Progressivism under Taft.
William Howard Taft was handpicked by Roosevelt to run against William Jennings Bryan and won. Taft had some stumbles along the way, but he decided to sign the Payne-Aldrich Tariff which was a compromise that only moderated the high rates of the Aldrich Bill. He angered conservatives by appointing his secretary of the interior Richard A. Ballinger. Now there were problems that were developing within the Republican Party. The Republicans lost the election and the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives In 1912 Roosevelt ran again by Taft was the incumbent, so it was not until a third party was formed when Roosevelt was again nominated. The Progressive party became known as the Bull Moose Party after Roosevelt said he was “as strong as a bull moose.” In the 1912 presidential election, they put forward Woodrow Wilson as their candidate. The split between Taft and Roosevelt became nasty in the fall campaign when they were labeling each other uncalled for names. In this election there were four candidates that ran: Wilson’s New Freedom, Taft’s conservatism, Roosevelt’s progressivism, and the Socialist Party policies of Eugene V. Debs. Wilson won the electoral votes and a Democratic majority in Congress. Wilson could claim a mandate to break up trusts and to expand the government’s role in social reform. (Section Summary- Kelly)
William Howard Taft
(picture-Genna) William Howard Taft was picked by Roosevelt to run against William Jennings Bryan. Taft was a cautious president and hesisitated to use the presidential bully pulpit to arouse the public opinion. (Caption- Katherine)
Gifford Pinchot
(picture-Genna) Gifford Pinchot was the head of the U.S. Forest Service under President Roosevelt. Pinchot took a middle ground in regards to the preservation of wilderness. (Caption- Katherine)
Bull Moose Party
(picture-Genna) The Progressive Party became known as the Bull Moose Party, after Roosevelt's boast that he was "as strong as a bull moose." (Caption- Katherine)
Democratic Party
(picture-Genna) Democrats win in 1912 with Woodrow Wilson as it's leader. (Caption- Katherine)
Republican party split
(picture-Genna) the republican representatives were Taft and Roosevelt. Taft became republican and Roosevelt was Progressive. (Caption- Katherine)
Woodrow Wilson
(picture-Genna) Wilson had 42% of the popular vote but won an overwhelming electoral victory having 435 electoral votes in the 1912 election. (Caption- Katherine)
Roosevelt's new nationalism
(picture-Genna) Under new nationalism the federal government would exert it's power for "the welfare of the people". (Caption- Katherine)
Election of 1912
(picture-Genna) Woodrow Wilson won with an overwhelming amount of electoral votes. Wilson had 435 Roosevelt had 88, Taft had 8 and Debs had 0. (Caption- Katherine)