Summary Of The 1912 Election And The Power Of Progressivism

Thesis : After the Civil War, America was in a post-war boom. During the 1870-1890, big business moguls, such as Rockefeller and Carnegie, create huge corporations which not only affected the economy, but also affected the political realm of America. While many may assume that during the rise of these big business helped to change the economy and politics,  the real focus was on the responses formed by society, such as labor unions, increase public outcry, and political opposition groups that helped to change society. A: Economically, big business flourished during the late 1800s.

Theodore Roosevelt was aware of this and presented his idea of “New Nationalism” and the Square Deal. For example, to prevent corruption, Roosevelt spoke out for “direct nominations by the people”, (document D) and he was successful because the 17th amendment, preventing former representatives from picking the new ones, was ratified in 1913. Also within Roosevelt’s plans, he wanted to regulate big business and their trusts, which can be seen in the 1907 Washington Post political cartoon. In the cartoon, Roosevelt has his left leg upon a slain bear that represents “bad trusts”, such as the Northern Securities Company, and a gun in his right hand. To his left side there is a fearful bear representing “good trusts” on a restraint.

Roosevelt took his power to control the way of life of the Americans. So, many concerned Americans discern these actions as a problem to their right to be free. In fact, the New Deal actions were affecting and taking the American freedom. Roosevelt practiced his power to manipulate the economy and to command people, assimilating himself as the highest authority. Therefore, people started to see Roosevelt’s campaign as the communist party, by trying to control the system.

In many regards, the administrations of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were considered some of the most progressive of their times. With this, the size and power of the federal government grew. While they could agree on progressive views for conservation efforts and worker rights, Wilson fell behind Teddy 's footsteps in regards to his views of women 's and coloured people 's rights. Prior to the Progressive Era, the Industrial Revolution had been in full swing, leaving behind worker rights in the search of ever more efficient profits. In combination, there had been a rapid movement of urbanization and abuse of power from traditional political machines.

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

Eventually Roosevelt backed down. In 1903, Roosevelt wanted Congress to create a Department of Commerce and Labor to investigate corporations engaged in interstate commerce. When Congress did not want to do it, he took measures to ensure that they would pass it and they did in the end. Through these things in the reading along with the other things he did we see that Roosevelt while progressive went about it differently than Wilson did.

William Howard Taft was a member of the Republican Party. His term lasted from 1909-1913. His central ambition regarding reform was to create an orderly framework for administering a reform agenda.

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.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S. President 1882–1945) and Lyndon B. Johnson (U.S. President 1963–1969) are two examples of this. While both had an eye in developing a larger Federal government and supplying food, work, and medical care for those that could not afford them on their own, they are often criticized for the cons that came with the programs that they implemented. FDR’s and LBJ’s presidencies occurred during different economic challenges and social issues but they ultimately handled them in similar ways. Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York 1882. After his law career, Roosevelt began his election to the New York State Senate in 1910 and was appointed Secretary of the Navy in 1913.

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.

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

In the period between 1900 and 1920, the federal government and reformers were very successful in bringing social, economic, and political reform to the federal government. While not every aspect of it was successful, the rights of women, fighting against child labor and limiting the control of trusts and monopolies were three distinct successes of that time. Even before the progressive era, women challenged their place and articulated new visions of social, political and economic equality. The progressive era was a turning point for women as organizations evolved fighting for equal rights. Woman began to become very involved in a variety of reform movements.

Which overall, was Roosevelt 's

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.

I do not believe that Theodore Roosevelt was anti-business; rather he opposed their unethical practices. During this time big corporations set rates that were too high, underpaid their employees, and made employees work long hours. The Interstate Commerce Commission was established in 1887 by Grover Cleveland to investigate railroad rates and rebates. President Roosevelt introduced the Hepburn act to give the ICC the right to set rates for railroad shipping. By doing this railroads and big business were unable to set their rates too high because it no longer offered rebates.