Question

the progressive presidents: tutorial
protections for marginalized workers. voters who believed in the moral obligations of the government, both overseas and
at home, would lean more toward wilson.

connect and reflect
what did you learn about the political views of president roosevelt and president wilson? how do these views help you
understand the choices voters had to make in the 1912 election?

Explanation:

1. Roosevelt's Views: Theodore Roosevelt (running as a Progressive/Bull Moose candidate) advocated for a "New Nationalism"—a strong, active federal government that would regulate big business, protect workers (with minimum wage, child labor bans), expand social welfare, and use federal power to address economic inequality. He favored merging corporate and public interests, and supported direct democracy reforms like recall elections and referendums.
2. Wilson's Views: Woodrow Wilson (Democratic candidate) pushed the "New Freedom" agenda, which focused on breaking up monopolies (rather than regulating them), promoting small business, and restoring competition. He also supported worker protections (like an 8-hour workday for railroad workers) and some social reforms, but emphasized limited federal intervention to preserve individual economic opportunity, rather than large-scale welfare.
3. Understanding 1912 Voter Choices: Voters aligned with Roosevelt if they wanted robust federal oversight of the economy and stronger social safety nets, often urban workers, progressivism supporters who embraced big government action. Voters chose Wilson if they preferred a more hands-off approach to business, prioritized small enterprise, or were wary of concentrated federal power, often rural, small-business oriented voters. The split Republican vote (between Taft, the incumbent, and Roosevelt) also pushed some moderate Republicans to Wilson.

Answer:

1. Theodore Roosevelt (Bull Moose/Progressive) promoted the "New Nationalism": a powerful federal government to regulate corporations, enforce worker protections (child labor bans, minimum wage), expand social welfare, and advance direct democracy reforms. He argued for balancing corporate and public good through centralized oversight.
2. Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) championed the "New Freedom": breaking up monopolies to restore small business competition, with limited federal intervention in the economy. He supported targeted worker protections (e.g., 8-hour railroad workday) but focused on preserving individual economic opportunity over large-scale federal welfare.
3. These views explain 1912 voter choices:

• Pro-Roosevelt voters wanted aggressive federal action to address inequality and corporate power, including urban workers and progressive activists.
• Pro-Wilson voters favored decentralized economic policy, supporting small businesses and fearing excessive federal power, including rural voters and moderate Republicans alienated by the GOP split.

The split Republican vote (between Taft and Roosevelt) also made Wilson's victory possible, as anti-Roosevelt conservatives and anti-Taft progressives split their support.