Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft Flashcards
Why did Taft delight the conservative wing of the Republican Party?
He seemed ready to backtrack from much of Roosevelt’s reform agenda. One of his first decisions was to sack Giffard Pinchon, Roosevelt’s Forest Service chief.
How else did Taft please the conservative wing?
The Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, setting the tariff at a very high level and angering reformers within the party.
What did Taft move towards with foreign policy?
A more cautious, trade-orientated foreign policy, especially in relation to Latin America.
What were disagreements between Roosevelt and Taft more to do with?
More in style than substance - Taft actually launched antitrust actions at least as often as Roosevelt had (e.g. against US Steel).
What was the main difference between Roosevelt and Taft?
Taft’s low-key approach was different from Roosevelt’s flamboyant personality and love of public attention - Taft preferred a quiet life.
Why did it seem that Republican political dominance was set to continue?
Conservatives were happy with Taft’s quieter political style, and reformists were reassured that Taft continued to push through Progressive legislation.
When did this idea of Republican dominance begin to change?
In 1910, when Progressive Republicans joined forces with the Democrats to attack the ultra-conservative Speaker of the House, Joseph Cannon of Illinois.
What did this occurrence in 1910 show?
How reformist Republicans were becoming dissatisfied with Taft and offered encouragement to the Democrats.
What were the Democratic Party now committed to and what happened in 1910?
Progressive policies. They had unexpected success in the mid-term elections in 1910. This setback brought the simmering divisions in the Republican Party to the surface.
What did Taft retreat into after these divisions?
A defensive attitude and appointed mostly conservatives to his new Cabinet.
How did the Progressive wing of the Republican Party respond to Taft’s retreat?
Led by Senator Robert La Follette of Wisconsin, they became rebellious and started to organise a new National Progressive League to drag the Republican Party back towards reform. Roosevelt also made a political comeback.
Sum up what effect these divisions had.
During 1911 and 1912, these elements fused into a full-scale insurgency against Republican conservatism.
What happened in July 1912?
Having bullied Robert La Follette into standing down, Roosevelt won the nomination for the National Progressive Party which soon became the “Bull Moose” party.
Why did it soon become obvious that Taft would lose the election?
- Republican Party badly split, with massive support for Roosevelt as a rebel candidate.
- The revival of the Democratic Party under Woodrow Wilson
