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