U.S. History - Taft's Reforms

Third-Party Presidential Candidates

Ross Perot (against George Bush) - 1992 Election - 19% of popular vote Ralph Nader - 2000 Election - 97, 488 votes in Florida

Taft's Support of Political Reform

Sixteenth Amendment - Graduated income tax : a tax in which people who earn more money pay a higher tax rate (paved the way for reduces tariffs, which was another progressive goal, because the income tax would be used to offset the loss of revenue that would result from reductions in tariffs) Seventeenth Amendment (1912) (ratified 1913) - Direct election of senators (prior to amendment, senators were elected by special interest control in legislators)

Taft's Victory

Taft won with a solid majority in the popular vote and the electoral vote (321 to 162) (popular vote - 51% to 43%) - The election pleased both progressives, who hoped that he would continue Roosevelt's reforms, and it pleased the conservatives, who wanted Roosevelt out of office. And they hoped that Taft would uphold more conservative policies.

The Progressive Party of 1912

- Nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party" (because Roosevelt often referred to himself as a bull moose ready to fight) - The progressive party nominated Roosevelt for president/Hiram Johnson, governor from California, for vice President - Put forward a platform of progressive ideals - Strongly supported women's suffrage/right to vote for women

Progressive Goals

- Reform businesses to give more economic opportunities for all - Provide union rights for workers - Break up monopolies - Reduce tariffs to decrease costs for consumers - Protect and conserve natural resources - Reform the government Taft is not remember as a progressive president, but several progressive business reforms were passed during his time in office.

A Split among Republicans

- Roosevelt was a Republican, but he was part of the progressive movement In the early 1900's, we really see a split in the Republican party. We see people who favor progressive reform, and then we see conservatives who were opposed to this reform. Progressives - Increase business reform (union rights, eliminate monopolies/trustbusting, and working conditions) - Reduce tariffs to decrease costs for consumers (wanted to allow foreign competition because competition is good for the consumer because of the many choices) - Protect and conserve natural resources/ Reform the government (nature preserves) Conservatives - Practices laissez-faire (hands-off approach, government shouldn't be involved in the contracts between a laborer and their employer/dictating labor laws to employers) - Keep tariffs to protect American industries (thought that they would protect against foreign competition) - Many conservatives opposed these reforms (nature areas could be used for mining, ranching, foresting, etc.) Conservatives were more concerned with protecting the nation's economic interests than progressives were.

Roosevelt Leaves Office

After serving two terms as president, Theodore Roosevelt decided it was time to leave office. Roosevelt's achievements included : - trust-busting (breaking up monopolies) - protecting consumer safety - conserving natural resources Roosevelt hand-picked William H. Taft as his successor for the presidency. He wanted Taft to continue with the progressive agenda that he had set forward.

The Deal Breakers

Although Taft supported many progressive policies, he also angered progressives because he supported several conservative policies as well. There are two decisions that are really considered the deal breakers between Taft and the progressives : - Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act In 1909, Taft called a special session of Congress to lower tariff rates. Progressives were excited about this because this had been one of their goals. The resulting bill, known as the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, did actually did little to lower rates. Many progressives thought that Taft would veto this bill. Instead, he went on to sign it. He also called it one of the best bills the party had ever passed. (favored business interests over progressives aims) Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger - He appointed businessman Richard Ballinger as secretary of of the Interior. He moved to undo some of Roosevelt's conservation efforts by reopening some tracts of land that had been aside for conservation efforts. He reopened them for economical development. Gifford Pinchot spoke out about Ballinger, and Taft just dismissed him.

Taft's Support of Business Reform

Antitrust Lawsuits - Filed eighty antitrust lawsuits - Broke up the Standard Oil Company and the American Tobacco Company (broke up twice as many monopolies as Roosevelt) Mann-Elkins Act - Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission (responsible for regulating railroads, making sure monopolies weren't forming/fair business practices)

The Republican Convention of 1912

Many progressives were becoming dissatisfied with Taft. They felt that he was moving away from their progressive agenda. - Roosevelt began to openly criticize Taft towards the end of his term - Roosevelt challenged Taft in 1912 Roosevelt wanted to be the Republican nominee for president - Taft won the nomination Taft had the support of conservatives - Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party Many Republicans left with Roosevelt to join that new party

Taft's Support of Social Reform and Environmental Conservation

Taft helped advance these progressive goals by enacting social reform and environmental conservation. In 1912, Taft created the Children's Bureau - Was founded to "investigate and report all matters pertaining to the welfare of children" - Is part of the Department of Health and Human Services today He also created several sites as national monuments, expanding Roosevelt's conservative efforts.

Taft's Campaign

While championed by Roosevelt, Taft was not as charismatic a politician and he did not enjoy campaigning. He once referred to it as "one of the most uncomfortable four months of my life." - When he campaigned in the West, Taft promised to uphold Roosevelt's reforms - When he campaigned in the East, Taft tried to appeal to conservative voters His opponent William Jennings Bryan, the democrat, said that Taft ran two different campaigns. He ran a conservative campaign and he ran a progressive campaign.

William Howard Taft (1857-1930)

William Taft never set out really to enter politics. He even disliked campaigning. He was ultimately elected though because of Roosevelt's support. - Began his career as a judge, and from 1892 to 1900, he served on a federal appeals court - In 1901, he was appointed governor of the Philippines - Was the first civilian governor - Focused on economic development after the Spanish American War - Served as secretary of war under Roosevelt - Served as president from 1909 to 1913 (he disappointed many of his progressive supporters because he found himself supporting some conservative issues, eventually even lost the support of Roosevelt) - After he left the presidency, he went on to be a law professor at Yale - Appointed as chief justice of the Supreme Court in 1921