PROGRESSIVISM UNDER TAFT &

WILSON

Learning Activity1. What is the main priority of the Progressive Party?

(Declaration of Principles)2. What forms of legislation does the party pledge to

enact? (Social and Industrial Strength)3. Summarize their goals and policies on the

development and control of business. (Business)

President Taft■Pledged to continue progressive work of Roosevelt

– Alienated Progressives■Conflict over tariffs

– Pledged to lower tariffs– Traditional Republicans fought against

Ballinger-Pinchot AffairRichard A. Ballinger■ Secretary of the Interior■ Pro Business

– Unlimited Business expansion

■ Allowed private business to unlimitedly mine coal in Alaska

■ Fired by Taft

Gifford Pinchot■ Head of U.S. Forest Service■ Scientific management of

wilderness■ Preservation and

development■ Exposed Ballinger corruption■ Remained hero of

conservationists

Turmoil in Republican Party■Congressional Republicans became deeply split■Roosevelt returns from vacation

– Discovered dangerously split party– Huge protests against Taft

■Roosevelt campaigned on behalf of Progressives■Progressive Democrats and Republicans gained

firm control of Congress

Election of 1912■Roosevelt Ran for reelection for Republicans■Started Bull-Moose Party■Speech on October 14 in Milwaukee

– Shot and bullet lodged in lung– Spoke for another 1.5 hours before seeking

medical attention■Taft Remained at odds with Republican Progressives

Election of 1912■Woodrow Wilson ran for Democrats

– Criticized big business and big government– “New Freedom”

■Four-Way Election– Taft, Roosevelt, Wilson, Eugene V. Debs

■Wilson won with only 42% of popular vote– 435 Electoral votes

President Wilson■ Lowered tariffs and established federal income tax■ Clayton Anti Trust Act of 1914

– Spelled out specific activities of trusts to be considered illegal

– Defined Unions as no longer monopolies in the eyes of the court

– Established Federal Trade Commission (FTC)■ Federal Reserve Act 1913

– Established Federal Reserve System– Created Federal Reserve Notes

Wilson wins Second Term■Election 1916■Roosevelt endorsed Republican opposition■Wilson Ran on fact that he kept America out of

European war■Narrowly won with 277 Electoral votes

Limits of Progressivism■Little progress on social front■Wilson extended Jim Crow laws to federal offices■Wilson initially opposed constitutional amendment

for women’s suffrage■As WWI continued interest in Progressive

movement died out

Closure■How did Taft gain more Progressive support

from congress after the midterm elections?■What new party did Teddy Roosevelt

establish in 1912?■What were some major points of the Clayton

Anti Trust Act? Did they prove to work?