New Nationalism (Theodore Roosevelt)

Last updated

New Nationalism was a policy platform first proposed by former President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt in a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas on August 31, 1910.

Contents

The progressive nationalist policies outlined in the speech would form the basis for his campaign for a third term as president in the 1912 election, first as a candidate for the Republican Party nomination and then as a Progressive.

Speech

As noted by one historian, “Theodore Roosevelt’s political views lurched further to the left after his departure from the White House.” [1] This was demonstrated when Roosevelt made the case for what he called "the New Nationalism" in a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, on August 31, 1910. [2] The central issue he argued was government protection of human welfare and property rights, [3] but he also argued that human welfare was more important than property rights. [3] [4] He insisted that only a powerful federal government could regulate the economy and guarantee justice, [3] and that a President can succeed in making his economic agenda successful only if he makes the protection of human welfare his highest priority. [3] Roosevelt believed that the concentration in industry was a natural part of the economy. He wanted executive agencies, not courts, to regulate business. The federal government should be used to protect the laboring men, women and children from exploitation. [5]

Commenting on the speech, one journal noted that

It requires only a very cursory reading of the speech to see that Mr. Roosevelt is one of the most radical of the “progressives.” Whether or not he has in mind any such contingency as separating from the Republican party in case his views as outlined at Osawatomie are not incorporated in future platforms there is, of course, no indication. But we believe there is not an article in the creed of Senators La Follette, Cummins and the other so-called “insurgents,” that he does not unqualifiedly accept. [6]

Further adding to this point, the same journal noted

The question that most immediately suggests itself in regard to the speech is therefore not “Is there going to a third party headed by Roosevelt, Cummins, La Follette, Pinchot, Garfield?”-but rather “How much of this program of radical or progressive Republicanism will the radical or progressive wing of the party under the picturesque and aggressive leadership of Roosevelt be able to write into the party platforms and make effective in Congress during the next six or eight years?” And once again, only time will tell. [7]

In terms of policy, Roosevelt's platform included a broad range of social and political reforms advocated by progressives. [8] [9] [10]

Socioeconomic policy

In the socioeconomic sphere, the platform called for the following:

Electoral reform

The electoral reforms proposed included

Anti-corporatocracy proposals

The main theme of the platform was an attack on what he perceived as the domination of politics by business interests, which allegedly controlled both established parties. The platform asserted:

To destroy this invisible Government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day. [11]

To that end, the platform called for the following:

Influences and comparisons

The Promise of American Life, written in 1909 by Herbert Croly, influenced Theodore Roosevelt to adopt the platform of New Nationalism and was popular with intellectuals and political leaders of the later New Deal. [12]

New Nationalism was in direct contrast with Woodrow Wilson's policy of The New Freedom, which promoted antitrust modification, tariff reduction, and banking and currency reform.

According to Lewis L. Gould, "The Progressive party did not go as far as the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt would, but it represented a long step in that direction." [13]

Quotations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Roosevelt</span> President of the United States from 1901 to 1909

Theodore Roosevelt Jr., also known as Teddy or T. R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York politics, including serving as the state's 33rd governor for two years. He served as the vice president under President William McKinley for six months in 1901, assuming the presidency after McKinley's assassination. As president, Roosevelt emerged as a leader of the Republican Party and became a driving force for anti-trust and Progressive policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Howard Taft</span> President of the United States from 1909 to 1913

William Howard Taft served from 1909 to 1913 as the 27th president of the United States and from 1921 to 1930 as the tenth chief justice of the United States, the only person to have held both offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 5, 1912. Democratic governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey unseated incumbent Republican president William Howard Taft while defeating former president Theodore Roosevelt and Socialist Party nominee Eugene V. Debs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert M. La Follette</span> American lawyer and politician (1855–1925)

Robert MarionLa Follette Sr., nicknamed "Fighting Bob", was an American lawyer and politician. He represented Wisconsin in both chambers of Congress and served as the governor of Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906. A Republican for most of his life, he ran for president of the United States as the nominee of his own Progressive Party in the 1924 U.S. presidential election. Historian John D. Buenker describes La Follette as "the most celebrated figure in Wisconsin history".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Era</span> 1890s–1920s US political reform movement

The Progressive Era (1890s–1920s) was a period in the United States during the early 20th century characterized by various social and political reform efforts. Progressives sought to address issues they associated with rapid industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and political corruption, as well as the concentration of industrial ownership in monopolies. Reformers expressed concern about slums, poverty, and labor conditions. Multiple overlapping movements pursued social, political, and economic reforms by advocating changes in governance, scientific methods, and professionalism; regulating business; protecting the natural environment; and seeking to improve urban living and working conditions.

Progressivism in the United States is a left-leaning political philosophy and reform movement. Into the 21st century, it advocates policies that are generally considered social democratic and part of the American Left. It has also expressed itself within center-right politics, such as New Nationalism and progressive conservatism. It reached its height early in the 20th century. Middle/working class and reformist in nature, it arose as a response to the vast changes brought by modernization, such as the growth of large corporations, pollution, and corruption in American politics. Historian Alonzo Hamby describes American progressivism as a "political movement that addresses ideas, impulses, and issues stemming from modernization of American society. Emerging at the end of the nineteenth century, it established much of the tone of American politics throughout the first half of the century."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 Republican National Convention</span> American political convention

The 1912 Republican National Convention was held at the Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, from June 18 to June 22, 1912. The party nominated President William Howard Taft and Vice President James S. Sherman for re-election for the 1912 United States presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Moose Party</span> American political party founded by Theodore Roosevelt

The Progressive Party, popularly nicknamed the Bull Moose Party, was a third party in the United States formed in 1912 by former president Theodore Roosevelt after he lost the presidential nomination of the Republican Party to his former protégé turned rival, incumbent president William Howard Taft. The new party was known for taking advanced positions on progressive reforms and attracting leading national reformers. The party was also ideologically deeply connected with America's radical-liberal tradition. After the party's defeat in the 1912 United States presidential election, it went into rapid decline in elections until 1918, disappearing by 1920. The "Bull Moose" nickname originated when Roosevelt boasted that he felt "strong as a bull moose" after losing the Republican nomination in June 1912 at the Chicago convention.

The Progressive Party was a political party created as a vehicle for Robert M. La Follette, Sr. to run for president in the 1924 election. It did not run candidates for other offices, and it disappeared after the election. The party advocated progressive positions such as government ownership of railroads and electric utilities, cheap credit for farmers, the outlawing of child labor, stronger laws to help labor unions, more protection of civil liberties, an end to American imperialism in Latin America, and a referendum before any president could lead the nation into war.

These are the references for further information regarding the history of the Republican Party in the U.S. since 1854.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth Party System</span> Phase in U.S. electoral politics (1896–1932)

The Fourth Party System was the political party system in the United States from about 1896 to 1932 that was dominated by the Republican Party, except the 1912 split in which Democrats captured the White House and held it for eight years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1916 Republican National Convention</span> American political convention

The 1916 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago from June 7 to June 10. A major goal of the party's bosses at the convention was to heal the bitter split within the party that had occurred in the 1912 presidential campaign. In that year, Theodore Roosevelt bolted the GOP and formed his own political party, the Progressive Party, which contained most of the GOP's liberals. William Howard Taft, the incumbent president, won the nomination of the regular Republican Party. This split in the GOP ranks divided the Republican vote and led to the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of William Howard Taft</span> U.S. presidential administration from 1909 to 1913

The presidency of William Howard Taft began on March 4, 1909, when William Howard Taft was inaugurated as 27th president of the United States, and ended on March 4, 1913. Taft was a Republican from Ohio. The protégé and chosen successor of President Theodore Roosevelt, he took office after easily defeating Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the 1908 presidential election. His presidency ended with his landslide defeat in the 1912 election by Democrat Woodrow Wilson, after one term in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 Republican Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of Republican US presidential candidate

From January 23 to June 4, 1912, delegates to the 1912 Republican National Convention were selected through a series of primaries, caucuses, and conventions to determine the party's nominee for president in the 1912 election. Incumbent president William Howard Taft was chosen over former president Theodore Roosevelt. Taft's victory at the national convention precipitated a fissure in the Republican Party, with Roosevelt standing for the presidency as the candidate of an independent Progressive Party, and the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson over the divided Republicans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political positions of Theodore Roosevelt</span> Views and policies of the 26th US President

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) was the 26th President of the United States (1901–1909) and also served as Governor of New York and Vice President. He is known for becoming a leading spokesman for his version of progressivism after 1890. However, author Daniel Ruddy argues in his book Theodore the Great: Conservative Crusader that Roosevelt was actually a "populist conservative" and a "Hamiltonian"—a conservative in the eighteenth century sense of the word. Similarly, Francis Fukuyama identifies Roosevelt, together with Alexander Hamilton, as part of a tradition of a strong-state conservatism in the United States.

Progressive conservatism is a political ideology that attempts to combine conservative and progressive policies. While still supportive of a capitalist economy, it stresses the importance of government intervention in order to improve human and environmental conditions.

The California Progressive Party, also named California Bull Moose, was a political party that flourished from 1912 to 1944 and lasted through the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 Progressive National Convention</span> American political event

The 1912 Progressive National Convention was held in August 1912. Angered at the renomination of President William Howard Taft over their candidate at the 1912 Republican National Convention, supporters of former President Theodore Roosevelt convened in Chicago and endorsed the formation of a national progressive party. When formally launched later that summer, the new Progressive Party acclaimed Roosevelt as its presidential nominee and Governor Hiram Johnson of California as his vice presidential running mate. When questioned by reporters, Roosevelt said he felt as strong as a "bull moose". Henceforth known as the "Bull Moose Party", the Progressives promised to increase federal regulation and protect the welfare of ordinary people.

This bibliography of Theodore Roosevelt is a list of published works about Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. The titles are selected from tens of thousands of publications about him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1924 United States presidential election in Kansas</span>

The 1924 United States presidential election in Kansas was held on November 4, 1924, as part of the 1924 United States presidential election. State voters chose ten electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

References

  1. Alexander Hamilton and the Persistence of Myth By Stephen F. Knott, 2002, P.90
  2. O'Mara, Margaret. Pivotal Tuesdays. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 32.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The New Nationalism" Archived May 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine , text of Theodore Roosevelt's August 31, 1910 speech in Osawatomie, Kansas
  4. "Teddy Roosevelt quotes, Teddy Roosevelt and President Abraham Lincoln-inventions, FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John Hay, leadership style,Teddy Roosevelt-leadership style, Lincoln leadership style". Theamericans.us. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  5. "Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism—August 31, 1910". Presidentialrhetoric.com. August 31, 1910. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  6. The Pittsburgh Press 1 Sep 1910
  7. The Pittsburgh Press 1 Sep 1910
  8. Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U. S. elections . Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1985. pp.  77–78. ISBN   0-87187-339-7.
  9. P.O. Box 400406 (January 20, 2012). "American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Campaigns and Elections". Millercenter.org. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. "Minor/Third Party Platforms: Progressive Party Platform of 1912". Presidency.ucsb.edu. November 5, 1912. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  11. O'Toole, Patricia (June 25, 2006). "The War of 1912". Time.
  12. The Promise of American Life: Updated Edition, p. 29, Foreword by Franklin Foer
  13. Gould, Lewis L. (May 12, 2014). America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1914. Routledge. ISBN   9781317879985 via Google Books.

Further reading