Taft Presidency, 1909–12 (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes
Taft Presidency, 1909–12
Background: The 1908 presidential election
William Howard Taft assumed the presidency following Theodore Roosevelt's decision not to seek a third term. Roosevelt remained popular in 1908 and could have secured re-election had he chosen to run. However, he respected the two-term precedent established by George Washington and declined to stand again.
The two-term tradition, established by George Washington in 1796, was followed by every president until Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. It became a constitutional amendment (the 22nd Amendment) in 1951.
His chosen successor was William Taft, who fought the presidential election campaign against the Democrat William Bryan. Taft secured a comfortable victory, winning 321 electoral votes and 7,678,900 of the popular vote compared to Bryan's 162 electoral votes and 6,409,104 popular votes.
Taft's progressive reforms
Taft maintained Roosevelt's approach to restraining monopolies and big business. His administration brought 80 anti-trust suits under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, double the number Roosevelt had initiated. This demonstrated Taft's commitment to curbing corporate power and unfair competition.
Beyond anti-trust action, Taft introduced several progressive measures:
Eight-hour working day - Taft established an eight-hour day for government employees, addressing working conditions in the federal sector.
Mine safety legislation - New laws improved safety standards for miners.
Railroad rate regulation - The Interstate Commission received enhanced powers to set railroad rates, giving government greater control over transport costs.
Federal taxation - Taft introduced both a federal income tax and a corporation tax, both of which later became important sources of revenue for increased government spending.
Direct election of senators - Citizens could now elect senators directly rather than through state legislatures.
These measures demonstrated that progressive reform continued under Taft's administration, extending federal authority in economic and social matters. Despite later criticism, Taft's record shows substantial progressive achievements that expanded government regulation and democratic participation.
Taft's limitations as president
Despite these achievements, Taft faced mounting criticism from progressive Republicans. Several factors undermined his presidency:
Respect for congressional authority - As a lawyer by training, Taft worried that Roosevelt had overstepped presidential authority. He believed in respecting Congress's rights to oppose his proposals and was determined to act within constitutional limits. This cautious approach contrasted sharply with Roosevelt's more assertive executive style.
Limited political skills - Taft did not possess Roosevelt's political acumen. He struggled to handle the progressive-conservative divisions within the Republican Party. His tendency to think carefully before coming to decisions made him appear indecisive to many observers.
The Pinchot affair - Taft earned opposition from many progressives by dismissing Gifford Pinchot, the prominent conservationist originally appointed by Roosevelt. This decision suggested Taft had abandoned Roosevelt's conservation priorities.
Tariff reform controversy - Taft increasingly aligned himself with the conservative wing of the Republican Party, particularly over tariff policy. In 1909, he convened a special session of Congress to debate tariff reform legislation. The resulting Payne-Aldrich Act did little to lower tariffs. Though more progressive Republicans (including Roosevelt) expected Taft to veto the bill, he signed it into law and publicly defended it. This decision widened the split between progressive and conservative Republicans.
Roosevelt's opposition and the split with Taft
Concerns about Taft's reluctance to pursue further reform were communicated to Roosevelt in 1910 whilst he was taking part in a safari in Africa. Roosevelt returned to America determined to act as an opponent to Taft. He delivered an important speech at Osawatomie, Kansas, in which he attacked the trusts, urged the need for social reform, and supported even greater federal power.
New Nationalism - Roosevelt launched this policy platform which called for the centralisation of power in the hands of a strong government and the extension of regulation or control over industry, finance, transportation, agriculture, labour and even morals. It expressed new concern for the poor and underprivileged, for women and children, and called for new standards of honesty in politics and business.
In 1911, Roosevelt determined to run against Taft for the presidential election nomination. However, Taft controlled the Party machine and was able to dominate the convention. Roosevelt now claimed that the Republican Party no longer represented the wishes of the people.
In 1912, he left to form a new party, called the Progressives, to fight the 1912 presidential election. This new party split and weakened the Republicans, contributing greatly to their defeat in the 1912 presidential election to the Democrat Woodrow Wilson.
Key figure: William Taft (1857–1930)
Taft was born into a wealthy family in Ohio in 1857. After college, he attended law school and became a successful prosecutor. He was promoted to a series of prominent roles in the US judiciary and from 1901 to 1903 he served as the USA's governor-general in the Philippines. In 1904, Roosevelt appointed him as Secretary of War.
At first, Taft was reluctant to run as president, as his ambition was to serve on the Supreme Court. After his presidency, he became the chief judge of the Supreme Court, fulfilling his lifelong dream.
Historians have criticised Taft for being unimaginative, conservative and lacking in energy. His legal training meant he often thought very carefully before coming to decisions, which made him appear to be indecisive.
Historical interpretations of progressivism
Historians have debated the success of progressivism during this period.
Contemporary Assessment (1909)
A 1909 assessment from the Independent Magazine praised Roosevelt's presidency, noting how he had:
- Tackled concentrations of wealth
- Compelled them to end unfair competition
- Demanded a fair deal
- Worked to make life easier for those he had made his enemies
The article highlighted his purification of the civil service, protection of forests, ending of conflict with miners, and investigation of agricultural conditions.
Later Historical Analysis (1968)
S. Morison, H. Commager and W. Leuchtenburg, writing in The Growth of the American Republic (1968), described progressivism as a response to the problems of industrialisation from approximately 1890 to the First World War. It demanded the centralisation of power in the hands of strong government and the extension of regulation or control over industry, finance, transportation, agriculture, labour and even morals.
The movement expressed new concern for the poor and underprivileged, for women and children, and called for new standards of honesty in politics and business. These historians noted that progressivism formed a new creed and political philosophy which rejected laissez-faire (the belief that government should not interfere in the economy). The new progressivism had a distinctly moral character, with Bryan, Roosevelt and Wilson as its moral leaders.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1908 | Taft wins the presidential election |
| 1911 | Roosevelt establishes New Nationalism and attempts to challenge Taft for the Republican nomination |
| 1912 | Taft loses the presidential election to Woodrow Wilson after Roosevelt splits the Republican vote |
Key Points to Remember:
- Taft won the 1908 election comfortably but lacked Roosevelt's political skills and assertive leadership style.
- Taft actually filed twice as many anti-trust suits as Roosevelt (80 compared to 40), continuing progressive economic reform.
- Taft's support for the Payne-Aldrich Act and dismissal of Gifford Pinchot alienated progressive Republicans and caused a split in the party.
- Roosevelt returned from Africa in 1910, launched his New Nationalism policy, and challenged Taft for the 1912 nomination.
- Roosevelt's formation of the Progressive Party in 1912 split Republican votes and contributed to Taft's defeat by Democrat Woodrow Wilson.