CHAPTER 22
THE BATTLE FOR NATIONAL REFORM
Chapter Summary
Theodore Roosevelt became president as a consequence of the assassination of William McKinley, but he
quickly moved to make the office his own. In many ways, Roosevelt was the preeminent progressive, yet it
sometimes seemed that for him reform was more a style than a dogma. Although Roosevelt clearly
envisioned a more activist national government, the shifts and contradictions embodied in his policies
toward trusts, labor, and conservation reflected the complexity and diversity of progressivism. Despite
being Roosevelt's hand-picked successor, President William Howard Taft managed to alienate Roosevelt
and other progressive Republicans by his actions regarding tariffs, conservation, foreign policy, trusts, and
other matters. In 1912, Roosevelt decided to challenge Taft for the presidency. When he failed to secure
the Republican nomination, Roosevelt formed his own Progressive party. With the Republicans divided,
Woodrow Wilson won the presidency. In actuality, Wilson's domestic program turned out to be much like
the one Roosevelt had advocated. In the Caribbean, Wilson continued the pattern of intervention that
Roosevelt and Taft had established.
Objectives
A thorough study of Chapter 22 should enable the student to understand
1.
The nature and extent of Theodore Roosevelt's "Square Deal" progressivism.
2.
The similarities and differences between the domestic progressivism of William Howard Taft
and of Roosevelt.
3.
The conservation issue and why it triggered the split between Taft and Roosevelt.
4.
The consequences of the split in the Republican Party in 1912.
5.
The differences between Roosevelt's New Nationalism and Wilson's New Freedom.
6.
The differences between Woodrow Wilson's campaign platform and the measures actually
implemented during his term.
7.
The new direction of American foreign policy introduced by Roosevelt, especially in Asia and
the Caribbean.
8.
The similarities and differences between Taft's and Roosevelt's approaches to foreign policy.
9.
The reasons for the continuation of American interventionism in Latin America under Wilson.
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Main Themes
1.
How Theodore Roosevelt's leadership helped fashion a new, expanded role for the national
government.
2.
That politics during the administration of William Howard Taft showed that most of the nation
desired a more progressive approach.
3.
How the administration of Woodrow Wilson embodied both conservative and progressive
features.
4.
That the United States assumed a much more assertive and interventionist foreign policy,
especially toward the Caribbean region.
Points for Discussion
1.
In what ways did Theodore Roosevelt transform the role of the presidency and the national
government? (See Document number 1 in the Study Guide.)
2.
Was Theodore Roosevelt a progressive or a conservative? Build a convincing argument for
both viewpoints. (See Document number 1 in the Study Guide.)
3.
Compare and contrast the personalities and philosophies of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt,
William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. How did these personal factors affect their
leadership styles and accomplishments in domestic affairs? (See Document number 1 in the
Study Guide.)
4.
Were the differences between the Taft administration and those of Roosevelt and Wilson more
a matter of beliefs and objectives or of personalities and leadership style?
5.
Why did the apparently unified Republican party of 1908 break into two hostile camps in
1912? With what consequences?
6.
Analyze the election of 1912 in terms of its candidates, platforms, campaigns, and results.
7.
What was the "money monopoly," and what were the criticisms of it? How was the Federal
Reserve system designed to combat it? (See Document number 2 in the Study Guide.)
8.
Discuss the major domestic accomplishments as well as the shortcomings of progressivism
from 1901 to 1916. What is the lasting significance of progressivism in American history?
9.
What objectives guided American foreign policy in Asia during the Progressive Era? Trace the
development of United StatesJapanese relations.
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10.
Was American foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean during the Progressive Era
"effective"? Explain.
11.
Considering Roosevelt's and Wilson's personalities and proposals, what do you think would
have happened to domestic reform and foreign relations if Roosevelt had won the Republican
nomination in 1912 and had become president again?
12.
Historically, what had been the national attitude toward the American forests? What caused
this attitude to change during the Progressive Era?
Interpretive Questions Based on Maps and Text
1.
How did Theodore Roosevelt manage to expand the National Forest system despite a hostile
Congress?
2.
What were the two factions of the conservation movement? Explain Roosevelt's position,
telling how it fit in with his political and personal background and with general progressive
ideals.
3.
What area of the country is it safe to assume that Woodrow Wilson probably would have
carried even if the Republicans had not been split?
4.
What area of the country is it safe to assume that Woodrow Wilson would have probably lost
had it not been for the Republican split?
5.
What area of the country was typically characterized by fairly close elections between
Republicans and Democrats, regardless of a party split?
6.
Why did Roosevelt outpoll Taft in 1912?
7.
Explain the motivation for Theodore Roosevelt's special concern with the Caribbean region.
What policy did he formulate in response to his concern?
8.
Where were the two possible routes for a Central American canal? What were the advantages
and disadvantages of each? Why did the United States settle on Panama?
9.
Why was Colombia upset by American canal policy?
10.
What events inspired American intervention in Nicaragua? Why was the country perceived to
be important to American interests?
11.
What caused the border strife between the United States and Mexico? What was its result?
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Essay Questions
These essays are based on the map exercises. They are designed to test students' knowledge of the
geography of the area discussed in this chapter and to test their knowledge of its historical development.
Careful reading of the text will help them answer these questions.
1.
Why was progressivism accepted differently in different regions of the nation? What might
explain why Wisconsin became a model for the movement?
2.
What long-term impact on national political tendencies grew from the Progressive Era?
3.
Consider America's rise to world power, along with the increasingly activist foreign policy of
the first decade and a half of the twentieth century. What forces accounted for this activism?
Why was it most evident in the Caribbean region?
Internet Resources
For Internet quizzes, resources, references to additional books and films, and more, consult the
text's Online Learning Center at www.mhhe.com/brinkley12.
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