Essay On The Difference Between Roosevelt And Woodrow Wilson

Superior Essays
During the 1900s, The United States (U.S.) experienced an influx of power and influence and became a global hegemon which left leaders faced with the question of what to do with this new power. John Milton Cooper Jr. describes Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson ability to control and make decisions in regard the U.S.’s power in The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt. Each president, although both considered modern and progressive, approached their presidential powers differently. Wilson and Roosevelt both had their strengths and weaknesses throughout their administrations with their use of power in regards to their personalities, domestic policy, and foreign policy. As president, Roosevelt looked inward on the …show more content…
As president, Theodore Roosevelt used presidential powers to break from traditional Republican ideals and helped the middle class and subdue big businesses (Cooper 76). Roosevelt created regulations on corporations and implemented anti-trust actions because he believed governments should not follow the lead of businesses (Cooper 77 and Irwin). Roosevelt fought for the middle class by intervening on behalf of Americans in the coal industry strike in 1902, railroad strikes, and when foods and drugs were being processed poorly (Cooper 77-79). Although Roosevelt did use his power to advocate, he also demonstrated his weaknesses by assuming his legacy. Roosevelt’s confidence and popularity before and during his time in office influenced him into assuming a legacy of his policies to fight for the average Americans and against big business (Cooper 79). Roosevelt’s strong sense of confidence, American nationalism, and American exceptionalism which at times blinded him from passing long lasting legislation rather than being a hero and getting involved in single situations of intervention (Cooper 85 and Irwin). For the 1908 presidential election, Roosevelt supported the candidacy of William Howard Taft with the expectation that Taft would carry on Roosevelt’s policies when he won (Cooper 109 and …show more content…
John Milton Cooper Jr. describes both presidents in The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt and their role in the changing time of U.S. history. The U.S. had become a global power and now became involved internationally while controlling the expansion of industry and businesses domestically. Roosevelt and Wilson can both be interpreted to control the power the U.S. had through the strengths and weaknesses in their personalities, use of domestic policy, and use of foreign policy. Roosevelt worked continuously against big business and worked to expand the power of the U.S. by looking beyond the U.S.’s borders and had influence after his term ended while Wilson focused inward on the nation at a time he should have been focusing outward on WWI. Although both men controlled the U.S., the power the U.S. was better demonstrated by Theodore Roosevelt with his use of his personality and policies and the weaknesses of Wilson’s actions in regards to

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Roosevelt showed his commitment to the american people by smashing large businesses that were making monopolies. “He criticized the wealthy class of Americans…[for]…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the 1900’s there have been events that have made a major impact on the way Americans vision the united states of America, because of the sharply different beliefs that both former president Coolidge and Roosevelt possessed. Coolidge envisioned a government that was constitutionally limited and his political philosophy was rooted in the beliefs of the American founding fathers. In contrast, Roosevelt believed sharply in a progressive philosophy that limited government was obsolete. Coolidge believed in a more conservative view of presidential power while Roosevelt believed in the complete opposite. He addressed his political views, stating that a strong federal government, was not was not the best policy direction for the nation. In contrast, Franklin Roosevelt had realistic visions that pertained to the American people at that time, while Coolidge’s beliefs referred to the future…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1932, the United States was suffering through the Great Depression, which placed millions of Americans out of work. Roosevelt thought that in order to stimulate the economy, he had to devise a social program called The New Deal- which included government funding, as well as new laws and regulations to protect workers during that time. This social program was in complete contrast to Reagan’s economic policies in that The New Deal got the U.S government involved with the economy, which Reagan was firmly against under the notion of capitalism. One can see that Roosevelt had a much bigger involvement with government in the economy, “Despite the fact that both FDR and Mr. Reagan greatly impacted the way America viewed itself, Roosevelt’s actions impacted the actual workings of the government and economy more than Mr. Reagan’s did Reagan had advocated the government to stay out of the economy, however, Roosevelt had advocated for more government intervention” (The Legacies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan). Another example of contrast would be Reagan support for reduced government spending, yet Roosevelt showed support to increase government spending through federal programs. Reagan promoted for self- reliance, while Roosevelt placed emphasis on federal…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Early Twentieth Century was a time of transformation in American Politics. After being ruled by the Democratic and Republican Party platforms, a new philosophy named Progressivism began to spread through the minds of the American People. The two Progressive Presidents of the time were Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Even though the two presidents shared a progressive mindset, they differed in their foreign policy intentions. Roosevelt was known as an imperialist president while Wilson believed to push for democracy and popular sovereignty to foreign nations.…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In his time as president, Roosevelt had done many things to help achieve the progressive goals, such as addressing the issue of corporate trusts, improving the conditions of labor and the environment, and making the US a major world power. Without him in that position of power, the Progressive movement definitely would not have been as successful. His success in office was so immense that it even made him a role model to his cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt. Inspired by his cousin’s example, Theodore Roosevelt influenced Franklin D. Roosevelt in many of his actions as president, such as the launch of the New Deal reform program and his response to the threat from Nazi Germany. If Theodore Roosevelt had never became president, America would not be the way it is…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Theodore Roosevelt manipulated the economy by fighting trusts that were harmful to America. He did this by rigorously enforcing the Sherman Anti-trust act that was something that past presidents never enforced. Another example of the government involving themselves in an economic issue are the actions of Theodore Roosevelt as president. Theodore Roosevelt brought his ideas of new nationalism into effect through his position of power truly benefitted Americans across the country. One part of Theodore Roosevelt’s changed that brought positive change is the square deal. The square deal was used to settle issues between company owners and worker unions. The square deals objective is to bring both sides an outcome that is fair and equal. For example in 1902 the united mine workers called a strike which would of rid the United States of the resource it needs to power a large majority of its machinery at the time. Theodore Roosevelt knew of this out come and how it would not only negatively effect the common man, but also large companies and businesses. Theodore intervened in the issue acting as a mediator and brought a square deal to make both sides of the negotiations accept. This government involvement saved the United States from unimaginable setbacks in business and power. Another example of the United States manipulation on the economy benefitting the common man are the Wilson reforms. Wilson fought for income equality for workers, which brought to seek fair pay for work. Wilson did this by regulating income. Also differentiating unions from trusts benefitted the union’s odds in negotiating and progressed the legitimacy of Unions and their…

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While both men served prominent roles in the emergence of a two party system, Alexander Hamilton held a greater impact in molding our nation’s history.…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    His "Square Deal" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen and the businessmen, through regulation of railroad rates and pure food and drugs. He was the first U.S. president to call for universal health care and national health insurance. He promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources. He added enormously to the national forests in the West, reserved lands for public use and fostered great irrigation projects. After 1906, he attacked big business and suggested the courts were biased against labor unions. Roosevelt sought to minimize “unfair” or “bad” trusts and monopolies, and restrain the “good” trusts. With this in mind, he vehemently enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act. Under his presidency, there was a large increase in government regulation. He was the first president to truly negotiate between labor and management. The Anthracite Coal Miner’s Strike of 1902, was a strike where miners were asking for higher wages, shorter workdays and the recognition of their union. Theodore Roosevelt became involved and ended the strike as the miners received a ten percent wage increase and reduced workdays from ten to nine hours. Also under Roosevelt’s presidency, America saw the end of the Gilded age. He abandoned the laissez-faire method of foreign…

    • 2175 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Theodore Roosevelt’s main goal as president was to make America the World Power it is today. He did this domestically by breaking up monopolies and making better working condition for the working class. Both men and women benefited by this. Roosevelt supported a minimum wage for all workers. Although he himself was a man of means, he criticized the wealthy class of Americans on two counts. First, continued exploitation of the public could result in an uprising that could derail the system. Second, the captains of industry were arrogant enough to believe themselves superior to those in government. Roosevelt thought that hard work built character and it could turn boys into men.…

    • 112 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The new president identified the rise of these new individualistic attitudes as being one of the nation’s core developing issues, and implied that a renewed selflessness would improve its current situation. He avowed, “we can not merely take but we must give as well; that if we are to go forward, we must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline, because without such discipline no progress is made, no leadership becomes effective” (Roosevelt par. 17). FDR used action stimulation to demand the unification of the country; he described that, without it, Americans would not see their nation thrive. His employment of this function was effective, as the military analogy, which furthered his call for action, allowed them to feel as though they could have a direct impact on the improvement of the nation’s integrity. Furthermore, FDR implied that he would not be a valuable leader without the unity and self-sacrifice of his fellow people. This allowed him to provide his audience with a sense of importance and reveal his…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He was one of the youngest presidents in history. He is one of the many reasons why the progressives ended up being so successful. He addressed the economic problems such as monopolies and trust eliminating competition and taking advantage of the workers/consumers. This included dishonest businesses and an uneven distribution of wealth. He soon became known as the ¨trust buster¨. Roosevelt enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act, which made any trust that limited competition illegal. He then decided to take further action by making a domestic policy called ¨the Square Deal¨. It created acts such as ¨Pure Food and Drug Act¨ of 1906, which required truthful labels, and banned the use of harmful preservatives, chemicals, and drugs. Also the ¨Meat Packing Act¨ of 1906 enforced sanitary regulations and required government inspections. During the Anthracite Coal Strike Roosevelt sent out negotiators to settle the argument between mine owners and workers. President Theodore Roosevelt was successful in his goal by addressing the economical problems of the progressive…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    because of his determination of ending the coal miner strike. The reason that Roosevelt was a very beneficial progressive president is because he was the first president to intervene and step in to change things during the coal miner strike. This was even happened when the miners went on strike because they wanted less working hours and higher wages. This strike threatened to shut down the major fuel supply in many cities. President Roosevelt set up a fact-finding commission that suspended the strike. The strike then ended when the workers got a 10% wage raise and the hours were reduced from 10 to 9 hours per day. The other presidents did not participate in any dispute of the people, making Roosevelt one of a kind for his remarkable actions in this…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Between Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal and Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom domestic programs, which was more ‘progressive’?”.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Roosevelt had a chance to change the way things are by implementing innovative ways to improve the country. Roosevelt had a plan (p 85), and he knew he had to move fast. In his second inaugural address, January 20, 1937, he said, “we refuse to leave the problems of our common welfare to be solved by the winds of chance and the hurricanes of disaster”. He realized mistakes would occur and things would go wrong but Roosevelt did not let that keep him from trying new ideas. He persisted in his ideas, and believed, what did not kill him made him stronger (p87). When he challenged the process, he defined the challenge. He expressed the duties of every leader, to recognize the current situation and to define for the group, the challenges posed by that situation (p103). He believed to, “Take a method and try it. If it fails, try another. But above all try something” (Kennedy, 2016 p721). During the war, Roosevelt created competition, regardless of party affiliation, among advisors, industrialists and others in order to produce the best results. He did not hesitate to lead and he was not afraid to take action (p 119). Roosevelt’s first term was full of activity which, included the “New Deal” programs, designed to alleviate the disasters of the Great Depression. The author Alan Alexrod explained effective leadership is not about avoiding errors but about engaging the needs of the people who make up the organization. Engaging the heart, showing that you care is crucial. If you chose the other route, less human and more business like, you will miss the deepest purpose of leadership, which is to improve life and lives. (p 120) Roosevelt encouraged this engagement with his “brain trust”. The brain trust involved a group of Columbia University professors who collaborated on creating programs to fight the hard times…

    • 1050 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    On 8 January 1918, The 28th President of the United States of America, Woodrow Wilson, delivered his powerful speech to a joint session of Congress, in which he declared the fourteen points idea. This was later known as Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points. He aims to make proposals which could ensure peace in the future as well as to end all future wars. This short essay intents to explore the historical context, content, its influence on public, and the issues within the speech which affect the historians.…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays