How did the progressive
reforms of Theodore
Roosevelt and William
Howard Taft differ?
(Progressive Presidents)
The progressive reforms of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft differed in a few key ways.
1. Trustbusting: Theodore Roosevelt was known for his aggressive stance on trustbusting, taking on large corporations and monopolies in order to promote competition and protect consumers. He famously filed 44 antitrust cases during his presidency. On the other hand, Taft also continued the trustbusting efforts, but was generally seen as less aggressive in pursuing these cases.
2. Conservation: Theodore Roosevelt was a strong advocate for conservation and environmental protection, establishing numerous national parks, forests, and monuments during his presidency. He signed into law the Antiquities Act, which allowed the president to protect public lands as national monuments. Taft also continued with conservation efforts, but was not as focused on it as Roosevelt.
3. Tariffs: Roosevelt favored lowering tariffs in order to promote free trade, while Taft signed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, which actually raised tariffs on certain goods. This was seen as a departure from Roosevelt's policies and led to criticism from progressives.
4. Labor relations: Both Roosevelt and Taft supported workers' rights and tried to improve labor conditions. However, Roosevelt was more outspoken and proactive in mediating labor disputes and advocating for workers' rights, while Taft took a more conservative approach and was seen as less supportive of organized labor.
Overall, while both Roosevelt and Taft were progressive presidents who implemented reforms aimed at promoting social welfare and curbing the power of big business, their approaches to these reforms differed in terms of style and priorities.