THE PROGRESSIVES

Generalization:  In the early years of the 20th century, crusaders of various types took on all of the many evils plaguing American society-- crime, disease, corruption, poverty, ignorance, and injustice--and won!  At least, sort of.  Comment.

Potential ID’s: BRYAN, MCKINLEY, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, SQUARE DEAL, PANAMA CANAL, TAFT, LA FOLLETTE, BULL MOOSE PARTY, WILSON, FOURTEEN POINTS, LEAGUE OF NATIONS, GEORGE CREEL, AMENDMENT XIX, AMENDMENT XVIII

I.    Introduction
II.    Problems at the beginning of the century
III.    Failure of earlier attempts at reform
IV.    1900 Election
V.    Theodore Roosevelt
A.    Background
B.    Square Deal
When I say I believe in a square deal, I do not mean to give every man the best hand.  If the cards do not come to any man, or if they do come, and he has not got the power to play them, that is his affair.  All I mean is that there should be no crookedness in the dealing.
C.    The Big Stick
1.    Roosevelt’s handling of Pennsylvania coal strike
2.    Roosevelt vs. the trusts
D.    Environmental reforms
E.    1904 Election
F.    Foreign policy
1.    Panama
2.    Roosevelt corollary of the Monroe Doctrine
VI.    1908 Election
VII.    Taft Presidency
A.    Taft and progressive reform
B.    Break with Roosevelt
VIII.    Background to the 1912 election: Republican party splits
A.    Robert M. LaFollette
B.    Roosevelt throws in his hat
C.    Bull Moose Convention
IX.    Woodrow Wilson
A.    Background
B.    Back to the 1912 campaign
C.    Wilson’s progressive reforms
1.    Taxes
2.    Banking
3.    Trusts
4.    Labor
D.    The broken promise