American Stories:American Stories:A History of the United States

Second Edition

Chapter

American Stories: A History of the United States, Second EditionBrands • Breen • Williams • Gross

From Roosevelt to Wilson in the Age of Progressivism1900–1920

23

The Troubles of William Howard Taft The Troubles of William Howard Taft A 1910 A 1910 Puck cartoon shows Taft snarled in the intricacies of Puck cartoon shows Taft snarled in the intricacies of

office as his disappointed mentor looks on.office as his disappointed mentor looks on.

From Roosevelt to Wilson in the From Roosevelt to Wilson in the Age of ProgressivismAge of Progressivism

1900 – 19201900 – 1920

• The Spirit of Progressivism• Reform in the Cities and States• The Republican Roosevelt• Roosevelt Progressivism at Its Height• The Ordeal of William Howard Taft• Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom

The Republicans SplitThe Republicans Split

• Fight between Taft and Roosevelt for 1912 Republican presidential nomination Taft won; Roosevelt formed Progressive or

“Bull Moose” party to unseat him Battle between Taft, Roosevelt outlined

nation’s fears over urban-industrial growth Currents of progressive reform

Conservationist as Hunter Conservationist as Hunter Teddy Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, with his hunting party in Africa, poses with one of with his hunting party in Africa, poses with one of

the nearly three hundred animals he and his group the nearly three hundred animals he and his group took down. As president, Roosevelt had supported took down. As president, Roosevelt had supported measures protecting wildlife in the United States, measures protecting wildlife in the United States,

including designating Pelican Island, Florida, as the including designating Pelican Island, Florida, as the nation’s first wildlife refuge.nation’s first wildlife refuge.

The Spirit of ProgressivismThe Spirit of Progressivism

The Spirit of ProgressivismThe Spirit of Progressivism

• Progressivism not a coherent movement

The Spirit of Progressivism The Spirit of Progressivism (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Shared values Concern about effects of industrialization Optimistic about human nature and

potential for progress Willing to intervene in others lives, either

private charity or government Sense of evangelical Protestant duty and

faith in the benefits of science Commitment to improve all aspects of

American life

The Rise of the ProfessionsThe Rise of the Professions

• Professions bulwarks of Progressivism Law Medicine Business Education Social work

• Professionalism strengthened through entrance exams, national associations

The Social-Justice MovementThe Social-Justice Movement

• Reformers forsook individualized reform to address larger structural problems

• Applied scientific methods to social reform

• Social work became a profession

The Purity CrusadeThe Purity Crusade

• Crusade against vice• 1911: Membership in Women’s

Christian Temperance Union hit 250,000

• 1916: 19 states prohibit alcohol• 1920: 18th Amendment prohibits alcohol

Woman Suffrage, Woman’s RightsWoman Suffrage, Woman’s Rights

• Women filled Progressive ranks National Conference of Social Work General Federation of Women’s Clubs

• 1890: National American Woman Suffrage Association formed

Progressivism in Action Progressivism in Action An Infant Welfare An Infant Welfare Society nurse treats the baby of an immigrant Society nurse treats the baby of an immigrant

family in Chicago. Medical discoveries and family in Chicago. Medical discoveries and improvements in the quality of medical education improvements in the quality of medical education fostered an interest in public health work among fostered an interest in public health work among

the social-justice reformers.the social-justice reformers.

Woman Suffrage, Woman’s Rights Woman Suffrage, Woman’s Rights (cont’d)(cont’d)

• 1920: 19th Amendment passed• Suffrage seen as empowering women

to benefit the disadvantaged

Woman Suffrage, Woman’s Rights Woman Suffrage, Woman’s Rights (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Politically active women push reforms of social justice movement

• African American women form National Association of Colored Women

• Susan B. Anthony: American Woman Suffrage Association

• National Woman Suffrage Association pickets White House

A Ferment of Ideas:A Ferment of Ideas:Challenging the Status QuoChallenging the Status Quo

• Pragmatists: measure value of ideas by actions they inspire

• Dewey: Education should stress personal growth, free inquiry, creativity

• Judge Lindsey: “Sociological Jurisprudence”

Map 23.1 Map 23.1 Woman Suffrage Before 1920 Woman Suffrage Before 1920 State-by-state gains in woman suffrage were mainly State-by-state gains in woman suffrage were mainly limited to the Far West and were agonizingly slow in limited to the Far West and were agonizingly slow in

the early twentieth century.the early twentieth century.

A Ferment of Ideas: Challenging A Ferment of Ideas: Challenging the Status Quo (cont’d)the Status Quo (cont’d)

• Eugene V. Debs forms Social Democratic Party

• 1912: Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs polls over 900,000 votes

Votes for Women Votes for Women Woman suffrage was a key Woman suffrage was a key element in the social-justice movement. Without element in the social-justice movement. Without the right to vote, women working for reform had the right to vote, women working for reform had

little power to influence elected officials to support little power to influence elected officials to support their endeavors.their endeavors.

Reform in the Cities and StatesReform in the Cities and States

Reform in the Cities and StatesReform in the Cities and States

• Progressives wanted government to follow the public will

• Reform government Reorganize for efficiency, effectiveness New agencies address particular social ills Posts staffed with experts

• Government power extended at all levels

Figure 23.1 Figure 23.1 Voter Participation in Presidential Voter Participation in Presidential Elections, 1876–1920Elections, 1876–1920

Interest Groups and the Interest Groups and the Decline of Popular PoliticsDecline of Popular Politics

• Decline in voter participation 77% from 1876–1900 65% from 1900–1916 52% in the 1920s remained near 52% through 20th century

• Interest groups got favorable legislation through lobbying

Reform in the CitiesReform in the Cities

• Urban reform leagues formed professional, nonpolitical civil service

• Appointed commissioners replaced elected officials in many cities

Reform in the Cities (cont’d)Reform in the Cities (cont’d)

• City manager idea spread• Reform mayors

Tom Johnson of Cleveland "Golden Rule" Jones of Toledo

Action in the StatesAction in the States

• State regulatory commissions created to investigate business conduct

• Initiative, referendum, and recall created

• 1913: 17th Amendment provided for direct election of U.S. senators

Action in the States (cont’d)Action in the States (cont’d)

• Robert La Follette of Wisconsin, developed “Wisconsin Idea”: Called the “laboratory of democracy” Focus of progressivism shifts to

Washington

The Republican RooseveltThe Republican Roosevelt

The Republican RooseveltThe Republican Roosevelt

• Often defied convention• Brought an exuberance to the

presidency • Surrounded himself with able

associates

Busting the TrustsBusting the Trusts

• 1902: Wave of trust-busting led by suit against Northern Securities Company

• 1904: Northern Securities dissolved

Busting the Trusts (cont’d)Busting the Trusts (cont’d)

• Roosevelt reputed a "trust-buster" • Comparatively few antitrust cases

under Roosevelt, Taft did almost twice as many in half the time

Trust-Buster Trust-Buster A cartoon illustrating Theodore A cartoon illustrating Theodore Roosevelt’s promise to break up only those “bad Roosevelt’s promise to break up only those “bad trusts” that were hurtful to the general welfare. trusts” that were hurtful to the general welfare.

Despite his reputation as a “trustbuster,” Roosevelt Despite his reputation as a “trustbuster,” Roosevelt dissolved relatively few trusts.dissolved relatively few trusts.

"Square Deal" in the Coalfields"Square Deal" in the Coalfields

• 1902: United Mine Workers strike in Pennsylvania threatened U.S. economy

• U.M.W., companies to White House• Roosevelt won company concessions by

threatening military seizure of mines • Roosevelt acted as broker of interests

Roosevelt Progressivism Roosevelt Progressivism at its Heightat its Height

Roosevelt Progressivism Roosevelt Progressivism at Its Heightat Its Height

• 1904—A four-way election Republican—Theodore Roosevelt Democrat—Alton B. Parker Socialist—Eugene V. Debs Prohibition—Silas C. Swallow

• Roosevelt won 57% of popular vote, 336 electoral votes

Regulating the RailroadsRegulating the Railroads

• 1903: Elkins Act prohibited railroad rebates, strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission

• Widespread popular demand for further railroad regulation after Roosevelt’s reelection

Regulating the Railroads (cont’d)Regulating the Railroads (cont’d)

• 1906: Hepburn Act further strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission Membership from five to seven May fix reasonable maximum rates Jurisdiction broadened to include oil

pipeline, express, sleeping car companies

TABLE 23.1 TABLE 23.1 The Election of 1904The Election of 1904

Cleaning Up Food and DrugsCleaning Up Food and Drugs

• Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle (1906) prompted federal investigation of meatpacking industry

• 1906: Meat Inspection Act Sets rules for sanitary meatpacking Requires government inspection of meat

products

Cleaning Up Food and Drugs Cleaning Up Food and Drugs (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Samuel Hopkins Adams exposed dangers of patent medicines

• 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act Required manufacturers to list certain

ingredients Banned manufacture and sale of

adulterated drugs

Conserving the LandConserving the Land

• First comprehensive national conservation policy Roosevelt worked with Gifford Pinchot,

chief of Forest Service Policy defined “conservation” as wise use of

natural resources

• Quadrupled acreage under federal protection

Map 23.2 Map 23.2 National Parks and Forests During the National Parks and Forests During the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who considered presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who considered

conservation his most important domestic conservation his most important domestic achievement, millions of acres of land were set achievement, millions of acres of land were set

aside for national parks and forests.aside for national parks and forests.

Conserving the Land (cont’d)Conserving the Land (cont’d)

• Roosevelt’s challenge Attacked “malefactors of great wealth” Criticized conservatism of federal courts Agitated for pro-labor legislation

TABLE 23.2 TABLE 23.2 The Election of 1908The Election of 1908

Conserving the Land (cont’d)Conserving the Land (cont’d)

• Popular response Business leaders blamed for financial panic Overwhelming majority support

The Ordeal of William Howard TaftThe Ordeal of William Howard Taft

The Ordeal of William Howard TaftThe Ordeal of William Howard Taft

• Taft: Abled administrator, poor president

• Conservative Republicans resurged• Taft lost support of Progressives

Party InsurgencyParty Insurgency

• Tariff split Republicans Progressives: high tariff favored trusts Conservatives: high tariff protected

business

• 1909 Payne-Aldrich Act provoked Progressives to break with Taft

The Ballinger-Pinchot AffairThe Ballinger-Pinchot Affair

• Gifford Pinchot leading conservationist, Roosevelt appointee

• Pinchot accused Interior Secretary Richard Ballinger of selling public lands to friends

• Taft fired Pinchot• Progressives antagonized

Taft Alienates the ProgressivesTaft Alienates the Progressives

• 1910: Taft successfully pushed Mann-Elkins Act to strengthen ICC Empowers ICC to fix railroad rates Progressive Republicans attacked Taft’s

plan of a Commerce Court to hear ICC appeals

Progressives obstructed Taft’s negotiations

Taft Alienates the Progressives Taft Alienates the Progressives (cont’d)(cont’d)

• 1910: Taft attacked Progressive Republicans, Democrats gained Congress

• Fought against trusts, sued Roosevelt, supported Sherman Antitrust Act

• Anti-Taft Republicans urged Roosevelt to run for president

Taft Alienates the Progressives Taft Alienates the Progressives (cont’d) (cont’d)

• Legislation protecting laborers• 16th Amendment created income tax• Taft a greater trustbuster than

Roosevelt

Taft Alienates the Progressives Taft Alienates the Progressives (cont’d) (cont’d)

• Taft, Roosevelt attacked one another publicly

• 1912: Taft renominated by Republicans, little chance for victory

Differing Philosophies in Differing Philosophies in the Election of 1912the Election of 1912

• Roosevelt: Progressive ("Bull Moose") “New Nationalism” Federal regulation of economy Wasteful competition replaced by

efficiency

The Bull Moose Campaign The Bull Moose Campaign “I’m feeling like a “I’m feeling like a bull moose!” declared Teddy Roosevelt while bull moose!” declared Teddy Roosevelt while

campaigning in 1912 as a Progressive, campaigning in 1912 as a Progressive, inadvertently renaming the new political party. The inadvertently renaming the new political party. The patch depicts a strong, independent animal, much patch depicts a strong, independent animal, much like Roosevelt himself. In 1904, Roosevelt had won like Roosevelt himself. In 1904, Roosevelt had won

re-election by promising to give Americans a re-election by promising to give Americans a “square deal.”“square deal.”

Differing Philosophies in Differing Philosophies in the Election of 1912 (cont’d)the Election of 1912 (cont’d)

• Woodrow Wilson: Democrat "New Freedom" for individual Restrain big business, government

• Democrats won White House, Congress

Map 23.3Map 23.3

Woodrow Wilson’s New FreedomWoodrow Wilson’s New Freedom

Woodrow Wilson’s Woodrow Wilson’s New FreedomNew Freedom

• Woodrow Wilson: Former president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey

• Progressive, intellectual, inspiring orator

• One of America’s most effective presidents

The New Freedom in ActionThe New Freedom in Action

• 1913: Underwood Tariff cut duties • 1913: Federal Reserve Act reformed

banks, established stable currency

The New Freedom in Action The New Freedom in Action (cont’d)(cont’d)

• 1914: Clayton Antitrust Act outlawed unfair trade practices, protected unions

• Federal Reserve Board governed nationwide system

Wilson Moves Toward Wilson Moves Toward the New Nationalismthe New Nationalism

• Reasons for the move Distracted by the outbreak of war in

Europe Needed conservative Southern support Republicans seemed to gain by attacking

his programs

• 1916: Presidential election

Wilson Moves Toward Wilson Moves Toward the New Nationalism (cont’d)the New Nationalism (cont’d)

• Wilson renewed reform in reelection bid Federal Farm Loan Act Intervened in strikes on behalf of workers Attempted to ban child labor Increased income taxes on the rich Supported women’s suffrage

• Program won Wilson a close election

Conclusion: Conclusion: The Fruits of ProgressivismThe Fruits of Progressivism

Conclusion:Conclusion:The Fruits of the ProgressivismThe Fruits of the Progressivism

• Reform of government at all levels • Intelligent planning of reform• World War I ends Progressive optimism

TimelineTimeline