Progressivism

Taft and Wilson

Taft and Progressivism

• He passed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff– A protective tariff – It did not reduce tariffs like the progressives

wanted

• He reserved more public lands• Brought more antitrust suits than TR did.• Ballinger-Pinchot Affair made Taft look

like he didn’t support the preservation of public land

Taft and Progressivism

• Supported the 16th and 17th amendments and the children’s bureau– 16th – it gave Congress the right to collect

income taxes– 17th – it allowed for the direct election of

Senators

• Supported the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910– It gave the ICC the power to regulate telelphone

and Telegraph rates

Four Way Election of 1912

• Theodore Roosevelt – Bull Moose Party– Also know as the progressive

party

– Fought for:• Tariff reduction

• Increase regulation of business

• Child labor ban

• Eight hour work days

• Federal workers’ compensation

• Direct election of Senators

Four Way Election of 1912

• William Howard Taft – Republican– Tariff reduction

– Reserve public land

– Antitrust suits

Four Way Election of 1912

• Woodrow Wilson – Democrat – Enforce antitrust laws

– Tariff reduction

– Federal taxes

Wilson’s New Freedom Plan

Four Way Election of 1912

• Eugene V. Debs – Socialist– He wanted to change from

a capitalist system to a socialist system

– Redistribute wealth equally

– Government control of business

Four Way Election of 1912

• Wilson wins the election– Republican vote was split between Roosevelt

and Taft– Wilson wins the Democratic vote– Wilson won 42% of the popular vote– Electoral Collage

• Wilson 435

• Roosevelt 88

• Taft 8

Wilson and Progressivism

• Passed the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913– Lowered tariffs from 40% to 25%

• Signed into law the federal income tax• Clayton Antitrust Act

– Put a stop to trusts

• Started the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)– Over sees business– Regulates business

Wilson and Progressivism

• Started Federal Reserve System

• Placed a progressive lawyer onto the Supreme Court– Lewis D. Brandeis

Were Progressivism Failed

• It did not help Black Americans– Jim Crow laws were enforced even more under

Wilson– Many blacks felt ignored by progressivism

reforms

• Progressive era ends when WWI starts