TAFT TO WWIbuckle up

The Taft Presidency Election of 1908…Roosevelt had just served 2 terms

William Howard Taft was handpicked by Roosevelt to replace him.

Gov. of Philippines, Secretary of War Taft and Teddy Roosevelt were very

close friends when Teddy left the Presidency.

He was always a very large man. At the time of his death his weight was 360 pounds.

1904 – Governor in Philippines

BFF

Roosevelt eventually became upset at how Taft ran the country after he left office.

• Progressives whom didn’t like Taft convinced Roosevelt to run for office

• Roosevelt said he was “fit as a bull moose” for the campaign.

Election of 1912 This election had three major candidates running for the

Presidency:1. William Taft Republican Party2. Woodrow Wilson Democrat Party3. Teddy Roosevelt Progressive or

Bull Moose Party4. Eugene Debs Socialist Party

Roosevelt came into the race too late, and by that time Taft had already garnered enough support to have his parties nomination.

So TR ran as an independent party, but effectively split the Republicans in two by bring over the Progressive voting block of the electorate.

Eugene V. Debs

Labor Union organizer… Pullman strike

Not yet a socialist until he was arrested after Pullman

Would run for President 4 times…would never win an electoral vote

Woodrow Wilson is elected

He was the governor of New Jersey at the time he won the Presidency.

From 1902 to 1910 he was the President of Princeton University in New Jersey.

Only US President to have a PhD Considered a Progressive intellectual more

so than a politician He is most famous for being President

during World War 1 (WWI). His first wife died in 1914. He married his

second wife while President in 1915.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

Underwood Tariff It reduced the average tariff on imported goods by 30%. One of the most important provisions was for an income

tax which would replace the funds lost by lowered tariffs This would open the doors of debate for the 16th

Amendment. In 1913 the 16 Amendment passed which was the

federal income tax on individuals. Progressive tax – more you make more you pay Big deal – for the 1st time the government was receiving

taxes directly from each individual in the country

The Federal Reserve Act

This allowed for banks to keep a portion of their money in a regional bank.

This would set the interest rates for the entire country and control the amount of currency.

Many people say this was the most important piece of legislation in U.S. history.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

Federal Trade Commission

This was set up to monitor American business. and make sure trusts were not forming.

The main job of the FTC was to work with business to limit the unfair activities.

The Clayton Antitrust Act stopped businesses from charging different prices to different customers.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

The End of Progressivism

The Progressive era permanently changed the view of how the government should interact with its people

By the end the American people thought the government’s job was to protect the people through laws (before the govt. seemed to protect business)

Progressivism was the remedy to MANY of the social injustices of the day: child labor laws, long work days, women’s rights, etc

But for all they did…they were still lacking

Leading up to World War I

3 things help bring the war to a start:

1. Nationalism- This means to have pride in one’s own country and to want certain freedoms or

independence – relates to imperialism2. Militarism- glorification of war and the

military.--European “arms race” – between 1905-1913

military spending in Europe went up 50%--Military plans that were set in stone

3. Alliances- agreements between nations to form a group.

Due to all this tension, Europe was nicknamed the powder keg.

England vs Germany Arms Race

Britain's “Two Power Standard”

British HMS Dreadnought

Formation of Alliances Alliances were formed in Europe by certain

countries for trade and protection. It would be the formation of these alliances

that would help to start World War I (WWI).

There were only two European Alliances: Triple Alliance (Central Powers)Triple Entente (Allied

Powers)

1. Germany 1. Britain (England)

2. Italy 2. France

3. Austria-Hungary 3. Russia

The Start of WWI Due to growing tension, war in

Europe was about to start. June 28th, 1914 Archduke

Francis Ferdinand (the future king of Austria) was shot to death while visiting Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia.

He was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip who was a member of a secret nationalist group called the Black Hand.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip

Austria-Hungary invades Serbia to begin the war

World War I Begins After his assassination, all countries in Europe

would be involved in WWI. Assassination was the first domino to fall…

Austria declares war on the Serbs, Russia declares war on Austria, Germany then declares war on Russia and France (they knew they had to), etc

US & Britain still not involved…but had eyes on the situation

WWI marked an end to a long era of international peace.

This would be the largest and most expensive war the world had ever seen.