U.S. History
Lesson 2
- Upton Sinclair – The Jungle – exposed the horrors of the meat industry.
Rough Riding President
- Theodore Roosevelt promised to eradicate these social problems.
A. Roosevelt’s Rise
1. became a leader in NY politics.
1
politics
2. Secretary of U.S. Navy
a) led the Rough Riders in Sp. Am. War
3 Became McKinley’s V.P.
3.
V P - succeeded the Pres
Pres. when McKinley
was assassinated.
B. Modern Presidency
1 Youngest Pres
1.
Pres. ever – 42 years old.
old
2. boxer, crazy horse rider, etc.
3. bully pulpit – influenced the media & shaped legislation
4. wanted workers to g
get a “square
q
deal.” - reform
Using Federal Power
A. Trust-busting
1. T.R. didn’t want trusts to hurt public interests
2 S
2.
Sued
d Northern
N th
Securities
S
iti Co.
C Large
L
RR monopoly!
l !
a) the Sup. Ct. dissolved the company.
3. T.R. broke up several trusts this way.
B. 1902 Coal Strike
1. 140
1
140,000
000 coal miners in PA – strike – want more $$,
$$ better cond.
cond
2. T.R. brought both sides to White House
-threatened to take over the mines Æ they worked it out!
3. Govt. is now willing to step in during strikes.
C. Railroad Regulation
1. Hepburn
p
Act of 1906
- no free passes (bribes)
Health & Environment
A F
A.
Food
d&D
Drugs
1. After “Jungle” – Meat Inspection Act of 1906
a) cleanliness requirements for meat packers.
B. Pure Food & Drug Act
1. All foods & medicine must list ingredients on label.
a) children's drugs often contained opium, cocaine, alcohol, etc.
C. Conservation & Natural Resources
1. T.R. realized that nat. resources were not endless.
2. 1903 – set aside 148 mil. acres as National Forests
3. Set aside land for public works – power plants, etc.
Civil Rights
1. T.R. appt. Af. Am. to govt. positions.
2. Invited Booker T
2
T. Washington to dinner @ White House.
House
3. Most Af. Am. were not happy w/ T.R.
a) NAACP – Nat. Assoc. Advancement of Colored People
races
- worked for total equality between the races.
Taft Becomes President
A. Taft Stumbles
1. T.R. hand picked Taft in 1908 – he won easily!
2. Did not expand T.R.’s reforms – lost popularity.
y
Tariff – raised fees on imports.
p
3. Payne-Aldrich
- people thought he gave up progressivism.
B. Disputing Public Lands
1. Sec. of Interior – Richard A. Ballinger
g – removed 1 mil. acres
of national lands – people were upset.
2. Taft sided w/ Ballinger – lost more popularity.
Republican Party Splits
A. Bull Moose Party
1. 1912 – T.R. decides to run for 3rd term.
2. Started the Bull Moose Party – many Reps. joined.
a) wanted women’s
women s suffrage, minimum wage, better hrs., etc.
3. Split the Reps., gave the Dems. a chance.
Democrats Win in 1912
1. NJ Governor Woodrow Wilson ran for Dems.
2. Taft & T.R. – lots of mudslinging – T.R. called Taft a “fat head w/
the brain of a guinea pig.
pig ” - Wilson stayed out of it.
it
3. Wilson wins fairly easily. – People wanted reform!
Wilson & Financial Reform
A Wil
A.
Wilson’s
’ Background
B k
d
1. Lived in South during the Civil War & Reconstruction.
2. Lawyer, History Professor, & Pres. of Princeton University
3 1910 – Gov.
3.
Gov of NJ
4. Wanted to attack “Trusts, Tariffs, & High Finances”
- “Triple Wall of Privilege”
B. Anti-Trust Measurements
1. Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914
a) cannot buyout another company’s stock to start monopoly.
b) labor unions legalized – injunctions illegal if strike is peaceful.
2. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
a) investigate violations
b) end unfair business practices
C New Tax System
C.
1. 1913 – Underwood Act – lowered tariffs
2. Govt. needed revenue w/ out tariffs
a) 16th Amend. – 1913 – graduated income tax
- large incomes are charged higher rates.
D. Federal Reserve
1. 12 govt. controlled banks – helped private banks – protect citizens.
Women Win Suffrage
1. Picketed the White House
1
2. Hunger Strikes
3. 1919 – 19th Amend – women can vote – after 72 yrs. of fighting!
Limits of Progressivism
A Wilson & Civil Rights
A.
1. Promised to treat Af. Am. equally – spoke against lynching!
a)) as Pres. – he wanted states to deal w/ it.
b) thought segregation was fine as long as equal.
2. William Monroe Trotter – Editor of “Guardian”
- Af. Am. newspaper
p p -p
pointed the finger
g at Wilson.
3. Wilson refused to extend Civil Rights.
B. 1914 – WWI broke out in Europe.
1. U.S. would have to deal with the crisis.
2. Worry about America later.