Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt

1. Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt

2. 1900- 76 million people, 1 in 7 foreign born Progs- wage war against monopolies, corruption, inefficiency, and social justice Progs= large and diverse Battle cry = “Strengthen the state” Progressivism

3. Populism The heart of progressive movement: Belief that government should be strengthened so that it could act aggressively to tackle social ills. Government could be an instrument of positive good Basic prescription: use government as an agency of human welfare. At heart, a rejection of Laissez Faire Progressive Roots

4. Pressure came from a number of different groups: Socialists from Europe—start to gain strength in US Christians preaching Social Gospel—focused on the needs of the poor and the workers at the mercy of corporations. Feminists—suffrage movement included social justice in their call for reform because women were often those who suffered the most. Urban pioneers exposing corruption of cities and working conditions of children and women – Jacob Riis- “How the Other Half Lives” Progressive Roots

5. Magazines and Newspapers began to compete with each other to expose evil and corruption (money incentive) Lincoln Steffens—Shame in the Cities Ida Tarbell—expose of Standard Oil David Phillips—The Treason of the Senate Muckrakers

6. tariff lobbies beef trust money trust railroad barons Slums High rate of industrial accidents Child labor (John Spargo- The Bitter Cry of Children ) Plight of blacks in the south ( Ray Baker- Following the Color Line) Adulterated Patent Medicine Muckraking Targets

7. Was out-pouring of national criticism and exposure of ways in which the system was broken. Articles had a profound impact on the nation Like progressives in general, these articles were long on complaint but short on solutions. They sought not to overthrow capitalism, but to cleanse it to cure the ills of American democracy. Muckraking Goals

8. 1.Direct primary elections 2. Initiative- voters can directly propose legislation themselves 3.Referendum-place laws on the ballot for final approval by the people 4.Recall-allow voters to remove faithless elected officials 5. Australian secret ballot- political bosses less likely to bribe if they don’t know who you are voting for 6. Direct election of senators – 17th amendment 7. Women’s suffrage- 19th amendment Political Progressivism

9. Most impressive gains in the cities Galveston TX- city manager system (efficiency) Urban reforms attack “slum-lords” Wisconsin a test lab for progressive proposals. – regulation of public utilities Gov. Robert La Follette Progressivism In The Cities And States

10. Oregon not far behind Wisconsin – Hiram W Johnson NYC Governor- Charles Evans- malpractices by gas and insurance co. Progressivism In The Cities And States

11. Settlement houses – Jane Addams Literary clubs Separate spheres?- women say progressivism is an extension of traditional female roles Progressive Women

12. Muller v. Oregon- protection of women laborers, special protection for women Lochner v. NY- set back for progressives- cannot limit banker’s work hours Progressive Women

13. Company located in NYC. Fire breaks out. Emergency Exit doors are locked trapping workers inside. 146 dead. Impact- NY starts to pass stronger laws regulating hours and sweetshop labor Triangle Shirt Waist Fire

15. Woman’s Christian temperance Union- Promote dry laws Big cities stay wet- why? 1914- half the population lives in dry territory Progressives attack Saloons

16. Demanded a “Square Deal” for capital, labor and the public. Believed the government should uphold the public interest. He pushed control of three Cs: corporations, consumer protection conservation of natural resources. TR’s Square Deal For Labor

17. Anthracite Coal Mine Strike 1902- 150,000 miners walk off until shorter work days and better wages are given. Teddy sides with the workers rather than the owners. Nations sees him as a hero. 1st president to stand up for workers. Also ensure that the US will have a steady coal supply. TR’s Square Deal For Labor

18. Department of Commerce and Labor 1903. Bureau of Corporations Probe business involved in interstate commerce TR’s Square Deal For Labor

19. RR monster still largely untouched. Interstate Commerce Commission was largely ineffective, until Elkins Act of 1903- punishes givers and receivers of rebates TR Corrals Corporations

20. Hepburn Act of 1906 Interstate Commerce Commission given new teeth. jurisdiction expanded; allowed to set maximum rates and nullify existing rates. TR Corrals Corporations

21. Northern Securities Co. case Under TR the Justice Department initiated over 40 anti-trust suits. Roosevelt’s exaggerated rep as a trust-buster In reality- doing to show big business that the government runs the country, not business Who ya gonna call? Trust Busters

22. TR backed legislation protecting against adulterated and mislabeled food. 1906 Upton Sinclair The Jungle Meat Inspection Act of 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 Mary had a little lamb, And when she saw it sicken, She shipped it off to packing town And now its labeled chicken Caring For The Consumer

23. Americans using up natural resources Corporations hungry to exploit resources. Desert Land Act of 1877- person can buy arid land for cheap if they promise to irrigate it for three years Roosevelt and Conservation

24. Forest Reserve Act of 1891- president set aside public forests as national parks and other reserves TR makes environmentalism an issue Newlands Act of 1902- collect money from public sale of lands in western states, use that money to start irrigation Roosevelt set aside vast tracts of forests to prevent logging on it. Roosevelt and Conservation

25. Public loves TR, republicans worrisome about him But during 2nd term, said he will not run for a 3rd, this hurts his support Conservatives blame TR and his regulation for panic of 1907 Aldrich-Vreeland Act- national banks can issue emergency currency back by various forms of collateral Roosevelt Panic Of 1907

26. TR handpicks good friend Taft for election of 1908 Democrats- again select William Jennings Bryan TR’s legacy 1. Power and prestige of president increased 2. Square deal- paves way for new deal 3. Make America aware of we share the world The Rough Rider Thunders Out

28. Qualified but passive, not a man of action “Peaceful Bill” At first very popular Poor judge of public opinion William Taft-Suffers from Van-Buren syndrome

29. Encourage American investments abroad, especially in areas of political interest Taft tries to buy Manchurian Railway Co.- to eventually sell back to China- Russia and Japan laugh at it Yankee Lake- Taft tries to get bankers to invest in Honduras and Haiti Dollar Diplomacy

30. TR- 44 trusts in 7.5 years Taft- 90 suits against trust in 4 years Sup. Ct. decision in Standard Oil case, Rule of Reason Only “unreasonable” restraints of trade were illegal. Created a huge hole in fed’s anti-trust net. Taft also went after US Steel, Angered TR. Taft the Trustbuster

31. Lower tariff one of the primary progressive aims; viewed as the mother of all Trusts. Payne-Aldrich Bill. Taft: the “best bill ever passed by the party.” Senate attach 100’s of provisions Taft Splits the Republican Party

32. Ballinger-Pinchot quarrel Ballinger opens up lands in in WY, Montana, Alaska for corporate development Pinchot gets pissed, Taft fires him for insubordination Taft Splits the Republican Party

33. National Progressive Republican League; LaFollette at the head. TR lets it be known that he will accept a third term if nominated by Republicans. TR- about 100 delegates short of winning republican nomination TR- will enter as a third party The Taft-Roosevelt Rupture