Progressive Era (1900-1920) Section: B & C

William H. Taft (R) 1909-1913 background

Background: judge, sec. of war, and friend of TR

William H. Taft (R) 1909-1913 personality

Personality: calm, cautious, sensitive, reliable, and hated being president

Taft 1908 election:

Reluctant to run but was pressured by TR and ran out of loyalty

Taft Problems:

He had progressive policies but was often compared to TR, and did not like politics and attention

16th amendment:

The federal income tax

17th amendment:

Direct election of senators

Dept. of labor

government agency that regulates: working conditions, businesses practices, child labor, etc.

Payne-Aldrich Tariff:

Taft claimed to make significant changes to the tariff, but only made minimal changes, which angered progressives

Progressives felt he was being too conservative

Ballingger-Pinchott Affair

Scandal over land in Alaska between members of Taft's staff

Richard Ballingger

Sec. of interior, he was accused of selling land in Alaska to business en and keeping some of the profits

Grifford Pinchott:

US forest service; he complained to Taft because Ballingger broke conservation policies, he was fired by Taft after publicly criticizing him

"Insurgents":

Progressives who began to turn on Taft because they felt he was too conservative.

TR in the Ballingger-Pinchott Affair

Disappointed in Taft, and decided to run for president again

Election of 1912 Taft (R):

He ran out of spite even though he didn't like being president

Election of 1912 TR

Bull moose party

3rd independent party created by TR because the republicans nominated Taft

It was supported by progressives

TR was shot and still gave his speech

Election of 1912 Woodrow Wilson (D):

NJ governor and was new to politics

Election of 1912 Eugene Debs:

Socialist party

4th party that had the support of the laborers/working class

Election of 1912 results

Wilson won mainly due to the split in the votes between Taft and TR