Question

explain the issues over which the Republican Party split during President Tafts term

Answer 1

President Tafts term (1909 to 1913) was mired with constant clash among the progressive and conservative factions of the Republican Party. Taft was not a supporter of the strong executive branch. Taft gave his support on the Sherman Antitrust Act on breaking the monopolies and lowering the tariff. However it was felt Roosevelt was exploiting the power and categorised it to be unconstitutional. However Taft didn’t stand his ground and permitted the exploitation of federally protected land by miners and other private interests, thus conservatives wanted the presidency to be retaken by Roosevelt.

He believed in the graduated income tax, and put efforts on creating an environment for the workforce on a fairer environment, however eventually fell out of progressive favor when he supported on increasing the tariffs and was accused on blocking the efforts on conservation. Taft support was lost from Roosevelt and other Progressive Republicans when decided on supporting the Payne-Aldrich Act. In 1909 Payne-Aldrich Act was passed by Congress, and it decreased the tariffs nearly 5%, which Progressives felt was against them.