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Lesson 3 Presidents of the Progressive Era

trustbuster a government official who breaks up

business groups that limit competition
arbitration the process of settling disputes by
accepting the decision of a neutral party
How successful was Roosevelt in Square Deal fair and equal treatment for all, as
implementing his policies? promised by President Theodore Roosevelt
What were the similarities and differences conservation protection of natural resources
between the policies of Roosevelt and Taft?

When did it happen?

What do you know?

In the first column, answer the questions based on what you know before you
study. After this lesson, complete the last column.

Now . . . Later . . .
Why was Roosevelt called
a trustbuster?

What did Americans learn about

conservation during the
Progressive era?
Why did progressives support
an income tax?

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Lesson 3 Presidents of the Progressive Era, Continued

Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was vice president in 1900. He became
president after President McKinley was killed in 1901(He was
shot by Leon Czolgosz (Cholgos); an anarchist; political
philosophy and movement. Anarchism is a radically
revolutionary idea that says no one should be forced into any
kind of hierarchy. For example, anarchism says that the
government is harmful and not needed. However, that does not
mean no form of order should not exist.) Only 42 years old,
Roosevelt was the youngest president in the country’s history.
He agreed with progressive ideas.
President Roosevelt wanted to regulate trusts (when a
group of companies combine to form one single board where
its members are called trustees.) Trusts were groups of
businesses that set their own rules about prices and who
could sell that product or service (As trusts are a product of
monopoly; John D. Rockefeller’s oil trust was entirely based
on the horizontal integration.) Some trusts were not following
the Sherman Antitrust Act. Roosevelt brought legal charges
against many trusts. Roosevelt was called a trustbuster.
He wanted to break up the trusts he thought were harmful.
More than 100,000 coal miners went on strike in 1902. They
were members of the United Mine Workers union. The miners
wanted more pay. They wanted to work only eight hours a day.
The mine owners refused to give the workers what they asked
for. The strike lasted for months. Winter was coming. People
needed coal to heat their homes.
Roosevelt asked the union and the owners to accept
arbitration (ahr • buh • TRAY • shun). This meant that a neutral
party would make a decision to solve the dispute. Mine
workers won some of what they wanted (working hours were 9
hours, and the workers were promised a 10% increase in their
wage)
Roosevelt handled this problem differently than past
presidents. Earlier presidents used soldiers against strikers
(President Grover Cleveland allowed/signed an injunction.)
Roosevelt had company owners make an agreement
with strikers (He implemented collective bargaining).

Roosevelt ran for president in 1904. He promised the people

a Square Deal. This meant fair and equal treatment for all. He
easily won the election.
The Square Deal was Theodore Roosevelt's domestic
program, which reflected his three major goals: conservation of
natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer
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protection. These three demands are often referred to as the
"three Cs" of Roosevelt's Square Deal.
Roosevelt’s Square Deal called for government
regulation of business. This approach differed from that of
some earlier presidents. They felt the government should
leave businesses alone.(Control of corporations)
Roosevelt supported the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure
Food and Drug Act. The acts gave the government power to
visit businesses and inspect, or carefully examine, products.
(Customer’s protection)
Roosevelt has been called the first environmental president.
He believed in the need for conservation. This meant that natural
resources would be protected and saved. In 1905, Roosevelt
suggested making the U.S. Forest Service. He asked Congress to
set aside millions of acres of national forests. He also formed the

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Lesson 3 Presidents of the Progressive Era, Continued

National Conservation Commission (stipulates that any

person who desires to operate a business of selling goods or
services in a public park, in a public garden or on a beach shall
first obtain a license from the National Conservation
Commission to do so..) The commission took the first survey
of the country’s natural resources.
(Conservation of natural resources)
William Howard Taft
No U.S. president had ever served more than two terms.
Roosevelt decided not to run again in 1908. He chose his friend
and fellow Republican William Howard Taft to run for president.
Roosevelt thought that Taft would carry on the progressive
Republican ideas. Taft easily defeated the Democrat’s candidate,
William Jennings Bryan.
Advantages; Taft did carry out many of Roosevelt’s
policies. The Taft administration won more antitrust cases
than Roosevelt had won. Taft also favoured safety standards
for both mines and railroads.
Disadvantages; Taft supported the Sixteenth Amendment. It
allowed Congress to tax people’s income. The Sixteenth
Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1913. Congress
also passed laws so that people who made more money had to
pay more tax. (Progressive tax)
Roosevelt and other progressives were disappointed with Taft.
They were unhappy that Taft did not fight for a lower tariff.
Taft also changed some conservation policies.
By 1912, Roosevelt was unhappy with Taft. Roosevelt decided
to run against him for the Republican presidential nomination.
Roosevelt and his supporters formed a new political party
called the Progressive Party. The Progressives nominated
Roosevelt for president. Roosevelt felt ready to fight, so he
said, “I feel as fit as a bull moose!” People then called the
party the Bull Moose Party. This split in the Republican
Party lost votes for both Taft and Roosevelt. It allowed
Democrat (Since he’s a democrat, this meant that he wants to
fix things) Woodrow Wilson to win the election.
President Wilson did not like big government or big
business. His program was called the “New Freedom.” He
asked Congress to pass a lower tariff. This would help foreign
companies compete with American companies. President
Wilson believed this would force American companies to make
better products and to lower prices.

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Lesson 3 Presidents of the Progressive Era, Continued

Congress also passed the Federal Reserve Act to

regulate banking (enhance the economic stability of the
U.S by creating central banks to oversee the monetary
policy, he did that to restore the public confidence in the
banking system) The act created 12 regional banks. It was
supervised by a central board. Many banks had to join the 7.
Federal Reserve System and follow its rules.
Wilson wanted the government to have more control over
business. In 1914, Congress set up the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC). The FTC’s job was to see that
corporations traded fairly. Wilson also supported the Clayton
Antitrust Act of 1914 (prohibit certain actions that lead to anti-
competitiveness. Outlaws price discrimination, prohibits tying
contracts, prohibits stock acquisition of competing
corporations, ). The government could use this act to fight
against trusts.
The government also tried to regulate child labour.
Congress passed the Keating-Owen Act of 1916. Goods
made by children in one state could not be sold in other
states. This law was struck down two years later (It was
never ratified, as many states did not agree upon it, so it was
declared as unconstitutional.)
The public began to lose interest in progressive ideas.
Americans were more concerned with world affairs. By 1914,
war was beginning in Europe (WW1).

Check for Understanding

What part did the Progressive Party play in the
presidential election of 1912?

Why do you think there was a shift in interest from

progressive reform to world affairs at the end of Wilson’s
first term?

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