New Nationalism (Theodore Roosevelt)

Last updated

New Nationalism was Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive political platform during the 1912 election.

Contents

Speech

Roosevelt made the case for what he called "the New Nationalism" in a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, on August 31, 1910. [1] The central issue he argued was government protection of human welfare and property rights, [2] but he also argued that human welfare was more important than property rights. [2] [3] He insisted that only a powerful federal government could regulate the economy and guarantee justice, [2] and that a President can succeed in making his economic agenda successful only if he makes the protection of human welfare his highest priority. [2] 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. [4] In terms of policy, Roosevelt's platform included a broad range of social and political reforms advocated by progressives. [5] [6] [7]

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. [8]

To that end, the platform called for the following:

Influences and comparisons

The book The Promise of American Life , written in 1909 by Herbert Croly, Theodore Roosevelt. [9] 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." [10]

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., often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He previously served as the 25th vice president under President William McKinley from March to September 1901 and as the 33rd governor of New York from 1899 to 1900. Assuming the presidency after McKinley's assassination, 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 was an American politician and lawyer who was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected president in 1908, the chosen successor of Theodore Roosevelt, but was defeated for reelection in 1912 by Woodrow Wilson after Roosevelt split the Republican vote by running as a third-party candidate. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft to be chief justice, a position he held until a month before his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 United States presidential election</span> 32nd quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1912 United States presidential election was the 32nd quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, 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">Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act</span> 1909 U.S. legislation greatly increasing tariffs on certain imports

The Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909, named for Representative Sereno E. Payne (R–NY) and Senator Nelson W. Aldrich (R–RI), began in the United States House of Representatives as a bill raising certain tariffs on goods entering the United States. The high rates angered Republican reformers, and led to a deep split in the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osawatomie, Kansas</span> City in Kansas, United States

Osawatomie is a city in Miami County, Kansas, United States, 61 miles (98 km) southwest of Kansas City. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 4,255. It derives its name as a portmanteau of two nearby streams, the Marais des Cygnes River and Pottawatomie Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Era</span> Era of US history between 1896 and 1917

The Progressive Era (1896–1917) was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States focused on defeating corruption, monopoly, waste, and inefficiency. The main themes ended during American involvement in World War I (1917–1918) while the waste and efficiency elements continued into the 1920s. Progressives sought to address the problems caused by rapid industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and political corruption; and by the enormous concentration of industrial ownership in monopolies. They were alarmed by the spread of slums, poverty, and the exploitation of labor. Multiple overlapping progressive movements fought perceived social, political and economic ills by advancing democracy, scientific methods, professionalism and efficiency; regulating businesses, protecting the natural environment, and improving working conditions in factories and living conditions of the urban poor. Spreading the message of reform through mass-circulation newspapers and magazines by "probing the dark corners of American life" were investigative journalists known as "muckrakers". The main advocates of progressivism were often middle-class social reformers.

The Square Deal was Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program, which reflected his three major goals: conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Freedom</span> Woodrow Wilsons campaign platform in the 1912 US presidential election

The New Freedom was Woodrow Wilson's campaign platform in the 1912 presidential election, and also refers to the progressive programs enacted by Wilson during his first term as president from 1913 to 1916 while the Democrats controlled Congress. First expressed in his campaign speeches and promises, Wilson later wrote a 1913 book of the same name. In terms of legislation, wartime policies are generally not considered part of the New Freedom. After the 1918 midterm elections, Republicans took control of Congress and were mostly hostile to the New Freedom. As president, Wilson focused on various types of reform, such as the following:

  1. Tariff reform: This came through the passage of the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913, which lowered tariffs for the first time since 1857 and went against the protectionist lobby.
  2. Labor reform: This was achieved through measures such as the Eight Hour Law for Women of the District of Columbia, the Seaman’s Act, Workmen’s Compensation for Federal employees, the Federal Child Labor Bill, and the Adamson Act. During the 1912 campaign Wilson spoke in support of workers organizing into unions while endorsing "the betterment of men in this occupation and the other, the protection of women, the shielding of children, the bringing about of social justice.”
  3. Business reform: This was established through the passage of the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914, which established the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and halt unfair and illegal business practices by issuing "cease and desist" orders, and the Clayton Antitrust Act.
  4. Agricultural reform: This was achieved through measures such as the Cotton Futures and Smith-Lever Acts of 1914, the Grain Standards and Warehouse Acts of 1916, and the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917.
  5. Banking reform: This came in 1913 through the creation of the Federal Reserve System and in 1916 through the passage of the Federal Farm Loan Act, which set up Farm Loan Banks to support farmers.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">1912 Republican National Convention</span> 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 H. Taft and Vice President James S. Sherman for re-election for the 1912 United States presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Party (United States, 1912–1920)</span> American third party founded by Theodore Roosevelt

The Progressive 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.

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">History of the Republican Party (United States)</span> Aspect of U.S. political history

The Republican Party, also known as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States. It is the second-oldest extant political party in the United States after its main political rival, the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth Party System</span> Fourth phase in the development of electoral politics in the United States, 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">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 defeat in the 1912 election by Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

<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 capitalist society, it stresses the importance of government intervention in order to improve human and environmental conditions.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1910 New Jersey gubernatorial election</span>

The 1910 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1910. Democratic nominee and future President Woodrow Wilson defeated Republican Assemblyman Vivian M. Lewis with 53.93% of the vote. During the campaign, Wilson underwent a political transformation from a symbol of conservative Wall Street reaction into one of the leading members of his party's progressive faction. His victory was widely understood to be the prelude to his campaign for the presidency in 1912.

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.

References

  1. O'Mara, Margaret. Pivotal Tuesdays. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 32.
  2. 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
  3. "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.
  4. "Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism—August 31, 1910". Presidentialrhetoric.com. August 31, 1910. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  5. Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U. S. elections . Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1985. pp.  77–78. ISBN   0-87187-339-7.
  6. 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.
  7. "Minor/Third Party Platforms: Progressive Party Platform of 1912". Presidency.ucsb.edu. November 5, 1912. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  8. O'Toole, Patricia (June 25, 2006). "The War of 1912". Time.
  9. Roosevelt, Theodore (January 21, 1911). "Nationalism and Popular Rule". The Outlook (New York) . pp. 96–101.
  10. Gould, Lewis L. (May 12, 2014). America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1914. Routledge. ISBN   9781317879985 via Google Books.

Further reading