Oklahoma Academic Standard 2. The student will analyze the social, economic and political changes that occurred during the American Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, and significant reform movements from the 1870s to the 1920s.  

Objective 2.3  Analyze and summarize the key personalities, actions and policies of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and  Woodrow Wilson by:

  A. comparing the policies of Roosevelt and Taft on environmental conservation and trust busting,

  B. evaluating the 1912 presidential election including the role of  Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party and Eugene V. Debs Socialist Party.

  C. describing the policies of Wilson on the issue of women’s right to vote. 

In a Nutshell

During the early 1900’s, presidents and other politicians were associated with the progressive movement.  Environmental conservation, a challenge to the hold of monopolies, and renewed influence of the labor movement were significant issues of such progressive leaders. Student understanding of the role government plays in solving social, economic, and environmental problems will better equip them to participate in ongoing debates regarding such issues in our American republic today.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Provide students with opportunities to develop self-generated theses or claims related to independent research and investigations using credible and relevant sources to describe the complex of politics on Progressive policy goals.  

• Evaluate how multiple complex events are shaped by unique circumstances of time, place, as well as broader historical contexts in regards to the contributions of the Progressive presidents and the impact of the Progressives on presidential elections. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• trust, Standard Oil, Northern Securities Company

• U.S. Forest Service, National Reclamation Act of 1902, Newlands Act, Roosevelt Dam, Department of the Interior

• Richard Ballinger, Gifford Pinchott

• Joe Cannon, Payne-Aldrich Tarriff

• Students may not realize that both the Republican and Democratic parties can be considered "Progressive." 

• Students may not realize how impactful a popular 3rd party candidate can be on the outcome of an election.

Instructional Resources