21.2 Theodore Roosevelt, from The New Nationalism (1910)
1. What does Theodore Roosevelt want the federal government to do in order to address problems created by business monopolies?
Answer. Roosevelt professed the notion of progressivism to be implemented in the federal government’s action by increasing its participation in the socio-economic features, regardless of the constitutional regulations on the same (Theodore, 1910). He wanted the federal government to have an authoritative control of the capitalization of all the government and private corporations who were working within the state. Roosevelt implied that the government should take corrective and punitive actions against those businesses that were focused on their own interests rather than that of the state. He laid specific stress on the railroad industry’s revenue monitoring by the federal government and granted special considerations to the meatpacking regulations and big steel manufacturers in the country. Roosevelt framed all the notions of ‘The new Nationalism’ using the fundamental of progressivism to ensure that the big corporations were not granted any regulatory favors by the federal government just because of their political links.
21.3 Woodrow Wilson, from the New Freedom (1913)
According to this document, what is Woodrow Wilson's attitude toward monopoly?
Answer. In his pursuit of supporting the New Freedom, Woodrow Wilson had a belief that monopolist organizations were capable of using their political associations in manipulating the government (Wilson, 1913). He created the Federal trade commission to put a stern check on monopolies within the state. Therefore, he ensured that there were no specific protective tariffs granted to the monopoly driven firms. His attitude towards straddling the self-centered monopoly was based on the aim to create a highly unbiased government stance towards the industries so that the highly competitive market forces can be let free to regulate the monopolist organizations. Wilson’s ultimate aim was to let the markets subdue the monopolies and he designed the government regulations to wipe the troubled monopolies.
2. Why did Wilson mention George W. Perkin's involvement with the Progressive Party? What was Wilson implying by doing so?
Answer. Wilson mentioned about George W. Perkin’s involvement with the Progressive party to bring out the fact that he was a businessman who was associated with two big corporations named as the Steel trust and the Harvester trust. Using Perkin’s example, Wilson actually implied that the link between the monopolies and the politics was actually carried forward to gain some regulatory favors with the help of personalities who were at the interface of politics and the big business. The main cause of Wilson’s worry was that the bigger corporations were actually favoring the progressive party and showed their support for the progressive plan by favoring the progressive party’s candidate. So, Wilson used the facts to express his desire to probe the subtle connections between the trust and the progressive party formed by Roosevelt initiated by the common link established via Perkins.
21.4 National American Woman Suffrage Association, Mother's Day Letter (1912)
1. In what ways does this letter seek to use the observance of Mother's Day to promote the political goals of women's suffrage? Is this argument in the letter convincing? Explain
Answer. The Mother’s day was letter written by the NAWSA in 1912 with intent to convince the male-dominated American society to grant the voting rights for women (Report of the church work committee, 1912). The letter presented a rationale that the women were most sober and morally sound members of the society and hence, they deserved a chance to have voting rights. The letter also stated that as women were already working close to the society by raising children and working for churches. The letter also challenged the governments’ decision of allowing the recent immigrants to vote by stating that women were way more engaged with the American society than the immigrants. Adding it all, the letter provided a very convincing argument for the government to consider the grant of voting rights to women later in 1928 when the 19th amendment was passed.
References
Report of the church work committee.“ Mother’s day letter: Proceedings of the forty fourth convention of National American Woman Suffrage Association”, New York, 1912.
Theodore, Roosevelt. “The new Nationalism”, 1910.
Woodrow, Wilson. “The new Freedom: A call for the Emancipation of the generous energies of the people”, 1913.
