Compare And Contrast Roosevelt And The Progressive Era

The “Trust-Busting” Progressive President In the late 19th century, the idea of progressivism began to emerge from rapid industrialization and urbanization. Muckrakers and other progressive citizens created a hunger for truth after exposing scandals and corruption within healthcare, politics, and businesses. The people of this era responded to the economic, social, and political problems that arose. Progressive presidents were elected to office to create change in America.

The Progressive was a period in which new crusaders, also known as the “progressives”, engaged in combat with their society’s monopolies, corruption, and social injustice in order to “strengthen the State” and “use the government as an agency of human welfare.” This motif of these reformers was seen throughout this time and ultimately produced success stories but nonetheless fell to several limitations. As one discovers, Teddy Roosevelt known to history as the “Trust-buster” played a prominent role in launching a triumphant end to dishonest monopolies and trusts. In addition to corralling the corporations during this time, Roosevelt also impacted society with his reforms to assist the common man consumer, gaining initial inspiration from The

Roosevelt was re-elected president of the United States (first time elected) in 1904 partly to break up trusts and monopolies. The public was outraged for decades by the ways trusts and monopolies were cheating in business. Roosevelt felt that the US government was responsible for the falls of many legitimate businesses, because they failed to prosecute trusts and monopolies (Roosevelt 222). As president, Roosevelt pledged to protect small businesses and sue monopolies and trusts by implementing the Sherman Antitrust Act to restore honest commerce and labor conditions. Railroad discrimination continued to exist when Roosevelt came into the presidency after President Mckinley’s assassination.

The Progressive Era is one of the reasons America still stands strong today. It lasted from the 1890’s to the 1920’s and seeked to reform American policies and government. There are 3 main people who have contributed to the Progressive area - Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. These three presidents enforced and introduced laws and regulations that allowed more flexibility and choice for the people, and they are still in use today. If it weren’t for them, America would still be overly ruled by corporations and silenced by the government and our people would be sick.

Even though Hoover wasn’t re-elected after 1933, his failed attempt at laissez-faire still affected the American people. An example of this is Roosevelt’s attempt at counteracting Hoover’s Rugged individualism. During Roosevelt’s campaign he promised a ‘New Deal’ for the American people, where, especially in comparison to Hoover’s: ‘laissev-faire’, the US government would be more involved with businesses and the country’s citizens. Summed up, the ‘New Deal’ was about doing everything to keep the country from disaster.

When comparing Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson’s stance on foreign and domestic policies, there are similarities and differences. One iconic phrase we associate with Roosevelt, “speak softly and carry a big stick,” justly depicts his stance on foreign policy. Roosevelt sought after prestige for America, desiring to stand out among the nations in power and strength. At times, Roosevelt’s foreign pursuit was aggressive and resulted in conflict such as the Spanish-American War, and resistance to Roosevelt’s Corollary. But it did lead to advances of the construction of the Panama Canal, and the absorption of power over the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba and Hawaii. Roosevelt also made a great impact on domestic policy with the introduction

The transition between presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt marked the transformation from a weak, to a strong form of government, which became directly involved in the lives of the people. This was primarily caused by the difference in the executive leaders ideologies, where Hoover was more focused on individual responsibility and capitalism, Roosevelt was more concerned with immediate action based on government intervention. Overall, the New Deal sacrificed the amount of personal responsibility that the people had with their own economic security. The power of the federal government was strengthened, but the long-lasting effects based on the social and economic policies was beneficial for the United States.

Known for his tough policy on big corporations, president Theodore Roosevelt took many actions to cut down trust and get rid of government corruption (Outside Evidence). Altogether, the responses and the actions taken by people’s responses did much to change and impact

Other presidents were also able to establish antitrust reforms. President Woodrow Wilson established the Federal Trade Commission Act, aimed to prevent monopoly, and the Clayton Antitrust Bill. As Document E illustrates, the Clayton Antitrust Bill claims it unlawful to "lessen competition” or “tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce". Although Presidents Roosevelt and Wilson established reforms to stop monopoly, they still had many holes in their trust-busting campaign which severely limited the full effects of

This act also specified the labor unions and farm organizations and gave them the right to exist, but the act would no longer accept antitrust situations. As for the second measure of antitrust, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was set up. This was the agency that was in charge of observing and investigating possible violations. Under Wilson’s control, the FTC found almost 400 orders to companies that were engaged in illegal

The labor unions helped so the owners could not take advantage of the workers. The discontent between the working class and big business owners was very important for the entire country, so President Theodore Roosevelt used his power as the President to pass laws fitting to the progressive era. He proposed a number of legislative measure to protect the health and welfare of the public and the environment. He helped to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Roosevelt also intervened in coal strikes on the side of the workers to help force the owner to negotiate.

American voters became more influential in presidential elections because of the events that took place during the Jacksonian and Progressive Eras. In the Jacksonian Era, some voting restrictions were removed, voting became more private, the public was more informed about politics, and voters were taken into greater consideration by presidential candidates. In the Progressive Era, better living conditions, the fight against corruption, and other political reforms made it easier for the working class to vote for candidates that they favored. These events gave voters a greater influence in politics and made elections more fair.

Compared to the era’s earlier presidents, Roosevelt stands out to be incredibly socialist and sought to expand federal power like no incumbent had done before. FDR tried to put his mark

Beginning with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1933, the New Deal was passed in the context of reformism and rationalism as the United States proceeded through the Great Depression. The American people looked to the President to instill reform policies to help direct the country out of an economic depression, and thus often sought to abandon the society that existed before the Great Depression. Roosevelt instituted New Deal policies to attempt to combat this period of economic decline, many of which were successful and appealed to the American people’s desires. President Roosevelt’s New Deal is often criticized for being excessively socialistic in nature, thus causing dramatic changes in the fundamental structure of the United

All of these programs seemed to help and Americans were better off, but the Great Depression was over. Roosevelt continued to push for more reform, but in 1937 business slowed and another recession hit the nation. Now Roosevelt is being blamed for the nation’s problems. He was now at a