Wilson vs. Roosevelt: the Better Progressive President? Essay

Thus his policy was known as "New Freedom." Under the New Freedom he sought to restore power to competition among small corporations rather that regulate large monopolies. Roosevelt's Square Deal and Wilson's New Freedom were policies that they used to help improve American economy, society and politics. However Roosevelt tried to reform many areas, Wilson's focus of reform was mostly economic. (Gould, 97-100) (Auchincloss, 62,81,91,116, & 127) (Whitelaw, 104,11-120,135,138,145-146, & 162)

Progress is not something that comes very quickly. It is a gradual process that takes time, in the interest of our country and the Progressive Era, more than a decade. The presidents of this time, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, were like chefs developing a recipe for the betterment of the United States. Every act that was passed, each decision that was made, was a trial or taste-test of the constantly changing recipe for the country. If something angered citizens or drew criticism, the president went back to his office, his kitchen, and was ready to make more changes. Where he left off in the progressive recipe, the next chef took over. He would analyze what had been done, identified his plan of action, and then set to work by either making

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act targeted business monopolies that could easily control the whole economy. Wilson being the arrogant president that he was, created a few minor laws that would not greatly improve the economy. It would be the next successor of the president that would be left with all these problems.

Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency marked the beginning of a very liberal period in American history. This new ‘Progressive Era’ was mobilized largely by the middle class as an attempt to put an end to the problems created by the period of excess that was the Gilded Age. Believing that big business was ruining democracy, and assuming a moral obligation to shield the poor and downtrodden from corrupt capitalists, the Progressives commenced an era of sweeping reforms. From the outset, the Progressive movement targeted domestic issues such as political machines, monopolies, and factory regulations. While President Roosevelt—the face of the Progressive movement—frequently became entangled in global affairs during his time in the Whitehouse, the focus of Progressives during this stage remained primarily on domestic concerns. It was not until after Roosevelt’s presidency that the Progressives followed their patron’s lead, becoming active participants in foreign affairs. Theodore Roosevelt’s exit from the spotlight and subsequent return to politics in 1912 caused the Progressives to split from the Republican Party, and when war broke out in Europe in 1914, Progressives were then divided amongst themselves regarding how the Great War should be handled from afar. As foreign policy issues became a larger concern than domestic issues, the Progressives shifted their attention away from home and toward foreign policy.

Unlike his predecessor, who was a Conservative Republican, Roosevelt was a Progressive Republican who was determined to fix the broken nation. Though he called for many reforms throughout the country, he was especially fixated on breaking up so called “bad trusts” that were used by the rich to create monopolies (Doc 1). He achieved his goal in 1903 by passing the Expediting Act, which broke up “bad trusts” across different industries and provided an effective successor to ineffective Sherman Antitrust Act, passed in 1890. This act also would lead to the Clayton Antitrust act in 1914 that would outlaw discriminating in price between different buyers that would create monopolies that would lessen competition (Doc 5). Along with reforming the economic climate of America, Roosevelt also sought to reform the political climate of America. He believed that the people should be the ones voting people into office, not the legislature (Doc 4). Roosevelt’s ideas on voter reform would eventually lead to the 1913 ratification of the 17th Amendment that stated that all senators would be elected via direct elections, where the people, not the legislature

Progressivism originated as the optimistic vision that society was capable of improvement, and that continued growth and advancement were the nation's destiny. This, however, would require direct, purposeful human intervention in social and economic affairs. Progressive reformers wished to limit the disperse authority and wealth by empowering the government to regulate or break up trusts at both state and national levels. They also believed in the importance of social cohesion. Individuals were not autonomous; rather they are each part of a great web of social relationships. Therefore they pushed for reforms to help women, children, industrial workers, immigrants, and even African Americans to

Now that we have taken the time to look at the personal lives of Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, lets look at the similarities that these two men share. From looking at their backgrounds, the first thing that we see in conjoint between these men, is, as young boys they were both fond of learning. Which ultimately, lead them both to attend Envy-League Colleges. Furthermore, while attending these schools, they both got degrees in law. After graduating, Wilson and Roosevelt got into politics, where they both ran as Demonstrates and became Presi-dent of the United States. While in office they both faced many challenges. However, despite those trials, they both rose above them. In addition to over coming, their own personal tribula-tions they both created acts and policies that effected and changed America significantly.

Two years into his presidency, Wilson enacted the Clayton Antitrust Act, which strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by defining prohibited actions by companies, and explained the new laws would be enforced. Wilson wanted to eliminate all monopolies in the market, which went against the views of Roosevelt. Wilson, however, was a democrat and leaned more towards leaving power to the states to regulate trade after the monopolies had been broken

Compare and contrast the foreign policies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Which do you think was a more effective president? Why?

For the most part they were the same. Both thought that reform was necessary, but the way that they went about it was different. For example, Wilson ratified the eighteenth amendment, which was the prohibition, outlawing liquor from being manufactured, sold, or transported. Roosevelt never would have approved it; he did try to outlaw football because of the injury that it caused. Instead of being outlawed, he compromised on structured rules. Both men were concerned with child labor. Both men organized investigations into child labor and later formed the federal children’s bureau, let by Roosevelt, and the Keating-Owen child labor act, outlawing the shipment of goods made by child labor, put in place by Wilson. Wilson wanted to lower tariffs, oppose business consolidation, and urge the government to break up giant corporations. On the other hand, Roosevelt believed in higher taxes, consider business consolidation acceptable, urging giant corporations to be permitted, but only with government regulations.

FDR’s New Deal programs greatly expanded the size, scope, and power of the federal government, giving the President and his Brain Trust near-dictatorial status. “I want to assure you,” Roosevelt 's aide Harry Hopkins told an audience of New Deal activists in New York, “that we are not afraid of exploring anything within the law, and we have a lawyer who will declare anything you want to do legal.” FDR was faced with the same difficult position of putting words into action. The establishment machine forges a “coalition of progressives that were divided into two parties” (54).

Two great men, two great presidents, led our nations to excellency and great success. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were hard working, intelligent men who were very familiar, but were also different in many aspects. Through their dedication to our country and their passion of politics they have made our country better.

Woodrow Wilson, our 23rd president, became involved in a war that he did not want any part of. Wilson wanted to remain neutral and have peace as in his first term of office. During World War I Wilson’s roles in the war became well known in all countries. Wilson wanted peace more than anything else. In seeking for peace Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter World War I. which may not sound like a peace strategy but Wilson felt it was the only way to stop Germany and gain peace. Wilson wrote his speech for world peace, Fourteen Points, that he was probably most famous for. He attended and played an integral part in The Treaty of Versailles. He was the founder of the League of Nations,

During the Progressive Era from 1890-1920, America saw three new presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. This period of time is known as the Progressive Era due to the political and social changes made to move away from a laissez-faire government to a more active government by the administrations of these presidents. Prior to this period, Americans had to suffer through poor working conditions, low wages, social and class inequality and become victims to large corporations that took advantage of the people. In particular, the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson established the key principles and ideas of economic reform and social reform, which would end up returning the power from the manipulative corporations back to the government, establishing a model for a more active role for the federal government, and improve the lives of Americans. However, even though Roosevelt and Wilson had similar intentions of reforming America, they both had different means of achieving it.

President Wilson would expand on government with his many programs that he would establish in his time in office. On the global front he would play a major role in the founding of The League of Nations. In domestic affairs he would push through major programs such as