Woodrow Wilson Zeitgeist Essay

Wilson's approach to progressivism was aimed more at commerce rather than with the people. As soon as he became president, he set to tackle the "triple wall of privilege": bank, tariff, and the trusts. He demanded that all trusts must be broken up in order for small businesses to succeed and competition to be restored. When it came to trusts, he showed no mercy, believing that entrepeurship and competition was the key to a healthy economy. Wilson pushed for creation of a Federal Trade Commission, a federal agency which would regulate trade on a continuous basis. He also secured passage of the Federal Reserve Act which created a federal agency to serve as economic watch dog and regulator of the banking industry. He also helped pass the Underwood Tariff Bill, which

As a PhD and former president of Princeton University, Wilson had a bit softer of approach to the presidency. Wilson, like Roosevelt, was a progressive reformer, instituting federal institutes, such as the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission, but Wilson had quite the opposite ideas of war and conquest. Wilson was slow to enter The Great War, and only did so to preserve American life when Germany began targeting passenger ships carrying American citizens. When America entered the war and helped a achieve a quick, decisive victory for the Allies, he was hailed overseas as the “hero from the West.” His creation of The League of Nations, which was shot down by the Senate during his infirm years following a stroke, likely could have helped prevent further unrest in European nations that led to World War

World War I was a period when countries faced economic, political, social, and cultural problems, which threatened the survival of democracy and freedom and needed a fast and effective resolution which was presented to the world by Woodrow Wilson called the Fourteen Points. The Fourteen Points offered the world a democratic resolute, that was effective, reliable and a basis for long lasting peace, unlike the Treaty of Versailles which was a non democratic approach to the problem since it contained a war-guilt clause which forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for starting World War I, although other European nations had been guilty of provoking diplomatic crises before the war, also the treaty excluded Russia which was a major

Wilson abandoned the imperialist policy and brought to the White House a new way of looking at America’s relations with the outside world. Wilson believed that the United States was the most politically enlightened in a sense under god, he felt that people throughout the world had their right to choose their own governments. Wilson was only protecting people rights to democracy.

    Economically, Wilson followed a similar strategy by administering legislative acts and systems, such as working to lower tariff rates as well as to establish a new type of banking system. Following this effort to curb big business, Wilson tried to lower tariff rates by lobbying in 1913 for the Underwood Act, which would substantially reduce the rates. Because of Wilson’s efforts and perseverance in addressing the issue, “...the new president’s use of the bully pulpit, the Senate voted to cut tariff rates even more deeply than the House had done,” (The Americans 333). Wilson’s persistence in acquiring this reduction of tariff and a greater need to find a way to restore the money that will be lost by these cuts (Federal Income Tax) shows especially how Wilson has economically impacted the Progressive Era. Along with reducing tariff rates, Wilson also aided the era by establishing the Federal Reserve System.

Wilson's number one desire was to be loved by the people. He could not win as much respect as Roosevelt won, but did find some affection in politics. He had many limitations, but one of the most severe was his respect for tradition. Wilson, instead of trying to make the government better and newer, he wanted to imitate the government of Great Britain, with cabinet being more like parliament. One of his main criticisms was that the current government had no room for debate, or great minds like Calhoun, Webster, and Clay. Wilson was much more sincere then Roosevelt, and actually provided a display of the reforms he wanted to achieve. Prior to his career in politics, Wilson served as the president of Princeton University. He therefore had much sympathy to the way education was run throughout the country, and wanted reforms to occur. He felt students were not allowed to express their opinion freely enough, and called for a more democratic undergraduate life. Similarly to Roosevelt, Wilson was hostile to labor unions, suspicious of large trusts, and unaware of how to handle trusts. The "Triple Wall of Privileges" was Wilson's economic policy which required getting rid of the three obstacles he felt society was currently facing- the trusts, banks, and tariffs. And before Wilson left the White House, he made sure he handled every single part of the "Triple Wall of Privileges."

A true idealist, his crusades against these evils were truly heartfelt and in his mind, the best action to take for the nation. Beginning with the Underwood Tariff of 1913, it was the first lowering of taxes since the Civil War and stood against the protectionist lobbying. Next, he introduced the Federal Trade Act, which set up the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and halt unfair and illegal business practices. Also, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act deemed certain businesses illegal (trusts and horizontal mergers), declared unions legal, and also strikes, boycotts, picketing and the collection of strike benefit funds were ruled legal. The, a landmark legislation, the Federal Reserve Act in 12 districts would print and coin money as well as set interest rates. In this way the "Fed," as it was called, could control the money supply and effect the value of currency. The more money in circulation, the lower the value and inflation went up. In effect, the less money in circulation, the greater the value and this would lower inflation. Theodore’s true successor, Wilson finished Roosevelt’s job on the trusts and branched out towards the other deleterious aspects of the nation as well. He gave the surging mainstream progressive movement an innocent morality he naturally possessed.

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

In comparison Teddy Roosevelt believed the main source of executive authority was bestowed to the Presidency by the people and as such held a moral obligation under the Constitution to use the position and influence of the executive branch to serve the people's interests. “ [I] regard[ed] the executive as subject only to the people, and under the Constitution, bound to serve the people affirmatively…”(Roosevelt, The Presidency,1913). Roosevelt’s stewardship theory developed as part of the emerging progressive movement. Progressivism evolved in response to economic, political and social injustices that occurred during America’s transformation into a modern industrial era. During the gilded age The consolidation of businesses into national interstate

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.

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,

Woodrow Wilson was the first Southerner to be elected president after the Civil War. Born on December 28, 1856 in Staunton, Va., he was the son of a Presbyterian minister who supported the Confederates. Wilson assumed the presidency after a whirlwind career as a college professor, university president and New Jersey governor. However, Wilson left the Oval Office just as heartbroken as the Confederate soldiers that returned home when he was a boy.

A devastating war had left much of Europe in ruin and smoke, but a task almost as difficult as the war was still ahead for the allies, devising a treaty. President Woodrow Wilson had come up with a fourteen point plan, which he proposed to the allied leaders of France, Italy, and Britain. Although this plan was eventually voted down by the senate, and never passed, several key points were put into the treaty that was accepted by the senate.

Woodrow Wilson’s presidency was by many accounts one of the most successful in American history. Not only did his domestic affairs and reform policies give birth to the modern age of liberalism but his foreign policies would lead the United States to victory in World War I. This would in turn contribute to the United States involvement in world affairs.