Progressivism the Early 20th Century Essay

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While Roosevelt felt that the private sector, influenced by progressive ideas, could reform American society, Wilson wanted a more active role by the government and feared that the private sector, or "the combined power of high finance would be greater than the power of the government." (Wilson) on the other hand was the least radical of all the progressives discussed: Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt's idea of progressivism, discussed in the 1910 article "The New Nationalism," was a private sector that remained capitalist, but under the influence of the government. For instance, while Wilson wanted to destroy monopolies, which he felt were undermining the capitalist system, Roosevelt wanted to regulate them for "the interests of the public welfare." (Roosevelt)

During the 20th century, American society did not completely transform in the way that either Debs or Croly predicted it would, but vacillated back in forth between the progressive ideas of Wilson and Roosevelt; slowly moving toward Wilson's idea of what American society should be. There were times when Roosevelt's ideas were more popular, particularly during the economic boom of the 1920's.

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But by the time the Great Depression occurred, American society was more inclined to accept Wilson's view. After WWII, the 1950's saw another exploding economy and Roosevelt's ideas of limited government influence reasserted itself, but by the 1970's the slightly more radical progressivism of Wilson had once again resurfaced. And while the 1980's saw another resurgence of limited government influence, American society was moving more and more toward Wilson's idea of government regulated progressivism. Finally, in the 21st century America is much more a nation that has evolved in the view of Woodrow Wilson; a capitalist nation influenced by progressive ideas and regulated by the government.

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