The Progressive Presidents

If you can’t beat them, laugh at them. A look at the political satire of the Progressive Era

Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was elected to the office of Vice President

A powerful republican leader named Mark Hanna warned America there was now only one life between “That Cowboy” and the Whitehouse.

Roosevelt believed in conservation- the protection and preservation of natural resources. He was a famous outdoorsman.

Less than a year later, President McKinley was assassinated

Trustbuster

Roosevelt was extremely progressive He ordered the justice system to use the

Sherman Anti-Trust act, which wasn’t used to this point in history, to break up trusts

Roosevelt went after the Northern Securities Company, a railroad monopoly in the northwest, and broke it apart.

Roosevelt was a trustbuster is someone that wanted to break up big corporations.

Labor Crisis

1902 – 100,000 United Mine Workers, a union went on strike.

The public opinion was against the owners Roosevelt invited owners and union

leaders to talk at the White House. Owners refused to show up, and Roosevelt

was furious He threatened to send the army in to run

the mines and take them over himself.

Square Deal

When Roosevelt ran for president in 1904, he promised a Square Deal – equal treatment for all.

He also promised government would regulate business

Before this, the country practiced Laissez-faire. This French term generally means, “let people do as they choose.”

He supported the pure food and drug act, which gave government permission to visit businesses and inspect products

President Taft

No president had run for more than two terms. So Roosevelt did not run again

Taft easily defeated democrat William Jennings Bryan

He was not as exciting as Roosevelt, but won more anti-trust cases in 4 years than Roosevelt did in 7 years.

Problems for Taft

Taft supported the 16th Amendment – which gave congress the power to tax people’s incomes. (Money they make)

Progressives believed Taft would use the money to lower tariffs, but tariffs stayed the same and progressives were angry.

Roosevelt was watching and was disappointed and enraged.

Roosevelt Challenges Taft

In 1912 Roosevelt decided to run against Taft.

Taft won the republican nomination over Roosevelt, but Roosevelt was still very popular

Roosevelt and his supporters formed the Progressive Party. They nominated Roosevelt.

Election of 1912

The republican vote was split between Roosevelt and Taft

Woodrow Wilson, the democrat snuck in and stole the election. He gained 42% of the popular vote, Roosevelt got 27% and Taft got 22%.

Wilson almost swept the election, receiving 435 of 531 electoral votes.

Wilson continues Progressivism Wilson’s New Freedom program included

many progressive era ideas, and was able to pass laws to lower taxes on sugar, wool, steel, and farm equipment that were imported.

The progressive movement changed life in America, however while change was taking place many people were forgotten along the way.

Group Questions

Symbols are used in cartoons to visually present abstract ideas. Many such as Uncle Sam are widely recognized. What symbols are used in this cartoon?

Cartoonists employ humor to make powerful statements in an effective, less heavy-handed manner. Does this cartoon use humor to make its point? If so, how? Is it sarcastic? Ironic? Ridiculing?

Exaggeration is what sets editorial cartoons apart; they must grab the reader and deliver a message in a few seconds. What is exaggerated in this cartoon, and what purpose does it serve?

How does your cartoon connect to one of the key concepts found in chapter 27? (Hint, use your guided reading)

Create a thesis statement that sums up the cartoons main message

Why is this concept important today?

All together now…

Symbolism Humor Exaggeration Connection to Key Concepts Thesis Importance Bonus-Find a political cartoon

reflecting a similar issue in today's society.

Example Symbolism

Ghost of founding ideals (think ghost of Christmas past)▪ This represents…what is more important, the sprit of the law or the letter of the law.

Humor “I thought I dodged that”

▪ This satirizes (makes a funny) the situation by…ridiculing president Roosevelt’s attempt to escape the two term limit.

Exaggeration My platform, my ideals

▪ This exaggerates Roosevelt's reputation for commanding attention and pushing to “get his way”.

Connection to Key Concepts This Political cartoon connects to question six: “Summing up Roosevelt”

Thesis While Roosevelt’s aggressive methods and brash style lead the way to many progressive

reforms, his attempt to run for a third term lead many Americans to question whether his motives were driven by a desire to help, or a desire to control.

Importance This cartoon reflects the Americans belief that Presidents should not serve more than two

terms. This ideal is based on the belief that longer terms would give individuals extreme amounts of power, and possibly have a negative effect on the freedoms of Americans.