Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt: 

General Facts: 

  • 1901-1909

  • Youngest president in history at 35

  • Became president when McKinley was assassinated in 1901

  • Became the first modern president

  • Believed strongly in conservation

  • Saw presidency as “bully pulpit” → a place to preach the ideas he believed

Economic Policy:

  • Northern Securities

  • Elkins Act

  • Sherman Act Trust

  • Square Deal

Organized Labor:

  • Coal Strike of 1902

Conservation:

  • Conservation of natural resources

  • Forest reserves, national parks, canal systems

  • New lands act

Social Issues and Civil Rights:

  • Pure Food and Drug Act → consumer protection



William Howard Taft:

General Facts:

  • 1901-1913

Economic Policy:

  • Payne-Aldrich Tariff → tax on paper

  • 16th amendment → income tax

  • Regulate interstate railroads

Organized Labor:

  • Established 8 hour workday for companies doing business with federal government

  • Created Department of Labor to enforce labor laws

  • Passed mine safety laws

Conservation:

  • Ballinger-Pinchot Act

  • Withdrew 59 million acres of land from public sale and made into reserves

  • Appalachian Forest Reserve Act







Woodrow Wilson:

General Facts:


Economic Policy:

  • Reform called “New Freedom” 

  • Clayton Antitrust Act → broadened and strengthened the Sherman Act

  • Underwood Tariff → reduced tariffs and lowered prices for consumers

  • Federal Reserve Act → banking reform; 3 level banking system that controls the flow of money in U.S. by controlling interest rates

Organized Labor:

  • AFL → american federation of labor

  • Workmen’s Compensation → provided benefits to workers hurt on the job

Social Issues and Civil Rights:

  • 18th amendment → prohibition

  • 19th amendment → women’s voting rights