Progressivism Through the Presidents

McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson

William McKinley- “Saves” the Cuban people.

- “Acquires” the Philippines.

- Annexes Hawaii.

- Promotes Open Door Policy in China

-Puts down Boxer insurrection.

-Does little in terms of Domesticreform.

William McKinley• Assassinated on

September 14th 1901

• "Now look — that d*** cowboy is president." - Mark Hanna, William McKinley friend and fellow Republican.

Teddy Roosevelt•“Square Deal” -

Aggressive domestic reform policies

Teddy Roosevelt• “Trust Busting” – By 1900,

4/5ths of all business was controlled by trusts. Sherman Antitrust Act completely fails, so its up to the government to step in. Roosevelt does not break trusts but reaches “gentlemen’s agreements” with those involved thus earning him the nickname “trustbuster”

Teddy Roosevelt

• In 1902, 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for:1. increased wages2. a 9-hour work day3. the right to

unionize• Roosevelt called

in both sides and settled the dispute.

• The federal government was expected to step in and help.

Teddy Roosevelt

•Railroads – Regulates railroads through Hepburn Act

Teddy Roosevelt

- Antiquities Act: Establishes national parks such as Yosemite and the Grand Canyon and leads to the creation of over 50 wild life sanctuaries.

Teddy Roosevelt

•“Monroe Doctrine” – Adds Roosevelt Corollary declaring the United States to be in complete control of the Western Hemisphere. ▫Europeans demanded debt payments from

countries such as the Dominican Republic

Teddy Roosevelt

-Big Stick Diplomacy:- “Speak softly and carry a big

stick”- Term applied to Roosevelt's

foreign policy:- Peaceful Negotiations- Military Backup

-EXAMPLE:- Platt Amendment- Panama Canal- Great White Fleet

William Taft

•Largest President Ever▫Stuck in bathtub

•Didn’t want to be president▫Wife and Teddy

wanted him to become Pres.

William Taft• Payne-Aldrich Tariff

▫ Raises tariff rates which upsets many progressives.

• Begins attacking Trusts which had backed many conservative republicans.▫ Party begins to fragment

• Proposes 16th Amendment▫ Income Tax

• Dollar Diplomacy in Latin America

Teddy’s Back• Upset with Taft’s weak

political stances, Roosevelt returns from Africa with a new political party and policy

• “Progressive Party”▫ Bull Moose Party

• New Nationalism▫ Federal Government

help the People Women’s suffrage,

workmen's compensation, 8hr workday, child labor restrictions.

Election of 1912

Woodrow Wilson

•New Freedom▫Attack Trusts, Tariffs, and High Finance

Woodrow Wilson

•Clayton Anti-Trust Act▫Companies cannot buy stock from another company.

Woodrow Wilson • Federal Trade Commission

▫ “Watch-dog” for bad business practices

Woodrow Wilson• Passes 16th Amendment

▫ Income Tax

Woodrow WilsonFederal Reserve System

- Creates 12 National Banks- Banks can issue money.