american presidents of the reform era roosevelt to wilson and the election of 1912
TRANSCRIPT
American Presidents of the Reform Era
Roosevelt to Wilsonand the Election of 1912
Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt
• President, 1901-09– Youngest President at
age 43
• New York
• Republican
Roosevelt’s Presidency• Domestic Issues - “Bully Activist”
– “Square Deal” - Business Reform• “Trust-buster”
– Environmentalist• 194 million acres for National Parks
– Public Health• Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)• Yellow Fever
William Howard Taft
• President, 1909-13
• Ohio
• Republican
• Weighed 300 pounds
Taft Presidency, 1908-1912• Series of reforms
– Anti-trust cases– Tariff reductions– Strengthened Interstate Commerce Act
• Although TR earned the name “Trust-buster”, Taft actually broke apart more trusts
Taft and Roosevelt
• Teddy Roosevelt more and more disenchanted with his successor– Taft fired TR’s Chief of Forest Service
• 1910 Midterm Elections– Democrats take House
Taft and Roosevelt
• Taft Anti-trust case criticizes TR policy– US Steel– Roosevelt declares for nomination
• Increasing split among Republicans– Conservative camp– Progressive camp
• Robert LaFollette
Republican Convention
LaFollette Roosevelt Taft
Republican Convention
Roosevelt Taft
“Fathead!”
“Dumber than a guinea pig”
“Demagogue!”
“Dangerous Egoist”
Republican Convention
• Progressive wing (TR & LaFollette) split delegate vote
• Taft takes Conservatives
• TR and allies walk out and vow to start new party - The Progressive Party
Democratic Convention
• Highly contested
• William J. Bryan backs Wilson
• Wilson wins on 46th ballot
Campaign• Teddy Roosevelt and
Progressive Party– “Bull Moose” Party
• “New Nationalism”– Government involvement in the
economy– Guarantee social justice– Protecting labor– Women’s suffrage
Campaign
• Taft– Incumbents traditionally
did not campaign
• Surrogates back conservative platform– Some reform– Maintain tariffs
Campaign• Wilson and the Democrats
• “New Freedom”– Reform, but not radical– Government not to interfere too much in
economy– Reduce tariffs– Good government– Women’s suffrage a state issue
Campaign• Eugene V. Debs• Candidate in 1904 and 1908, as
well as 1912
• Socialist– Government ownership of some
industry– Sweeping labor reforms– Women’s suffrage
Results
Wilson’s Presidency
• Domestic Issues– 18th Amendment: Prohibition– 19th Amendment: Votes for Women– Federal Reserve System– Federal Farm Loan Act– Some support for Labor Unions