Progressivism Movement
Progressivism implies a philosophy that welcomes innovations and reforms in the political, economic, and social order. The Progressive movement, 1901 to 1917, was ultimately the triumph of conservatism rather than a victory for liberalism. In a general sense, the conservative goals of this period justified the Liberal reforms enacted by Progressive leaders. Deviating from the "traditional" definition of conservatism (a resistance to change and a disposition of hostility to innovations in the political, social, and economic order), the Conservatist triumph was in the sense that there was an effort to maintain basic social and economic relations vital to a capitalist society. The Progressive leaders essentially wanted to perpetuate Liberal reform in order to bring upon general conservatism. Expansion of the federal government's powers, competition and economic distribution of wealth, and the social welfare of American citizens concerned the many leaders of this era. The business influence on politics was quitesignificant of the Progressive Era. Not only did the three leading Progressive political figures, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, bring upon new heights to government regulation, but also the great business leaders of this era
in order to restore free competition, President Roosevelt ordered the Justice department to prosecute corporations pursing monopolisticpractices. However, in 1903,the Elkins Act empowered the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission, first American federal regulatory agency) to act against discriminatory rebates. Taft promoted the idea of a nation budgetary system. Roosevelt's Anti-Trust policy of 1902 pledged government intervention to break up illegal monopolies and regulate corporations for the public good. The Secretary of treasury created an inspection organization to certify that cattle for export were free of disease. In 1910, Republican progressives joined with Democrats to strip Speaker Cannon of his pwer to appoint the Committee on Rules and serve on it himself. Although the actual details and literal events seemed to take a Liberal stance, the overall period was aimed at preserving competition, distribution of wealth, common good,and existing powers. The new laws and acts put into order during the Progressivemovement seemed and are Liberal indeed. One important issued that distinguished Taft from the other Progressive Presidents was his position on trusts. Wilson achieved a lower tariff reform (Underwood-Simmons Act, 1913) and a graduated income tax through the 16th amendment. Taft was successful in healing the Republican split between conservatives and progressives over such issues as tariff reform, conservation, and the almost dictatorial pwer held by Republican Speaker of the House, Joseph Cannon. In the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, it would only apply to where the effect may be to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce. While the Republicans battled among themselves, the Democrats had stepped into position. "The New Nationalism" presented by Roosevelt stated that the federal government could be empowered to oversee big business to make sure it acted in public interest. The big business and business leaders influenced the regulation and the government worked for the people, promoting competition and decentralization.
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