New Nationalism

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

Overview

Roosevelt made the case for what he called the New Nationalism in a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, on August 31, 1910. The central issue he argued was government protection of human welfare and property rights,[1] but he also argued that human welfare was more important than property rights.[1][2] He insisted that only a powerful federal government could regulate the economy and guarantee social justice,[1] and that a President can only succeed in making his economic agenda successful if he makes the protection of human welfare his highest priority.[1] Roosevelt believed that the concentration in industry was a natural part of the economy. He wanted executive agencies (not the courts) to regulate business. The federal government should be used to protect the laboring men, women and children from exploitation.[3] In terms of policy, Roosevelt's platform included a broad range of social and political reforms advocated by progressives.[4][5][6]

In the social sphere the platform called for

The political reforms proposed included

However, the main theme of the platform was an attack on the domination of politics by business interests, which allegedly controlled both established parties. The platform asserted that

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.[7]

To that end, the platform called for

The book The Promise of American Life, written in 1909 by Herbert Croly, influenced Theodore Roosevelt. 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.

Quotations

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "The New Nationalism", text of Theodore Roosevelt's August 31, 1910 speech in Osawatomie, Kansas
  2. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism—August 31, 1910". Presidentialrhetoric.com. 1910-08-31. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  4. ↑ Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U. S. elections. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1985. pp. 77–78. ISBN 0-87187-339-7.
  5. ↑ P.O. Box 400406 (2012-01-20). "American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Campaigns and Elections". Millercenter.org. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Minor/Third Party Platforms: Progressive Party Platform of 1912". Presidency.ucsb.edu. 1912-11-05. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  7. ↑ O'TOOLE, PATRICIA, "The War of 1912," TIME in Partnership with CNN, Jun. 25, 2006.

References