AIM 27: What Other Reforms Were Passed by President Taft?

President Roosevelt served two terms as President & felt that this was enough. He convinced the Republicans to nominate Senator William Taft to be the Republican candidate for President.

Taft won the Presidential election of 1908 easily. He continued Roosevelt’s policy of reducing the power of big business. Even though TR was nicknamed the “Trustbuster”, President Taft prosecuted more trusts than Roosevelt. Taft also passed the 16^th Amendment that created an income tax to raise more revenue (money) for the federal government. At that time the major source of US govt. revenue were tariffs which were placed on imports into the US.

Under Taft more laws were passed to give the govt. more power to regulate business. In addition laws were passed which would make companies reveal the political contributions, which were made to politicians & elected officials.

In 1912 TR decided that he wished to run again for the Presidency. He created a new political party called the Progressive Party. However in the election he took away votes from the Republican Party so that neither the Republican nor Progressive Parties were able to get enough votes to defeat the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson, who was elected President.

HOMEWORK: Read Chapter Summary pg 445. Do pg 443 ques 3 – 5.

TOMORROW WE WILL READ SOME MATERIALS ABOUT Pres. Roosevelt & THEN THE DAY AFTER THAT WE WILL HAVE A TEST ON CHAPTER 22!