Presidential Action on Progressive Policies in the Early 20th Century
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To what extent did presidents in the early twentieth century successfully enact Progressive policies?
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In the early twentieth century, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson each attempted to enact Progressive policies, albeit with varying degrees of success. This essay will assess the extent to which these presidents achieved their Progressive goals.
Theodore Roosevelt, who served as President from 1901 to 1909, championed a series of Progressive reforms during his tenure. He significantly expanded the powers of the Presidency to challenge large corporations, earning himself the moniker of 'trust buster.' Roosevelt's efforts led to landmark legislation such as railroad regulation, meat inspections, and the Pure Food and Drug Act. While his legislative achievements were constrained by a resistant Congress, Roosevelt's assertive use of executive power exemplified his commitment to Progressive ideals. Furthermore, his conservation initiatives, including the establishment of national parks, demonstrated his dedication to environmental stewardship. However, Roosevelt's record on civil rights, particularly regarding African Americans in the South, was mixed due to political realities.
William Howard Taft, who followed Roosevelt as President, continued the Progressive agenda by intensifying antitrust efforts. His administration filed numerous antitrust suits, leading to the breakup of Standard Oil and other corporate trusts. Taft also expanded the regulatory reach of the Interstate Commerce Commission through the Mann-Elkins Act and supported key constitutional amendments, such as the Sixteenth Amendment for federal income tax and the Seventeenth Amendment for the direct election of senators. Additionally, Taft established new agencies focused on mine safety and child welfare, underscoring his commitment to Progressive reform.
Woodrow Wilson, elected President in 1912, pursued Progressive policies under the banner of the 'New Freedom' platform. Wilson targeted what he termed the 'Triple Wall of Privilege,' which included tariffs, banks, and trusts that hindered economic competition. He successfully shepherded through Congress the Underwood-Simmons Act, which slashed tariffs and promoted economic growth. Wilson also implemented the Federal Reserve banking system, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Clayton Antitrust Act to curb monopolistic practices. Furthermore, Wilson continued Roosevelt's conservation efforts and supported women's suffrage during his second term, aligning with Progressive causes.
In conclusion, each of these early twentieth-century presidents made significant strides in enacting Progressive policies, albeit with varying levels of achievement. Theodore Roosevelt's activist approach and conservation initiatives, William Howard Taft's antitrust efforts, and Woodrow Wilson's economic reforms and support for social justice issues collectively advanced the Progressive agenda during this transformative period in American history. While challenges and limitations existed, these presidents contributed to the broader movement for social, economic, and political reform known as Progressivism.
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To what extent did presidents in the early twentieth century successfully enact Progressive policies?
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Candidates will discuss the ideas and actions of Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson. The discussion can take place in relation to ideas of Progressivism as set up by the candidate and also in comparison to each other.
Discussion of Theodore Roosevelt as a Progressive President:
Presidency, from 1901 to 1909. His legislative achievements have been described as ‘modest but historic’. They include railroad regulation, meat inspections and the Pure Food and Drug Act although an uncooperative Congress meant little radical legislation could be passed. More significant was TR’s use of the Presidency to act progressively. He ordered the prosecution of the Northern Securities Company, a railroad trust. The Supreme Court ordered the trust to be dissolved. TR became known as the ‘trust buster’. He intervened in the anthracite coal miners’ strike of 1902 not by sending in troops to break the strike, as had been the norm before, but to urge the two sides to talk to each other. Theodore Roosevelt certainly called himself a Progressive, especially in the 1912 presidential election. His conservation initiatives, setting up national parks for the benefit of all, can also be seen as Progressive. The main limitation of TR’s Progressivism concerns civil rights, especially of Blacks facing Jim Crow laws in the South, but there the Democratic Party was too strong.
Discussion of Taft as a Progressive President:
Taft filed twice the number of antitrust suits as Roosevelt, and the Supreme Court upheld the breakup of Standard Oil under the Sherman Antitrust Act (1911) during his administration. Through the Mann‐Elkins Act (1910), the authority of the ICC was again expanded to cover regulation of telephone, telegraph, and cable companies. Taft actively supported both the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments (which provided for the federal income tax and direct election of senators, respectively) and established new agencies, such as the Bureau of Mines, which set standards of mine safety, and the Federal Children's Bureau.
Discussion of Wilson as a Progressive President:
Woodrow Wilson’s ‘New Freedom’ initiative of 1912 was directed against ‘the Triple Wall of Privilege’: tariffs, which protected big business; banks, which harmed small businesses; trusts, which were anti-competitive and anti-consumer. Thus, in 1913, Wilson manipulated public opinion to make Congress pass the Underwood-Simmons bill, which cut tariffs to levels not seen since the 1850s, he introduced the Federal Reserve banking system and the Federal Trade Commission and he supported the Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914. Wilson even continued Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation policies, establishing more national parks. In his second term he also supported votes for women, another Progressive cause. Accept any other valid responses.