“Between Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal and Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom domestic programs, which was more ‘progressive’?”. Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal was more progressive compared to Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom domestic program. Meaning of Progressivism is to bring rapid changes in life of Americans in the area of –industrialization, urbanization and immigration where there was complete injustice and chaos. The Progressive Era of 1890-1920, brought remarkable revolution in American politics and culture. Progressives called it “movement by people to curb the power of special interest” (p-556). Nation’s goal is Growth and improvement of the society. In order to achieve this progress, we need to have purposeful human intervention. Small business professional made an effort to restrict the power of large corporations and labor unions. “Psychological” meaning of progressivism was disruption of American life due to rapid economic changes. Large corporations had all economical powers. Thus, forming a new middle class would distribute and stabilize national economy. The progressive impulse took various forms. One such impulse “Antimonopoly” was to protect trade and commerce from unfair business practices. Another impulse was “importance of social cohesion” in which individual was the part of society and that doing good to individual was doing good to society. “Deep faith in knowledge” was yet another impulse in which reformers believed that knowledge was needed for seeking society as human. Progressives also discussed issues of women’s right to vote, racial equality and rights of labor. It started as movement involving communities, cities, states and ultimately the whole nation. Federal government also played an important role by supporting the demands of reformers and stabilizing society. With assassination of President William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt became youngest President of United States. As a governor and first president of Progressive Era, Roosevelt united with those progressives who urged regulations of the trust. Roosevelt’s policy gave government the authority to investigate the work of corporations and to publish the results publicly. The Department of Commerce and Labor founded in 1903, helped performing this task by its Investigatory arm. In 1902, he ordered Justice Department to enforce Sherman Antitrust Act against new railroad monopoly. In 1904, Supreme court ordered that Northern Securities company to be terminated. Another, Roosevelt’s policy towards labor was having federal intervention in industrial disputes that involved employers and labor unions. In 1902,
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Soon after his election, he targeted railroad industry. Congress passed legislation to provide power to government to check railroad rates and formed “Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act of 1906”. Congress also passed “Pure Food and Drug Act” which prevents adulteration and mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals. “Meat inspection Act” was passed to prevent diseases transmitted by contaminated meat. In 1907, his reforms were 8 hours workday, big compensation for victims with industrial accidents, inheritance and income taxes and control of stock market. Conservatives in congress and judiciary blocked his reforms and brought partition between him and conservative Republicans. With his executive power, he prevented private construction on underdeveloped government lands in West. He was the first president to concern about American conservative movement. But, the big corporations showed no care for the natural resources and wanted to exploit them. He also developed national parks. In 1902, “The Newlands Act” allowed government to collect money by selling public lands in west and funding irrigation
Soon after his election, he targeted railroad industry. Congress passed legislation to provide power to government to check railroad rates and formed “Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act of 1906”. Congress also passed “Pure Food and Drug Act” which prevents adulteration and mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals. “Meat inspection Act” was passed to prevent diseases transmitted by contaminated meat. In 1907, his reforms were 8 hours workday, big compensation for victims with industrial accidents, inheritance and income taxes and control of stock market. Conservatives in congress and judiciary blocked his reforms and brought partition between him and conservative Republicans. With his executive power, he prevented private construction on underdeveloped government lands in West. He was the first president to concern about American conservative movement. But, the big corporations showed no care for the natural resources and wanted to exploit them. He also developed national parks. In 1902, “The Newlands Act” allowed government to collect money by selling public lands in west and funding irrigation