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Roosevelt and Wilson

Roosevelt and Wilson. The Bull Moose and the professor. Roosevelt Becomes President. Republican; 1901-1909 – the “Square Deal” McKinley was assassinated six months into his second term Succeeded by his VP Theodore Roosevelt Background Aristocratic family, graduated from Harvard

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Roosevelt and Wilson

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  1. Roosevelt and Wilson The Bull Moose and the professor

  2. Roosevelt Becomes President • Republican; 1901-1909 – the “Square Deal” • McKinley was assassinated six months into his second term • Succeeded by his VP Theodore Roosevelt • Background • Aristocratic family, graduated from Harvard • Tremendous energy, rancher, outdoorsman, historian, politician • NY Assemblyman, Federal Civil Service Commissioner, NYC Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy • Governor of NY in 1898, civil service and tax reforms, independence from mainstream Republicans • Received the nomination for VP to put him in a position of little power

  3. Roosevelt’s Views • Strong leadership • Considered himself morally bound to further interests of the people • Used power and prestige of office to provide strong leadership • “Square Deal” • Believed the government should • Assure honesty and fairness in both government and business • Give greater economic opportunity to the individual • Theme of his administration to provide a “square deal” to all groups: businessmen, laborers, farmers, and consumers

  4. Roosevelt as President • Election of 1904 • Gained much support for his square deal and strong leadership and won election easily • Being officially elected further invigorated him • Relationship to Progressivism • Opposed socialists and radicals who wanted to end private enterprise • Condemned wealthy who resisted change and abused power • Represented middle class moderate reform

  5. Vigorous Government • Stopping “Bad” Trusts • Said big business must adjust to public welfare • Began over 40 anti-trust suits; “trustbuster” • Settling the Anthracite Coal Strike • 1902 United Mine Workers went on strike; winter approaching and people needed coal • TR threatened to take mines, but owners agreed to a Presidential arbitration commission • Awarded workers wage increase and shorter hours but not union recognition • Roosevelt emerged as a friend to laborers and established a new presidential power to settle strikes • Conserving natural Resources • Substantially increased national reserves of forests, coal lands, and waterpower sites • Financed irrigation projects • Encouraged conservation by the Forest Service • Brought conservation to national attention • Protecting the Consumer and Railroad user • Pure Food and Drug Act, Meat inspection Act, Hepburn Act (expanded power of Interstate Commerce Commission)

  6. Taft Administration • Election of 1908 • Roosevelt’s chosen successor • Promised to continue Roosevelt’s policies • Defeated Dem. Candidate William Jennings Bryant (lost the presidential election for the 3rd and last time) • Background • Federal judge, Gov. of the Philippines, Sec. of War: little experience dealing with people • Unable to rouse public support and had a limited view of president’s role • Personal integrity and keen mind (would later be more successful as the chief justice of the SC)

  7. Antagonizing the Progressives • Tariffs • Passed tariff act that did not lower tariffs as much a Roosevelt wanted • Conservation • Supported his Interior secretary Ballinger in a controversy against Roosevelt’s Head of Forest Service Pinchot • Alienated Roosevelt and Progressives • Reform in the House of Representatives • Did not support Progressives in limiting power of the Speaker of the House • Democrats and Progressives succeeded in taking power of appointing members to committees and Speaker not allowed on the Rules Committee • Result: • Taft associated with “Old Guard” of the Republicans; Roosevelt supported the new, Progressive Republicans • Accomplishments of Taft • Twice as many antitrust suits as TR • Proposed 16th (Income tax) and 17th (direct election of senators) amendments • Both passed in 1913 • Increased power of the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission)

  8. Election of 1912 • Taft won nomination for Republican Party • Roosevelt angry at Taft’s policies, decided to run • Created new Progressive Party (aka the Bull Moose Party because TR often said he was as strong as a “bull moose”) • Split the Republican party and the progressive Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson won the election

  9. Wilson’s Presidency • Professor of history (woot!!), President of Princeton University, Gov. of NJ • Known as the Schoolmaster or Professor • High ideals, lacked personal warmth but eloquent orator • Wilson’s Views • Strong leadership • Utilized presidential powers to fullest • Called congress into special session and appeared personally before Congress to request legislation(first time since Jefferson), used patronage to get votes, won public support to turn wavering congressmen: • considered highly successful president for strong leadership in passing legislation • “New Freedom” • Disliked extremes of great wealth • Sought to strengthen democratic, capitalist society by progressive reforms: • Lower tariffs, improved banking system, stronger business regulation, protection for unions and workers • Election of 1916 • Wilson won with slogan “He kept us out of the War” then we joined WWI in 1917…but more about that later

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