Examines the continuation and divergence of Progressive policies under Presidents William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson, including the Republican Party split and Wilson's 'New Freedom' agenda.
Though less famous for it, how did William Howard Taft's record on trust-busting compare to Roosevelt's?
Taft was an even more aggressive trust-buster than Roosevelt, initiating about \(90\) antitrust suits during his single term, compared to Roosevelt's \(44\) suits over seven and a half years.
What tariff law signed by Taft angered Progressives and contributed to a split in the Republican party?
The Payne-Aldrich Tariff of \(1909\). Progressives had hoped for deep tariff reductions, but the final bill only lowered them modestly and in some cases raised them, which Taft defended, alienating his party's reform wing.
What controversy involving Gifford Pinchot, head of the U.S. Forest Service, further damaged Taft's relationship with Roosevelt and the Progressives?
The Ballinger-Pinchot affair. Pinchot accused Secretary of the Interior Ballinger of reversing Roosevelt's conservation policies and selling public lands to private developers. Taft fired Pinchot for insubordination, angering conservationists.
What third party did Theodore Roosevelt create to run for president in 1912, and what was its nickname?
After losing the Republican nomination to Taft, Roosevelt ran as the candidate for the Progressive Party, popularly known as the 'Bull Moose Party'.
The 1912 election featured four major candidates with distinct platforms. Who were they?
William Howard Taft (Republican), Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive/Bull Moose), Woodrow Wilson (Democrat), and Eugene V. Debs (Socialist).
What did Woodrow Wilson call his progressive platform, and what was the 'triple wall of privilege' he promised to attack?
His platform was the 'New Freedom.' The 'triple wall of privilege' consisted of the trusts, the tariffs, and the banks.
What 1913 law, a key part of Wilson's attack on tariffs, significantly lowered import duties for the first time since the Civil War?
The Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act. To make up for the lost revenue, it also implemented the first permanent federal income tax, made possible by the 16th Amendment.
What landmark 1913 law created the modern banking system to control the money supply and prevent financial panics?
The Federal Reserve Act. It created the Federal Reserve System, a decentralized system of \(12\) regional banks that could issue currency and regulate credit, giving the government more control over the economy.
What 1914 law strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by explicitly defining illegal business practices and protecting labor unions?
The Clayton Antitrust Act. It prohibited price discrimination and interlocking directorates, and importantly, exempted labor unions and agricultural organizations from antitrust prosecution.
What federal 'watchdog' agency was created in 1914 to investigate and halt unfair business practices?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was established to regulate business, investigate corporate abuses like mislabeling and fraud, and issue 'cease and desist' orders.
