2. THE STRENUOUS LIFE &
RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM
• Born into wealthy NY family in 1858
• How asthma shaped his life
• Groomed for Big Things
• Scientist, historian, outdoorsman
• Political beginnings
• Setbacks and a new purpose
• Uncontrollable = Dangerous
3. THE IRONY
Sept. 6, 1901
“The man in the arena”
Youth and Vigor
Image vs. reality
Core beliefs
4. “That Damned Cowboy!”
•Make up of the parties in 1900
•The Spoils System vs. The Best and Brightest
•Used the “Bully Pulpit” to push his message
•Believed that the fed. gov’t should step in when state
& local gov’t are unable to deal with issues that arise
“It is the duty of the President to act upon the theory
that he is the steward of the people…and to assume
that he has the legal right to do whatever the needs
of the people demand, unless the Constitution forbids it.”
5. Progressivism at work
1902 Coal Strike
•140,000 coal miners go on strike in
Pennsylvania
Demand s
1. 20% Raise
2. 9 hour workday
3. Right to organize a union
***TR intervenes, calling both sides to the White
House***
• It is agreed that an arbitration commission
will decide
Results
1. 10% raise
2. 9 hour workday
3. No strikes for 3 years/no unions
***What we learned from this episode***
6. -crushes Alton Parker
-7.6 million to 5 million
-TR’s presidency
peaks from 1904-1906
“The wise custom which
limits a President to two
terms regards the
substance and not the
form. Under no
circumstances will I be
a candidate for or
accept another
nomination.”
1904PRESIDENTIALELECTION
7. MUCKRAKING
Henry Demarest Lloyd
S. S. McClure
Lincoln Steffens
Ida M. Tarbell
Upton Sinclair
Ray Stannard Baker
Investigative journalism
Topics & purposes varied
The heyday & the demise
People Issues, Rise & Fall
8. TRUST-BUSTING
By 1900, trusts control 80%
of industry—why is this a
problem?
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Set up to combat
monopolies
Largely ineffective due to
1) vague language
2) lack of enforcement
TR filed (44) suits; many
were successful; public
loved it!
11. HEALTH
Regulating Foods & Drugs
TR reads “The Jungle”
Appoints commission to examine
the meatpacking industry
TR’s response?
Meat Inspection Act of 1906
New cleanliness requirements
Created federal meat inspection
program used for nearly a century
Pure Food & Drug Act
Halted the sale of contaminated
food and medicines
Called for “truth in labeling”
Another instance of Progressive
ideals winning the day (labeling)
12. The Environment
•Before TR, the Fed. Gov’t pays little to no
attention to our natural resources…why?
•By 1900, U.S. facing a Natural environment crisis
1. Farmers, Ranchers, Coal & Lumber
Companies, Factories, Big Cities
In 1903, TR is convinced to take action
1. Sets aside 148 million acres of forest reserve
2. 80 million acres for research purposes
3. 50 wildlife sanctuaries
4. Several National Parks
5. Named Gifford Pinchot to Head of US Forest
Service
***Conservation vs. Preservation***
13. BLIND SPOTS
TR & other Progressive Presidents fail to address civil rights
TR does invite Booker T. Washington to a White House dinner
A symbolic gesture, but no real policies put in place to ensure African-
Americans civil rights
14. The Great Campaign
•William Howard Taft is hand picked by TR to run in 1908
•He wins a big victory…disappoints TR while in office
•By 1912, Republican coalition is broken between
1. Conservatives (Status Quo)
*Conservatives stay with the Republican Party (Taft)
2. Progressives (Seeking change)
*Progressives break and form the Bull Moose Party (TR)
TR Calls for a “NEW NATIONALISM”… “The fed. gov’t should exert its
power for the welfare of the people!”
1. Direct election of Senators
2. Women’s suffrage
3. 8 hour workday
4. Minimum wage for women
5. Federal law against child labor
6. Federal trade commission to regulate business
RESULT=Taft and TR split Rep. vote; Woodrow Wilson (Dem) wins
15. WOODROW WILSON’S
NEW FREEDOM
Grew up in VA during CW
2nd Dem. Since CW
1st Southerner in WH
since 1850!
Pres. Of Princeton
Gov. of NJ
Confident in his
ability to persuade
Attacked the “Triple
wall of privilege!”
a) Tariffs
b) Banks
c) Trusts
16. WOODROW WILSON’S
NEW FREEDOM
TARIFFS
Special Session-1st since J. Adams
Lowers tariffs/introduces
progressive income tax
BANKING
Again summons Congress
Federal Reserve Act-gives us the
fed. Banking system we have
today (using dollar bills)
BUSINESS
Clayton Antitrust Act
Establishes Federal Trade
Commission
