Download teddy roosevelt, taft and the start of progressivism

TEDDY ROOSEVELT, TAFT AND THE
START OF PROGRESSIVISM
By: Merlinda Rose and Hussam Amer
State Progressivism
• 
The 1890’s was one of the worst times for Americans.
• 
There were many people who lived in poverty.
• 
Many people were coming to America from Europe and worked for low
pay and did the dirty or dangerous jobs.
• 
The United States one of the highest industrial accident rates but the
workers were hardly ever paid for compensation.
• 
Farmers were also struggling since they had to pay high freight rates to
carry their produce along the railroad to the market.
• 
Farmers also had to pay high interest rates for the loans they used to
pay for land, seeds, and farm equipment.
State Progressivism
Cont’d
• 
In 1893 an economic depression hit.
• 
A majority of Americans lost their homes, jobs, and farms.
• 
Government avoided private business.
• 
The government made little to no efforts to help fix the economy and
help those Americans that were suffering.
State Progressivism
Cont’d
• 
State progressivism began because there were people who realized
there needed to be meaningful changes. These people called
themselves progressives.
• 
The first success was seen in city governments when Progressives
public exposed corrupt city officials, where they were voted out of office
and replaced by reform leaders.
• 
Cities like Toledo, Ohio established a minimum wage, the eight hour a
day work schedule, and paid vacations for workers under Progressive
administration.
• 
Strikes were illegal so workers could not go on strikes. For those who
went on strikes, they would be arrested or beaten my company thugs.
Teddy Roosevelt
• 
He was graduated with the highest honors from Harvard, wrote 23
books, and was considered the world's foremost authority on North
American wildlife.
• 
During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of
the Rough Rider Regiment, which he led on a charge at the battle of
San Juan.
• 
He won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War,
reached a Gentleman's Agreement on immigration with Japan, and sent
the Great White Fleet on a goodwill tour of the world.
Teddy Roosevelt
Cont’d
• 
In 1884 his first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt, and his mother died on the
same day. Roosevelt spent much of the next two years on his ranch in
the Badlands of Dakota Territory.
• 
He was only forty-two years old when his predecessor William McKinley
was assassinated, the youngest age ever for the chief executive.
• 
He became president on September 1901
Teddy Roosevelt
• 
When Teddy took office the population of the U.S. had almost doubled
from 1870 to 1900 as immigrants came to U.S.
• 
The immigrants worked in the country's burgeoning factories.
• 
As the United States became increasingly urban and industrial, it
became overcrowded cities with poor working conditions, great
economic disparity, and the political dominance of big business.
• 
He took the view that the President as a "steward of the people" should
take whatever action necessary for the public good unless expressly
forbidden by law or the Constitution." I did not usurp power," he wrote,
"but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power."
Congress
• 
Congress during this time was running the government,
• 
and big business seemed to be running Congress.
• 
Roosevelt did not agree on how the US government was run, he
strongly believed that no individual, no matter how rich and powerful,
should control the people's representatives”.
• 
Roosevelt was convinced that if abuse of workers continued to go
unchecked, a violent revolution would sweep the nation.
• 
Roosevelt restrict the power of big business by breaking up a
monopoly.
Congress
Cont’d
• 
Aware of the strategic need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and
Pacific, Roosevelt ensured the construction of the Panama Canal.
• 
He traveled often and spoke with confidence and enthusiasm.
Americans received him warmly.
• 
Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics.
He liked to quote a favorite proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big
stick. . . . "
• 
He has also filed a suit against the Northern Securities Company, a
railroad holding company, for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Congress
Cont’d
• 
Sherman Antitrust Act: was passed in 1890 and It prohibits certain
business activities that federal government regulators deem to be anticompetitive, and requires the federal government to investigate and
pursue trusts.
Square Deal
• 
It was a domestic program formed upon three basic ideas:
a.  conservation of natural resources
b.  control of corporations
c.  and consumer protection
• 
The deal protected both business and labor
• 
It sought to ease the radical voice in both and come to compromise.
• 
One act, the Elkins Act, made it illegal to give free tickets to preferred
• 
companies.
Another industry that was monitored under this period was the food
industry. Mislabeled food and tainted food came under scrutiny and was
reported in order to protect the health of consumers.
The Conservation movement
• 
During the 20th century the frontier was disappearing and wildlife
became endangered.
• 
Roosevelt wanted to protect natural resources.
• 
By the end of his time as president, he had created five national parks,
four game refuges, fifty-one national bird reservations as well as the
National Forest Service.
Taft’s Presidency
• 
In 1877 Taft attended Yale College after graduating from Woodward
High School. At Woodward, Taft graduated second in his class prior to
going to law school.
• 
In 1900, he started to work in the Philippines where he was appointed
to Governor-General
• 
William Howard Taft served as both the 27th president and the Chief
Justice.
• 
He later became Secretary of War of the United States by President
Roosevelt
Taft’s Presidency
Cont’d
• 
During 1906 when tensions between Japan and Russia were peaking,
even Cuba became involved. When the United State occupied Cuba to
keep things under control, Taft was set to be the temporary governor of
Cuba.
• 
In 1908 Taft finally ran for presidency and insisted he would be a great
candidate. He won the nomination by running a firm campaign.
• 
In 1909 he was sworn into his first term in presidency with mixed
reactions. Often the press complained that Taft did not show frequently
enough to get an interview.
Taft’s Presidency
Cont’d
• 
In 1912, New Mexico and Arizona were admitted to the union and
recognized as states under his term.
• 
Also under the Taft administration was the founding of the Chamber of
Commerce in 1912. This was an effort to aid business as well as the
country after fighting tariffs
• 
A year later in 1913, the 16th amendment, which allows the government
to collect taxes on income, was ratified during President Taft’s
presidency.
Taft’s Presidency Cont’d
• 
When the amendment was passed many were angry that is was an
unconstitutional direct tax, despite protesters efforts, the amendment,
and taxes remain today.
• 
Under the Taft administration was the development of “dollar
diplomacy”, or the effort of the United States to use its economic power
to guarantee loans made to foreign countries in order to further its aims
in Latin America and East Asia.
Taft’s Presidency Cont’d
• 
Also in 1913, was the Webb-Kenyon Interstate Liquor Shipments Act,
this was part of prohibition, as the act banned liquor from being
transported into states where it was banned altogether.
• 
Finally, when the election year came around again, Taft ran for a
second term, however, he had made enemies during his term, which
worked against him and ultimately was defeated.
Work Cited
Author Unknown. "Election Central." The Progressives. CRF-USA, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
Author Unknown. "Miller Center." American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Domestic Affairs.
Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.
Author Unknown. "Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House." Ushistory.org.
Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014.
Author Unknown. "Theodore Roosevelt." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 02 Dec.
2014.
Author Unknown. "What Were President William Howard Taft's Accomplishments?" FindTheBest.
FindTheBest.com, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.