Progressive presidents tackled major issues of their time. They aimed to balance business interests, protect workers and consumers, and conserve natural resources. Their policies laid the groundwork for an expanded federal role in regulating the economy and society.

Roosevelt's Square Deal, Taft's trust-busting, and Wilson's New Freedom legislation reshaped American governance. They created new agencies, passed landmark laws, and set precedents for future reforms. These actions fundamentally changed the relationship between government, business, and citizens.

Progressive Presidents and Their Agendas

Square Deal vs Taft's progressivism

• Theodore Roosevelt's "Square Deal"
  • Aimed to balance interests of big business, labor, and consumers
  • Trust-busting: Dissolved 44 corporate monopolies (Northern Securities Company) and regulated railroads (Hepburn Act)
  • Conservation: Established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, and 5 national parks (Yosemite, Crater Lake)
    • Part of the broader conservation movement to protect natural resources
  • Consumer protection: Passed Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act to ensure safe food and medicine
• William Howard Taft's Progressive agenda
  • Continued trust-busting: Broke up 90 trusts, including Standard Oil Company using Sherman Antitrust Act
  • Lowered tariffs through Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, though not as much as reformers hoped for
  • Established U.S. Postal Savings System providing safe banking option for ordinary citizens
  • Supported 16th Amendment allowing for federal income tax

Wilson's New Freedom legislation

• Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act: Significantly reduced import tariffs boosting international trade
• Federal Reserve Act: Created Federal Reserve System to stabilize banking system and regulate money supply
• Clayton Antitrust Act: Strengthened antitrust laws and exempted labor unions from antitrust prosecution
• Federal Trade Commission Act: Established FTC to investigate and prohibit unfair business practices (false advertising)
• Keating-Owen Child Labor Act: Prohibited sale of products made by child labor (later ruled unconstitutional)
• Adamson Act: Established 8-hour workday for railroad workers with overtime pay

Progressive expansion of federal power

• Increased executive authority
  • Roosevelt and Taft used executive orders to advance agendas without Congressional approval
  • Woodrow Wilson expanded presidential influence over legislation (New Freedom) and foreign policy (WWI)
• Trust-busting and regulation
  • Progressive presidents broke up monopolies (Standard Oil) and regulated big business promoting fair competition
  • Established new federal agencies, FTC and FDA, to oversee business practices and protect consumers
• Conservation and environmental protection
  • Roosevelt's conservation efforts set precedent for federal involvement in protecting natural resources
  • Established U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service managing public lands
• Social welfare and labor reforms
  • Progressive presidents supported legislation improving working conditions (Adamson Act) and protecting vulnerable populations (Keating-Owen Child Labor Act)
  • Paved way for future federal involvement in social welfare programs (Social Security) and labor regulations (Fair Labor Standards Act)

Progressivism and Social Reform

• Muckraking: Investigative journalism exposing social and political issues, influencing public opinion and policy
• Social reform: Efforts to address societal problems like poverty, inequality, and working conditions
• Regulatory state: Expansion of government oversight and regulation of business and industry
• Progressivism: Political and social reform movement aimed at addressing problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption