How Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson Shaped America

¶ … Transformations in America During the Progressive Era The Transformation in America during the Progressive Era Progressivism describes the universal application of distinct responses in the social and economic problems arising from rapid industrialization and the urbanization introduced to America from the 19th Century. Progressivism started through social movements aimed at coping with various social needs that evolved into reform movements and extensive political action. The initial progressives were in rejection of Social Darwinism and corruption.

This way, the people believing in social progress addressed poverty, ill health, greed, class warfare, and racism violence. This was best addressed through the provision of good education, safer environment, honest government and efficient workplace. Progressives have lived in various cities and college education which government takes charge of tools of action. Both Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson faced similar progressive concerns across the 20th Century. One of the challenges was suffrage. When the country was created, the only persons allowed selecting and voting representatives into government were white men.

The new dispensation of the 20th Century required that even women be included in the suffrage demand and right to vote. The second issue was prohibition. The social reformers identified alcohol as one of the social evils causing breakdown of marriages, abuse, and violence through the Hepburn Act and the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. There were different movements in the country seeing to prohibit liquor. The race was also a critical issue in the 1800s. Ideally, most African-American slaves encountered freedom and citizenship without documentation.

However, blacks started moving across the country leading to tensions between immediate races. Theodore Roosevelt was unable to contain the interest of Native Americans. The 1800s were volatile with native tribes pushing west onto smaller parcels of land that were 'reserved'. On the other hand, the legal status in America lacked sufficient resolution. The children issues were matters of concern for Woodrow Wilson in the 1800s. Most children were forced into working for long hours in demanding jobs.

However, the 20th Century implemented regulations to outlaw the elements of child labor. The labor issues in the country cut across the regimes of both leaders through the Muckrakers and the Northern Securities Case. Young and old workers were set on the streets for the purpose of humiliation and exploitation on the job. Compensation systems among workers were established in the early 1900s. Woodrow Wilson called for direct elections. Towards the end of the decades, politicians elected the U.S. Senate members from the different state legislature.

Direct election of persons by voters led to major electoral reforms. Theodore Roosevelt's political Reform agenda differed from that of Woodrow Wilson. In different states, the progressive reformers sought to give power to people through allowing for more citizen groups for purposes of initiating new laws such as the initiative. The persons were also empowered to review the legislature actions during referendums. The reformers also pushed through the 'Initiative and Referendum' systems to allow citizens to continue circulating petitions and put proposals and issues through balloting.

Reformers in different states pushed for systems that allowed for the recall of the elected leadership. On the other hand, Theodore Roosevelt implemented the Anti-Monopoly Reforms. During the 20th Century, most businesses became extensive business performers. The U.S. became a critical marketplace having plenty of potential consumers as well as companies that sought to monopolize various markets through referendum and recall. The limitations and elimination of competition led to the establishment of control profits and prices.

Reformers advocated for business practices with fair dealings and broke up monopolies and trusts. During the period, politicians gave government jobs to individuals as gifts for facilitating them into office. Most of them could not question whether such persons were qualified for the job or not. The legislature passed Civil Service Act that was aimed at streamlining the public service in 1883. This Act permitted different government jobs to be given to people with passed tests or showed ability to deliver outcomes in the job.

The amendments allowed Congress to exercise the right of setting up income tax systems that were fair to all. The tax regime made the rich pay higher taxes as compared to poor people. The rich individuals and other big businesses rose against such income tax regimes due to the high costs of doing business and paying more taxes to the government. Party workers were able to gather groups of people with similar agenda and showed them ways of voting and ensuring that.