William Howard Taft
TR hand selected Taft to carry out his policies
Obese -- could not compete with TRVery ConservativeMajor goal -- Supreme Court Judge not PresidentDomestic Policies
Tafts problems were self imposed
Faced 3 major problems:
Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909
Taft campaigned to lower tariffs Called Special Session of Congress. The bill passed both houses actually increasing tariffs to protect each senators district.Taft signed the bill anyway Removal of House Speaker Cannon
Progressives wanted Cannon removed from officeTaft agreedConservatives convinced Taft to support CannonCannon remained in officeBallinger-Pinchot Controversy
Sec. of Interior Ballinger, tried to sell National Park Lands for mineral resources
Pinchot (Div. of Forestry) charged Ballinger was receiving kickbacksTaft fired Pinchot-- Public was outraged Taft fired BallingerThese three incidents created a rift in the Republican party
Tafts Foreign Policy
Know as Dollar Diplomacy (def.) the investment of money into a country in order to control that country economically.
1. Let the Navy Dwindle to only 26 Battleships
Great Britain 61France 28Germany 26America 262. Proclaimed Neutrality -- eliminated America as Balance of Power
3. Problems with Dollar Diplomacy
China -- Tafts use of almost destroyed the Open Door and created hard feelings between America and China
Japan -- Tafts mistakes destroyed the Open Door and reinstated Spheres of Influence
Caribbean -- Taft refused to honor their currency creating hard feelingsMorocco -- Unlike TRY, when Kaiser Wilhelm badgered the French for control of the Straits of Gibraltar -- Taft Remained NeutralElection of 1912
Candidate Party Popular VoteElectoral VoteWilson Democrat6,293,454 435Roosevelt Progressive 4,119,538 88Taft Republican 3,484,9808Debs Socialist 900,6720Taft was the incumbent
TRs third party split the vote
Taft, TR, and Wilson were more alike than different
This is a great example of the impact of a third party
Would Taft have won if Roosevelt had not run?
Woodrow Wilson
Although he was a Democrat. . . . Wilson was also a ProgressiveOften considered naiveVery idealisticSon of a Methodist ministerWilsons Domestic Policy
Called New Freedom
Where Taft had failed, Woodrow Wilson was determined to succeed. His success was most obvious in four areas.
1. Underwood-Simmons Tariff
Lowered tariff through special secession of Congress. Trade off -- First Graduated Income Tax2. Federal Reserve Act or 1913
Result of the Bank Panic of 1907Divided the nation into 12 Federal DistrictsAllowed Government to control interest ratesMade it easier for investors to obtain credit 3. FTC and Anti-Trust
Used legislation to beat the trustFederal Trade Commission Act -- stopped unfair business practicesClayton Anti-Trust Act -- stopped prosecution of Labor Unions (made them legal)Made interlocking directorates illegal -- (removed conflict of interest)4. Social Reforms
Workingmens Compensation ActChild Labor Act -- banned goods produced by children from being transported by interstate commerceFarm Loan Act -- helped farmers get loansWilsons Foreign Policy
Believed in Moral Diplomacy
Used Arbitration and Negotiation over TRs Big Stick and Tafts Dollar Diplomacy
Major Goals --
1. promote democracy2. maintain peace3. secure American interests overseasMajor Problems and Successes
1. 29 Countries agreed to arbitration and negotiation thrum Detente (cooling off period), Entente, and Alliance
period), Entente, and Alliance2. Deterioration of Japanese-American Relationships
California prohibited non-citizens from owing landWhen Japan complained -- Wilson ignoredWhen he finally responded -- It was too lateMoral Diplomacy failed3. Problems in Mexico
Tafts Dollar Diplomacy had invested billions in MexicoMexican Civil War threatened loss of moneyWilson implemented Watchful WaitingABC Mediation -- Argentina, Brazil, Chili Francisco (Pancho) Villa raided US and became Mexican folk heroGeneral John J. Blackjack Pershing could not catch Villa and was recalled at the outbreak of WWI