined and ran in states that had suffrage.

• TR shot during speech in Milwaukee – continued to speak for 1 ½ hours before receiving medical assistance “It takes more than this to kill a bull moose.” 12

A Four-Way Election

• Taft, Republican• Roosevelt, Bull Moose Progressives• Eugene Debs, labor, Socialist• Woodrow Wilson, Governor of NJ,

Democrat - reform platform- criticized big business and big government

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http://history.utah.gov/news_and_events/currents/past_issues/images/elections--taft.jpg

William H. Taft – Republican PartyTheodore Roosevelt – Bull Moose Party

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http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/debs.jpg

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Eugene Debs – Socialist Party Woodrow Wilson – Democratic Party

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• New Freedom Policy – promised to enforce anti-trust laws without threatening free economic competition

• Wilson won with 42% of popular vote – republican vote split

• Democrats took control of both houses of Congress.

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Wilson’s Policies as President

• Wilson’s reputation as a reformer – life now so complex government had to “step in and create new conditions”

• 1914 Clayton Anti-Trust Act – to strengthen Sherman – spelled out specific activities big business could not do.

• Could not use contracts to prevent buyers from purchasing goods form competitors.

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• Members of unions could not be “held or construed to be illegal combinations in restraint of trade under anti-trust laws”.

• Strikes, peaceful picketing and boycotts were legal.

• Courts could not issue injunctions unless “irreparable injury to property” occurred.

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• Government now committed to regulating business.

• Wilson and Congress created Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 1914 – set up fair trade laws and enforce anti-trust laws – issue “cease and desist orders” for unfair business practices.

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The Federal Reserve System

• 1913 established Federal Reserve System – recognized federal banking system.

• Created 8 to 12 Federal Reserve Banks throughout the country.

• All national banks were required to become members.

• Member banks stored some capital and cash reserves at district reserve.

• All Reserves Supervised by Bd. Appointed by the President.

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• Reserves allowed member banks to borrow money for short-term demands – helped during economic panic

• New System of Currency – Federal Reserve Notes – allowed Federal Reserve to expand/contract amount of money in circulation according to business need

• 1916 Federal Farm Loan Board – made loans to farmers – borrow for 5-40 years at rates lower than commercial banks

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• Allowed cabinet officers to extend Jim Crow practice of separating races in federal offices. (begun under Taft)

• Opposed Amendment for Women’s Sufferage – party platform had not endorsed it

• Brandeis appointed to Supreme Court.• 1916 Wilson nominated progressive

lawyer Louis Brandeis to Supreme Court.

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Louis Brandeis

• Brandeis from Louisville, Kentucky “The People’s Lawyer”

• He had supported/advised Wilson during 1912 campaign

• opponents said too radical• first Jewish Supreme Court nominee• served until 1939• marked the peak of progressive reform

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/supreme_court/roberts/images/louis-brandeis_sub.jpg

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Wilson Wins Second Term

• 1916 Wilson ran again – progressivism had lost some appeal

• TR endorsed Republican, Charles Evan Hughes, former Governor of NY and Supreme Court Justice – campaign dominated by war in Europe

• Wilson won a narrow victory promising to keep us out of war.

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The Limits of Progressivism

• Progressives focused on problems of cities – did not address plight to tenents/migrant farmers/nonunionized workers

• Some supported immigration restrictions and literacy tests.

• Supported government imperialistic policies abroad “civilizing” of underdeveloped nations.

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• African Americans felt ignored by progressives.

• Only a tiny group of progressives that helped found the NAACP were concerned about race relations.

• 1912 progressive party convention TR refused to seat African American delegates from south to avoid alienating Southern Supporters.

• Some southern white progressives supported women’s vote to double white vote.

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End of Progressivism

• 1914 war broke out in Europe – calls to prepare for war drowned out calls for reform

• 1916 reform spirit gone – drive for women suffrage remained

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