Progressivism implies a philosophy which welcomes innovations and reforms in the political, economic, and
social order. The Progressive movement, 1901 to 1917, was ultimately the triumph of conservatism rather than a
victory for liberalism. In a general sense, the conservative goals of this period justified the Liberal reforms enacted by
Progressive leaders. Deviating from the “traditional” definition of conservatism (a resistance to change and a
disposition of hostility to innovations in the political, social, and economic order), the Conservatist triumph was in the
sense that there was an effort to maintain basic social and economic relations vital to a capitalist society. The
Progressive leaders essentially wanted to perpetuate Liberal reform in order to bring upon general conservatism.
Expansion of the federal government’s powers, competition and economic distribution of wealth, and the social
welfare of American citizens concerned the many leaders of this era. The business influence on politics was quite
significant of the Progressive Era. Not only did the three leading Progressive political figures, Roosevelt, Taft, and
Wilson, bring upon new heights to government regulation, but also the great business leaders of this era defined the
units of political intervention. With political capitalism rising to fame, Progressive politics experienced new themes
and areas. The inevitability of federal regulation policies, reformation of social welfare, conservation, and various
The Term Paper on The Social Economic And Legal Impact Resulting From EBusiness
This project is to investigate and analyse the social, economic and legal impact resulting from the adoption and growth of eBusiness. The project also investigated the web-based business of Rosenbluth and Dell. eBusiness is not just the buying and selling of goods and services it is also servicing customers, collaborating with business partners and conducting electronic transactions within an ...
innovations with banking led to one conservative effort: the preservation of existing powers and economic/social
relations. The political leaders of this ear were conservative in that they all believed in the fundamentals of basic
capitalism. The various forms of anti-trust legislation presented by each president made the nation one step closer to
providing a stable, predictable, and secure, therefore, conservative capitalist society.
Theodore Roosevelt’s statist tendencies brought new meaning to government regulation. Roosevelt’s
Anti-Trust policy of 1902 pledged government intervention to break up illegal monopolies and regulate corporations for
the public good. Roosevelt felt that “bad” trusts threatened competition and markets. in order to restore free
competition, President Roosevelt ordered the Justice department to prosecute corporations pursing monopolistic
practices. However, the Judicial Branch repudiated its duty (right of reason) and now, even if the impact of the
market was not harmful, actions that restrained or monopolized trade would automatically put a firm in violation of the
Sherman law. In 1902, the United Mine Workers were willing to submit to arbitration, but the coal operators
adamantly opposed any recognition of the union. Thus, the union members decided to strike over wages, safety
conditions, and union recognition. The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 ended with the appointment by Roosevelt of an
arbitration commission to rule on the issues. Business men did not regard politics (government regulation) as a
necessary evil, but as an important part of their position in society. Roosevelt did not see big business as evil, but a
permanent development that was necessary in a modern economy. Roosevelt couldn’t rely on the courts to
distinguish between “good” or “bad” trusts. The only solution was for the executive to assume that responsibility.
Roosevelt’s ingenious “square dealings” and “gentlemen’s agreements” controlled many firms. In 1903, a new
The Essay on The New Deal Roosevelt People Act
The New Deal " How well did the New Deal combat the Depression?' I think that the answer to this question is that it did very well and I would give it a grade of an A. When Roosevelt took office, in 1933, he had three goals in mind, to save the banks, save the people, and to rebuild the economy. He set his sights on returning the banks to their prosperous days of the pre-depression age. Since the ...
cabinet position was created to address the concerns of business and labor (Department of Commerce and Labor).
Within the department, the Bureau of Corporations was empowered to investigate and report on illegal activities of
corporations. The abuse of economic power by railroads proposed another problem for Roosevelt. However, in 1903,
the Elkins Act empowered the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission, first American federal regulatory agency) to
act against discriminatory rebates. Also, in 1906, the Hepburn Act increased the ICC membership from five to seven.
The ICC could set its own fair freight rates, had its regulatory pwer extended over pipelines, bridges, and express
companies, and was empowered to require a uniform system of accounting by regulated transportation companies.
Besides economic relations, Roosevelt involved himself in many important conservative social relations. The
Secretary of treasury created an inspection organization to certify that cattle for export were free of disease. With
disappointing results, Germany and other European countries banned the importation of American meant. Federal
regulation helped improve exports to Europe, free competition, another conservative effort. In 1906, the Meat
Inspection Act provided for federal and sanitary regulations and inspections in meant packing facilities. Also, the Pure
Food and Drug Act prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of adulterated labeled foods and drugs in
accordance with consumer demands. Roosevelt passed many conservation laws from 1902 to 1908 to create federal
irrigation projects, national parks and forests, develop water power, and establish the Nation Conservation
Commission to oversee the nation’s resources.
Taft, hand picked by Theodore Roosevelt, had two primary political goals in 1909. One was the
continuation of Roosevelt’s trust-busting, and the other was the reconciliation of the old guard conservatives and
young progressive reformers in the Republican Party. Taft, being an anti-statist, was a poor progressive politician.
The Essay on Roosevelt vs Wilson: the Progressive Era
There is usually great debate when discussing whether Theodore Roosevelt or Woodrow Wilson was a better president during the Progressive era. In order to make an educated conclusion on who was the best, though, we must first define progressivism. Progressivism is the political orientation of those who favor progress toward better conditions in government and society. With this in mind, although it ...
Instead of the positive outlook toward big business and competition resembling Roosevelt, Taft was an advocate of
minimum governmental regulation. However, in perusing anti-monopoly law enforcement, Taft and his Attorney
General George Wichersham brought44 indictments in anti-trust suites. Taft was successful in healing the
Republican split between conservatives and progressives over such issues as tariff reform, conservation, and the
almost dictatorial pwer held by Republican Speaker of the House, Joseph Cannon. Taft’s inability to bring both wings
of the party together led to the hardened division which would bring about a Democratic victory in the 1912 elections.
In 1910, Republican progressives joined with Democrats to strip Speaker Cannon of his pwer to appoint the
Committee on Rules and serve on it himself. Although critical of Cannon, Taft failed to align himself with the
progressives. Also, another event pushing the greater split in the Republican party was the Ballinger-Pinchot
Disputes (1909-1910).
Progressives backed Gifford Pinchot, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, in his charge that the
conservative Secretary of the Interior, Richard Ballinger, was giving away the nation’s natural resources to private
corporate interests. A congressional investigatory committee found that Ballinger had done nothing illegal, but did act
in a manner contrary to the government’s environmental policies. Taft had supported Ballinger through the
controversy, but negative public opinion forced Ballinger to resign in 1911. Taft’s political standing with progressive
Republicans hurt the election of 1912. Taft promoted the idea of a nation budgetary system. In 1909, Congress
passed a graduated income tax amendment to the Constitution which was ratified in 1913. Also, Progressives
generally considered high tariffs to be a major cause for the decline of competition and the rise of “bad” trusts. Taft
had campaigned for a “sizable reduction.” However, Taft was won over by the conservative Republican bloc and gave
his approval for the protectionist Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909, which favored eastern industry. From this faction
The Term Paper on The Effects Of Competition In Sports On Children Ages Nine Through Twelve
Over the years, the growth and changes in children’s sports have reflected the popularity of professional sports in our society. Sports games and sports news are available to the public twenty-four hours a day on television and the Internet even the radio. Due in part to this, schools and other organizations have changed American athletics from more of a fun playtime to intense competition. ...
between fellow Republicans, the National Progressive Republican League, with Theodore Roosevelt as head, began
a drive to take control of the Republican party. One important issued that distinguished Taft from the other
Progressive Presidents was his position on trusts. He rebelled at the discretionary use of presidential authority over
instituting antitrust suits. The Sherman Act was unclear, yet enforced. “The New Nationalism” presented by
Roosevelt stated that the federal government could be empowered to oversee big business to make sure it acted in
public interest. The nation’s industrial corporations would be treated as if they were natural monopolies or public
utilities and placed under direct public oversight.
While the Republicans battled among themselves, the Democrats had stepped into position. In the 1910
elections, Democrats made dramatic gains, bringing Woodrow Wilson into the Presidential office in 1912. The Wilson
administration brought together many of the policies and initiatives of the previous Republican administrations, and
reform efforts in Congress by both parties. Wilson achieved a lower tariff reform (Underwood-Simmons Act, 1913)
and a graduated income tax through the 16th amendment. The Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act not only pared rates
down to an average of 23 percent but also spurred competition and reduce prices for consumers.Wilson favored a
Federal Reserve Banking System, which provided regulation and flexibility to monetary policy. However, when it
came down to economic situations, Wilson quickly resembled Roosevelt on his decisions and actions. Like
Roosevelt, Wilson did not consider big business as “bad”, but the abuses of economic power. Nor did Wilson think
that the abuse of pwer could be prevented without a strong federal government. Where he parted company from
Roosevelt was however how the authority of government should be used to restrain private power. Wilson proposed
The Essay on Sarbanes-Oxley Act On American Businesses
This is an article that addresses the affects of the Sarbanes-Oxley act on American Businesses and whether the act has done justice or caused harm to business owners. It addresses changes that businesses have made, what kind of company costs have been implied due to the act, how investors have dealt with businesses since the passing of the act, and how it has affected the financial market. The ...
to deal with the problems of corporate power with court enforcement of the Sherman Act. His task was to figure out
how to make that long-established antitrust approach work better. The main thing was to prevent the trust from
unfairly using their power to curb that free competition. In the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, it would only apply to
where the effect may be to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce. As
for the trade commission, Wilson initially wanted no more than an advisory and information-gathering agency.
However, the Federal Trade Commission (1914) received much broader powers. As for other goals besides
economic interests, Wilson succeeded in both social and economic affairs. Although not so familiar with Roosevelt’s
social welfare, Wilson still enforced ways to help the general public. The Keating-Owen Act in 1916 protected the
children of the work force. The Federal Farm Loan Act, 1916, was a credit reform for agriculture and an independent
tariff commission came about later in 1916. By the end of Wilson’s presidency, the New Freedom and the New
Nationalism merged into one government philosophy of regulation, order and standardization in the interest of an
increasingly divers and pluralistic American nation.
Through the many actions and decisions of each Progressive presidents and business leaders, the
Progressive Era was mainly that of a conservative effort. Although the actual details and literal events seemed to
take a Liberal stance, the overall period was aimed at preserving competition, distribution of wealth, common good,
and existing powers. Government regulation not only played a vital role in trust regulation, but also served to regulate
competition, money flow, and markets. The Progressive Era brought decentralization and competition to society,
which was what politicians, business leaders, and the common people wanted from the beginning. In essence, the
Progressive Era served to maintain their primary goals. The new laws and acts put into order during the Progressive
movement seemed and are Liberal indeed. However, the Liberal reforms reinforced the original conservative goals.
The Essay on Local Government Act Business Federal
Government Regulation of Business I. Authority of Government to Regulate Business 1) Authority derived from statutes passed by Congress or state legislatures. 2) Police Power- Under our Federal system, state and local governments have a basic power to provide for the general welfare of the public. a. power to regulate business activity to promote the public interest is controlled by this 3) ...
Business and political leaders accepted the growing competition. Laissez faire, complete Liberalism, hardly ever
existed and will not appear in the near future. Political capitalism, by definition from Gabriel Kolko (author of “The
Triumph of Conservatism), is the utilization of political outlets to attain conditions of stability, predictability, and
security in the economy. The fact that federal regulation of the economy was conservative in its effect in preserving
existing power and economic relations in society shows that federal regulation in the economy was conservative as
well. Through the many antitrust acts and various economic and social policies, the Progressive Era ultimately
operated on the assumption that the general welfare of the community could be best served by satisfying the concrete
needs of business. The big business and business leaders influenced the regulation and the government worked for
the people, promoting competition and decentralization. Hence, the Progressive movement served to preserve
original goals, not reform society with Liberalism.