The ‘Progressive’ Presidents

Theodore RooseveltAnd

Woodrow Wilson

The Other Roosevelt – “Teddy”

Asst. Secretary of Navy Resigned to serve as Lt.

Colonel in Spanish-American War (Rough Riders)

Governor of New York Republican V.P to McKinley

(1900) “Speak softly and carry a big

stick and you will go far”

The 1st Progressive President McKinley assassinated

(1901) TR - 26th P.O.T.U.S. Youngest at age of 42 Dynamic personality won

reform Federal Government should

assume control when states could not handle problems

President should be “steward” of the people

Roosevelt’s ‘Square Deal’ Progressive Reforms

Control of Corporations Curb the power of the corporations

“Trust-buster”: 44 anti-trust suits Elkins Acts (1903) & Hepburn Act (1906)

Regulation on the railroads

Consumer Protection Intervened when strikes threaten public welfare

Coal Strike (1902) Meat Inspection Act: Required USDA Meat Inspection Pure Food and Drug Act: Paved way for FDA

Conservation of Natural Resources Environmental Awareness: 148 mil. acres for Forest Preserves

William H. Taft

Handpicked successor by Roosevelt

Never lived up to ‘Progressive’ tag – restrained concept of presidency

Best known as largest president (350 Lbs)

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms

Unrivaled reforms until FDR ‘New Deal’ Assault on the “Triple Wall of Privilege”

Federal Reserve Act Central banking system of the U.S.

Clayton Antitrust Act sought to prevent non-competitive practices

Federal Trade Commission Act oversight committee to curb unfair business activities

Sixteenth Amendment Levy of Federal Income Tax

The Progressive Era

Not a complete success Sparked new ideas and thinking Challenged traditional ideas Goals were contradictory due to different

schools of thought Federal Government still too influenced by

big business/industry