Transcript TR, Taft, & Wilson

TR, Taft, & Wilson
TR’s Early Life

Born into a well-to-do family of
Dutch heritage in New York.
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Was sickly as a youth, but
through sports built himself up.
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Went to Harvard and then
Columbia Law School.
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Unlike many people of the upper
class at the time (who thought of
politics as vulgar), TR went into
politics.

Gained national fame
as the leader of “the
Rough Riders” in Cuba
during the SpanishAmerican War.
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Was then elected as
governor of New York
in 1898.
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He was a Republican.
TR and the Rough Riders
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Was chosen to run as
Vice-President when
William McKinley ran
for re-election in 1900
(McKinley’s 1st VP had
died).

Became President in
1901 when McKinley
was assassinated.
Teddy Roosevelt as President

Brought Dynamic
energy to Presidency.
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“Bully Pulpit.”
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Changed Presidency.
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Cautious at first because he wants to
win election in 1904 (needs to
appease conservatives).

Breaks up Northern Securities (1903).

Intervenes in anthracite coal strike
(1902).
Wins big over Alton B. Parker (1904)
 “Square Deal” is his program
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2nd Term Reforms
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More bold during second term.
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Hepburn Act (1906) More power to regulate the RR.
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Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
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Meat Inspection Act (1906)
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Also favors 8-hr day, workmen’s comp., and more-begins to alienate conservatives.
TR and the Trusts
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Thinks big corporations are
inevitable.
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Likes efficiency.
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But does think that there are
“good” trusts and “bad” trusts.

Believes the government
should regulate business.
TR and Conservation
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Conservation vs. preservation
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Gifford Pinchot (National Forest
Service)
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National parks/forests (150 million
acres)
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Newlands Act (1902)--fed.
Funding for water projects in
west.
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Hetch Hetchy controversy
Panic of 1907

TR agrees to let J.P.
Morgan purchase
Tennessee Coal and
Iron without pursuing
anti-trust action.
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Doesn’t run again in
1908.
Review

Explain TR’s attitude towards the trusts.

What was the term used to describe TR’s policies
and agenda?

What did TR use the Interstate Commerce
Commission to regulate?

Why is TR considered a conservationist?

What two acts that protected consumers were
passed when TR was president?
Taft
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Lawyer and Judge.

Handpicked by TR.

Largest man to be
president.
Taft’s Problems
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Tough to follow popular TR.
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Can’t please both Conservatives and
Progressives.
–
–
–
–
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A) Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1908)
B) Doesn’t take on “Uncle Joe” Cannon.
C) Active in perusing Anti-Trust (70)
D) Ballinger-Pinchot Dispute (1909)
E) Anti-Trust suit against US Steel (1911)
Split Between TR and Taft
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TR angry with
Taft’s actions.

Believes that only
HE (TR) can unify
the Republican
party.
The Republican Convention

Republicans were
divided over who to
support—TR or Taft.

Taft eventually got the
Republican nomination.

TR decided to run
anyway and organized
the Progressive (or
“Bull Moose”) Party.
New Nationalism Speech
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Speech by TR in Osawatomie, Kansas 1910.
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Most radical of career.
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Says that the federal govt. has the responsibility
to protect the social welfare of the citizens.

Calls for income and inheritance taxes, workmen’s
comp., minimum wage and minimum hours, etc.
New Nationalism Speech
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Speech by TR in Osawatomie, Kansas 1910.

Most radical of career.
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Says that the federal govt. has the responsibility
to protect the social welfare of the citizens.
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Calls for income and inheritance taxes, workmen’s
comp., minimum wage and minimum hours, etc.
The Socialists

Socialism was very popular in 1912.

Their candidate was Eugene Debs—
former leader of the American Railway
Union.
The Democrats

They Pick Woodrow
Wilson

He had been a history
professor and then
President of Princeton
University.

He was a Progressive
governor of New
Jersey.
The Big difference between TR and
Wilson
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TR advocated regulation as the way to
deal with the trusts. “New Nationalism”
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Wilson called for breaking-up the trusts to
restore competition. “New Freedom”
The Election of 1912
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Wilson
6,296,547
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TR
4,118,571

Taft
3,486,720

Debs
900,672
Wilson as Pres.
Lowered the Tariff (Underwood-Simmons).
 1st Income Tax (1913)
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Created the Federal Reserve Board to
regulate banking (1913).
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Created the Federal Trade Commission to
regulate business (1914).
What Wilson was against
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At first, Wilson refused to support:
–
–
–
–
Child Labor laws
Women’s Suffrage
Bills that sought to restrict immigration.
Allowed segregation to take place in govt.
– When he had to run for re-election, however, he
changed and was for: workers comp., child labor
laws, and 8-hour workday for railroad workers.
Louis Brandeis
In reality, Wilson’s policies
reflected more of TR’s
“New Nationalism” than
they did the rhetoric of
his “New Freedom.”
Wilson also named the
ultra-liberal Louis
Brandeis to the Supreme
Court.
Who was TR’s hand-picked
successor?
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A = William Howard Taft

Q: Who was the Democratic candidate for
President in 1912?
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A = Woodrow Wilson
Who was the Socialist candidate for
President in 1912?
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A = Eugene Debs
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Q: What was the name of the new
Progressive party that backed TR in the
1912 election?
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A = Bull Moose
TR or Wilson

Q: Wanted to regulate the trusts?
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A = Theodore Roosevelt
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Q: New Freedom?
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A = Woodrow Wilson
TR or Wilson
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Q: New Nationalism?
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A = TR
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Q: Break-up the trusts to restore
competition?
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A = Woodrow Wilson
Progressive Foreign Policy
TR & “Big Stick” Diplomacy

He loved to quote the
African proverb:
“Speak softly, and
carry a big stick.”
Called for military
buildup.
 ESPECIALLY THE
NAVY.

The Roosevelt Corollary

The Monroe Doctrine told Europeans to stay out
of the Americas (North, Central, & South).
The Roosevelt Corollary stated that the US
would intervene in Central and South America to
maintain order.
 (This meant that the US was to be the
policeman of the Western Hemisphere).
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TR’s Beliefs
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Big believer in AngloSaxon supremacy.
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But also makes
distinction between
“developed” and
“non-developed.”
TR and the Caribbean
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Frequently sent
troops into Central
America and the
Caribbean to restore
order and protect
American
investments.
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The Panama Canal
(1903).
TR and Japan

In 1905, Russia and Japan were at war over control of
the northern part of China.

TR mediated a peace agreement that ended the RussoJapanese War.
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In 1906, Japan was angry over California’s segregationist
policies towards Japanese.

TR solved the problem with a “gentlemen’s agreement”
in which the segregationist policies were withdrawn,
while Japan agreed to limit it’s immigration.
The Great White Fleet
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To show the world (&
Japan) America’s new
naval muscle, TR
called for 16 new
battleships (all
painted white) to
make a world tour.
Route of Great White Fleet
Taft and Dollar Diplomacy

When Taft succeeded TR,
he called for a foreign
policy in Central America
and the Caribbean that
emphasized US
investment rather than
muscle.

Nevertheless, Taft sent
his share of troops into
the region.
Wilson “Moral” Diplomacy
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Was an Internationalist

Wilson’s FP predicated on his sense of
morality.
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Thought U.S. should take an active role in
spreading American ideals and institutions.

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Ushered in a new era in U.S. foreign policy
(internationalism)
Wilson and Latin America
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Between 1915—1917, Wilson sent troops
into Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and
Cuba.
Wilson and Mexico