Progressive movement
In the first decade of the twentieth century, the federal political scene reflected an increased American believe in the progressive movement. This movement based its work on fundamental economic and social reforms and therefore gained popularity under the reign of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Yet these two presidents espoused different approaches and ideas when it came to progressive reform and movement (Manfred, 1972). It is worth noting that each president was able to influence the congress at the time to pass legislation that kept their different versions of the progressive reform dream. These two distinct presidents, though they had different principles and approaches in mind, had a common goal, to make reforms to the country for better of the citizens and the nation at large. In their pursuit to achieve this goal, President Wilson emerged as the better progressive president, while Roosevelt emerged as the president of the common citizen.
Even though the two presidents both believed in progressive reform, they had different paths in action and mind with regard to the future of the nation. Their different priorities and perspectives were evident in their popular speeches: New Freedom of Wilson and Roosevelt’s New Nationalism. The New Freedom by Wilson targeted the destruction of major trusts so as to facilitate economic competition and allow the flourishing of smaller business in the country. The federal government in this case was to exercise its power of busting all trusts on one time basis, while the state government was to remain with no role with regard to regulation of business. This markedly contrasted with the New Nationalism by President Roosevelt. New Nationalism mainly emphasized on the need to combat evils of major big businesses through enhanced legislation and regulation, while at the same time maintaining an accommodative and cooperative tone. In this principle, the president outlined a progressive plan to enforce equality for all people in the country including small and big businesses. In this speech, the president pointed out that special interest groups were using their influence to manipulate politicians and politics in misrepresenting common will of the people. He further stressed the need for reforming this manipulation through measures like implementing the Australian voting ballot and abolishing political contributions for the campaign from corporations.The president also showed how big businesses min the country was using their power to manipulate the common man and quash their development through society. The president went further to argue that such corporations and their management were supposed to maintain legal obligations and social responsibility of full disclosure on economic status so as to prevent corruption. In addition, PresidentRoosevelt maintained that the government was to assume full control of industries for the benefit of the nation.
On the other hand, Wilson argued that large corporations in the country had taken over competitive businesses that were small leading to inefficiency and stagnation (Bowles,2011). He further elaborated how the corporations had dwindled the individuality in the common man and corrupted the sense for which the country was created upon. Ultimately President Wilson in his writing outlined how to remove the enemies of the progressive movement by rejecting monopolistic businesses and inequality proponents. Although both Roosevelt and Wilson agreed that economic power at the time was being abused by the United States government, Roosevelt ideas disagreed with that of Wilson on how the federal government was to handle private power restraints. President Roosevelt had suggested restraint through dismantling all the corporations, which enjoyed more economic power in the country than others.
President Wilson on some occasion supported Roosevelt’s foreign policy that was based on aggressive nationalism; however his was more diplomatic than Roosevelt’s. Wilson wanted to revolutionize the country’s internal affairs. President Wilson showed his ideas by proposing to dismember the colonial order. The actions and attitudes of both presidents showed their characters. Wilson was a reserved person, while Roosevelt was aggressive and with high spirits.
Both presidents achieved many reforms while in office. President Roosevelt is remembered as a strong supporter of the country’s natural resources. He did this by preserving and protecting national habitats through the establishment of forests and national parks. Roosevelt worked hard to protect small businesses, workers and the economy. His progressive movement led to the ratification of Drug and Food Act. The administration of President Wilson was responsible for bringing reforms in the banking sector, lowering of tariffs, antitrust Act, and legalizing of workers’ strike (Wilson, 1913). On foreign policy, Wilson made the USA to dominate the relations with the Latin America. Wilson continued the legacy of Roosevelt of foreign relation with Latin America, but differed with Roosevelt on the handling of Panama Canal in which he tried to change. Roosevelt is credited as the president who changed the country’s political system. He did this by permanently making presidency important and putting it at the core. After the election and contrary to his campaign, President Roosevelt worked out a consensus with the republicans so that his agenda could be achieved.
In conclusion, Roosevelt gained immense popularity and appeal as president of the common citizen due to his side of progressivism that centered on the common man. On the other hand, Wilson showed that he was a better president on progressive reform.
References
Bowles, D. (2011). American History: 1865 – Present / End of Isolation.San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.
Manfred, K. (1972).Progress in documentation: wise: a world information synthesis and encyclopaedia.Journal of Documentation, 28(4), 322 – 343.
Wilson, W. (1913). What is progress?. In The new freedom: A call for the emancipation of the generous energies of a people (Chapter II). New York: Doubleday, Page & Company.
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