The "Bull Moose" Campaign of 1912

After over 16 years, it seemed as though the Democratic party was going to win since the Republican party split. The Democrats nominated Woodrow Wilson in 1912, in Baltimore on the 46th ballot. The Democratic party was filled with many progressives and progressive reforms and it was fighting for new freedom. At the Progressive convention, Teddy Roosevelt was nominated by Jane Addams and he quickly won over the heart of very the crowd. In his speech, Roosevelt stated that he felt “as strong as a bull moose,” This was which the animal that symbolizes the Progressive party. Creation of the animal the unofficial Progressive symbol - moose.

William Taft who was a Republican and Theodore Roosevelt got into a huge argument that tore them apart. They were former friends but now ripped they worked to ruin every aspect of each other’s platforms and personalities. Teddy Roosevelt had his party, the New Nationalism and Wilson's with his party New Freedom these parties became the key issues regarding their disputes. Roosevelt and New Nationalism were inspired by Herbert Croly he wrote the book, The Promise of American Life 1910stated that government should control bad trusts, leaving the good trusts alone and free to operate.TR and his party also campaigned for women's suffrage and social welfare they fought for things like minimum-wage laws and socialistic social insurance.

Wilson and his New Freedom party favored small enterprises they wanted to break up all trusts not just bad trusts but all trusts They also advocated against social-welfare proposals. The campaign for his party halted when Roosevelt was shot in the chest in Milwaukee. Although he was shot, he still delivered his speech anyway. He was then taken to the hospital where it took him about 2 weeks to recover.

A Minority President

After the Republicans party split, Woodrow Wilson won easily with 435 Electoral votes. TR had only 88 and Taft had 8.the Democrats, Wilson did not receive a lot of popular votes, they got only 40 percent of the popular votes Eugene V. Debs who was a socialist gained over 900,000 popular votes, and the popular totals of TR and Taft added exceeded Wilsons. Essentially, Theodore Roosevelt's part in the election had cost the Republicans the election.

The Idealist in Politics

Woodrow Wilson greatly supported and sympathised with the South. He was a sincere and morally appealing politician on top of that he was a very intelligent man. He was had a cold personality as he was wise, austere he did not tolerate stupidity and was an idealistic IV.

Wilson Tackles the Tariff

When Wilson became the president, he already knew he was going to tackle the triple wall of privilege. The tariff, the banks, and the trusts. He first dealt with the tariff, he successfully helped pass the Underwood Tariff of 1913, which reduced import fees and enabled an income tax that would gradually increase.VI. The President Tames the Trusts. In 1914, Congress passed the Federal Trade Commission Actthis act gave the president or his appointed authority the authority to investigate activities of trusts and stop unfair trade practice this included unlawful competition, false advertising, mislabeling, adulteration, and bribery.

The 1914 Clayton Antitrust Act lengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act list of practices that were objectionable, exempted labor unions from being called trusts, and legalized strikes and peaceful picketing by labor union members.

Wilsonian Progressivism at High Tide

Wilson worked more for the reforms, such as the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916, which made credit available to farmers at low rates of interest, and the Warehouse Act of 1916, which permitted loans on the security of staple crops, both Populist ideas. The La Follette Seamen’s Act of 1915 required good treatment of America’s sailors, but it sent merchant freight rates soaring as a result of the cost to maintain sailor health.

The Workingmen’s Compensation Act of 1916 granted assistance of federal civil-service employees during periods of instability but was invalidated by the Supreme Court. The 1916 Adamson Act established an eight-hour workday with overtime pay. Wilson even nominated Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court, making him the first Jew ever in that position but stopped short of helping out Blacks in their civil rights fight. Wilson appeased the business by appointing a few conservatives to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Trade Commission, but he used most of his energies for progressive support.