The election of 1912 exposed the necessity of change in America where principles of progressive reform dominated the political agendas for all four candidates. Incumbent republican president William Howard Taft battled with his former comrade Theodore Roosevelt, whilst democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson wooed the country with his plan for “New Freedom”. Meanwhile, socialist Eugene Debs fought to earn support from the working class of America with his experience as a union leader. The most critical issues that distinguished the candidates from each other were their plans toward trusts, tariffs, and the rights of laborers. These key discussion points established the central beliefs of each candidate and presented the need for change in America.
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Woodrow Wilson, a big supported of Thomas Jefferson and the agricultural aspect of America, held many beliefs that were similar to those expressed by farmers and the Grange Movement. He claimed that workers deserved an eight-hour work day, child labor laws, and workers’ compensation, yet he failed to realize the growing importance of women in the workplace. Eugene Debs capitalized on Wilson’s ignorance and expressed the need for women’s suffrage due to their significance in the labor force. His socialist party was based solely on the working class, and as long as women, African Americans, Native Americans, or anyone else made up this group, they deserved their rights. Similarly, Theodore Roosevelt argued for women’s rights because unlike Wilson, he recognized their occurrence in occupations previously held by men. Besides Debs, Roosevelt promised the most rights to the working class. He created plans for a pension after retirement, a government health care, and a minimum wage. The future for laborers looked bright no matter which candidate was elected, yet individual groups such as women and African Americans were still battling for their rights that were yet to …show more content…
Their opinions toward trusts, tariffs, and the rights of laborers distinguished each candidate, and ultimately caused the split in the republican party allowing for the democratic Woodrow Wilson to sweep the election in the electoral college. All together, Roosevelt and Taft had more popular votes than Wilson and Debs, but the republican party was split and Wilson was elected. Wilson continued to promise to tackle the triple wall of privilege as well as uphold his idea plan for “New Freedom”. All in all, the election of 1912 proved to be everything but uninteresting, as four different candidates tried to become the most powerful man in the United States of
Woodrow Wilson, a big supported of Thomas Jefferson and the agricultural aspect of America, held many beliefs that were similar to those expressed by farmers and the Grange Movement. He claimed that workers deserved an eight-hour work day, child labor laws, and workers’ compensation, yet he failed to realize the growing importance of women in the workplace. Eugene Debs capitalized on Wilson’s ignorance and expressed the need for women’s suffrage due to their significance in the labor force. His socialist party was based solely on the working class, and as long as women, African Americans, Native Americans, or anyone else made up this group, they deserved their rights. Similarly, Theodore Roosevelt argued for women’s rights because unlike Wilson, he recognized their occurrence in occupations previously held by men. Besides Debs, Roosevelt promised the most rights to the working class. He created plans for a pension after retirement, a government health care, and a minimum wage. The future for laborers looked bright no matter which candidate was elected, yet individual groups such as women and African Americans were still battling for their rights that were yet to …show more content…
Their opinions toward trusts, tariffs, and the rights of laborers distinguished each candidate, and ultimately caused the split in the republican party allowing for the democratic Woodrow Wilson to sweep the election in the electoral college. All together, Roosevelt and Taft had more popular votes than Wilson and Debs, but the republican party was split and Wilson was elected. Wilson continued to promise to tackle the triple wall of privilege as well as uphold his idea plan for “New Freedom”. All in all, the election of 1912 proved to be everything but uninteresting, as four different candidates tried to become the most powerful man in the United States of