8.2 Roosevelt and Taft

Teddy Roosevelt’s Legacy

• Established 5 new national parks.• Commanded the Rough Riders during the Spanish American War.• The Roosevelt Corollary said the U.S. would intervene anytime the

Monroe Doctrine was violated. • Part of his Big Stick Diplomacy was the Great White Fleet which was

a voyage of 16 battleships around the world.• Became known as a “trust-buster” and aimed often to take down big

businesses whom took advantage of the public• His Square Deal made factories safer for workers.• Helped preserve over 200 million acres of land, including the Grand

Canyon• On one hunting trip to Africa, he killed 296 animals for the

Smithsonian Museums.

The Taft Presidency • Election of 1908…Roosevelt had just served 2 terms• William Howard Taft was handpicked by Roosevelt

to replace him.• Gov. of Philippines, Secretary of War• Taft and Teddy Roosevelt were very close friends

when Teddy left the Presidency.• He was always a very large man. At the time of his

death his weight was 360 pounds.• When he was a child his nickname was “Big Lub” due to his large size.

BFF’s

1904 – Governor in Philippines

Big Lub

William Howard Taft

• The 1908 election was Taft (Republican) and William Jennings Bryan (Democrat).

• Taft won and for the third time, Bryan lost.• After his Presidency he became the Chief Justice

of the Supreme Court.• He died March 8th, 1930 and is buried in

Arlington National Cemetery.

Taft’s Progressive Reforms1. Children’s Bureau

* It made sure companies were not hiring children too young or over working the ones that were already

employed there.2. Conservation

* He expanded the National Forests and protected our country’s wildlife.

3. Bureau of Mines* This was set up to monitor mining companies and

making sure the employees were getting treated fairly.

Roosevelt eventually became upset at how Taft ran the country after he left office.

• Progressives whom didn’t like Taft convinced Roosevelt to run for office

• A third term?

• Roosevelt said he was “fit as a bull moose” for the campaign.

Election of 1912• This election had three major candidates running for the

Presidency:1. William Taft Republican Party2. Woodrow Wilson Democrat Party3. Teddy Roosevelt Progressive or

Bull Moose Party4. Eugene Debs Socialist Party

• Roosevelt came into the race too late, and by that time Taft had already garnered enough support to have his parties nomination.

• So he ran as an independent party, but effectively split the Republicans in two by bring over the Progressive voting block of the electorate.

Eugene V. Debs• Labor Union organizer…

Pullman strike• Not yet a socialist until he was

arrested after Pullman• Would run for President 4

times…would never win an electoral vote

History of the Presidents Video