Progressive Era

Roosevelt's Approach to Trusts
- Roosevelt believed that large businesses were acceptable as long as they behaved morally and fairly.
- He was willing to attack monopolies and trusts engaging in questionable business practices.
Northern Securities Company
- First major trust Roosevelt targeted.
- Held a virtual monopoly on railroads in the Pacific Northwest.
- Engaged in practices that bloated stock value; shares were nearly worthless.
- Supreme Court ordered its dissolution, splitting it into smaller companies.
Lawsuits Against Companies
- Roosevelt filed lawsuits against a total of 44 companies during his presidency.
- Standard Oil Company: Another significant target, which controlled over 90% of oil refining in the U.S. Supreme Court ordered it to be split into smaller companies.
Roosevelt’s Philosophy
- Although known as a "trust buster," he preferred regulating rather than outright dismantling big businesses.

Historical Context
- Prior to the Progressive Era, consumers could order unregulated substances (e.g., heroin) via mail.
- Efforts were initiated to clean up food and drug quality in the U.S.
Upton Sinclair and The Jungle
- Published: 1906 by Upton Sinclair, a young progressive.
- Focused on the meatpacking industry in Chicago.
- Sinclair depicted unsanitary conditions, worker injuries, and spoiled meat treated with chemicals.
- Intended to highlight the plight of workers, but instead shocked readers with the descriptions of unsanitary practices.
Legislation Triggered by The Jungle
- Meat Inspection Act (1906): Established federal inspectors for meat processing facilities to ensure quality.
- Pure Food and Drug Act (1906): Aimed to ensure food and drug safety across the U.S.

Early 20th Century Environmental Movement
- Dual branches: Conservation vs. Preservation.
Conservation
- Careful management of natural resources, often overseen by the federal government.
- Roosevelt expanded national forest reserves by 200 million acres.
Preservation
- Land preservation for future generations, keeping areas in their natural state.
- Influenced by environmentalist John Muir, known for efforts to save the Redwood Forest.
National Parks and Wildlife Refuge System
- Expansion of the national parks system under Roosevelt.
- Established the first national wildlife refuge, Pelican Island in Florida.

Transition from Roosevelt to Taft
- Roosevelt succeeded William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901.
- Elected in his own right in 1904, Roosevelt had nearly 8 years in office before stepping aside in 1908.
- Handpicked successor: William Howard Taft from Ohio, a lawyer and established politician.
- Taft’s challenges included a notable land deal scandal in his administration.
Taft's Policies and Progressivism
- Protected more land than Roosevelt and continued regulating safety standards (e.g., for mines and railroads).
- Pushed for an eight-hour workday for federal employees and advocated for a graduated income tax.
- Became a more aggressive trust buster, breaking up more monopolies than Roosevelt.

Emergence of the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party
- Frustration with Taft led Roosevelt to run again in 1912, promoting the New Nationalism reform program focusing on governmental regulation for social justice.
- Taft retained Republican nomination, splitting the vote between him and Roosevelt.
Democratic Candidate: Woodrow Wilson
- Elected through split Republican votes, promoting a reform program called the New Freedom, aiming for small government.
- Other notable candidate: Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party, who received nearly one million votes in 1912.
Outcome of the 1912 Election
- Woodrow Wilson won the presidency, with Roosevelt in second place as the most successful third-party candidate in terms of electoral votes.

Underwood Simmons Tariff: Lowered tariff rates significantly during Wilson's term.
Creation of the Federal Income Tax: Established through the 16th Amendment, applied primarily to individuals earning above $4,000 annually.
Federal Reserve Act (1913): Established a system of 12 regional banks overseen by the Federal Reserve Board to manage the credit and money supply.
Federal Trade Commission Act (1914): Created a bipartisan commission to ensure fair business practices and oversee mergers.
Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Outlawed holding companies and practices leading to monopolies in corporate governance.
Keating-Owen Act (1916): Restricted child labor by forbidding products made by children from crossing state lines.

Monroe Doctrine: Established by James Monroe in 1823, asserting that the Western Hemisphere was closed to new European colonization.
Roosevelt Corollary: Added by Roosevelt, claiming the U.S.'s right to intervene in Latin America if nations could not maintain their affairs.
Building of the Panama Canal
- Initiatives began in the early 1900s; the U.S. faced challenges with Colombia regarding land rights for the canal.
- Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901): Allowed U.S. construction in Panama.
- U.S. supported Panamanian independence from Colombia in 1903, leading to the establishment of the Panama Canal Zone.
- Significant as the first time a sitting president visited another country.
U.S. Military Involvement in Latin America:
- Frequent U.S. military interventions in countries such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, leading to resentment among Latin American populations.
Wilson's Interaction with Mexico
- Wilson's moralistic and interventionist approach led to supporting revolutionary leader Carranza over Huerta, leading to escalating conflicts including Pancho Villa's rebellion and the U.S. military expedition into Mexico.

Key achievements: Women's suffrage, establishment of the income tax, enhanced food and drug safety, and environmental preservation.
Notable failures: Prohibition and issues with some regulatory bodies.
The era was characterized by significant reform efforts and important changes in domestic and foreign policy that shaped the U.S. for years to come.