Progressives
Characteristics and Examples
A fundamental characteristic of a progressive individual seems to be an awakened sense of fairness. According to Roosevelt (1913), a progressive individual is a person of faith, not a religious man, but rather one who believes in justice, righteousness, and goodness. The progressive individual stands for humanity’s advancement, rise, and improvement with fervor, broad sympathy, and imagination (Roosevelt, 1913). Essentially, anyone who stands up against any “special privilege” and for social and industrial justice is progressive (Roosevelt, 1913, p. 5). Lastly, the progressive individual trusts in the people and unequivocally opposes exploitation (Roosevelt, 1913). A progressive individual values the people around them equally and treats them as such.
Anti-Progressives
Characteristics and Examples
Anti-progressives, or people opposing the progressive movement, are defined quite broadly. According to Roosevelt (1913), they are people of narrow-mindedness and little empathy, unconcerned by the injustice towards others. This characteristic can be applied regardless of one’s occupation or formal political affiliations because actions matter the most. Roosevelt (1913) insists on erasing the Republican-Democratic dualism in progressive thinking, replacing it with a progressive versus reactionary (anti-progressive) mentality. He suggests an example of an anti-progressive president as someone who supports courts limiting people’s power to achieve social justice (Roosevelt, 1913). Another example of anti-progressive action from a president would be upholding privileged classes by sustaining favoritism in court decisions (Roosevelt, 1913). Hence, anti-progressives are characterized by their rejection of progressive principles, whether intentional or not.
Activities
Anti-progressive activities are described mostly as those defying progressivism ideas. Roosevelt (1913) elaborates that anyone who directly or indirectly asserts privilege and favors special interests is an anti-progressive. Anti-progressives actively obfuscate “popular will,” upholding the power of biased courts and big corporations (Roosevelt, 1913, p. 129). Moreover, anti-progressives can lack interest in supporting progressivism or perpetuate vulnerable groups’ exploitation, whether actively or passively (Roosevelt, 1913). In general, anti-progressives do not have to prevent progressivism processes actively – they may merely be inert or unwilling to get involved.
Goals of Progressivism
The focal point of progressivism is transforming the established power dynamics. The overarching progressivists’ goal is to provide people with real and not just nominal control over the representatives of the office to secure social and industrial justice for every citizen (Roosevelt, 1913). The people’s control entails the right to seek the passage of laws demanded by the public or to reject opposed laws if the legislatures and courts failed to reflect a deliberate popular opinion (Roosevelt, 1913). In addition, they strived to ensure that the citizens had the right to nominate candidates for office, beginning with the president and below, through direct primaries (Roosevelt, 1913). Overall, progressivism aims to empower people to regulate their government more transparently and directly.
Moreover, progressivism aims to ensure a socially and industrially integral existence for all people. That goal entails, first and foremost, improving “all the conditions of work and life,”, especially for women and children (Roosevelt, 1913, p. 5). For instance, progressivism intends to improve education and living circumstances to qualify for the impoverished (Roosevelt, 1913). Further, progressivists call for securing proper safety and health standards for factory workers, ensuring a proper limitation of labor hours and minimum wage standards for women, prohibiting child labor, and securing proper living conditions in crowded regions (Roosevelt, 1913). Progressivists believed that the nation’s resources, businesses, institutions, and laws should be altered to promote the general interest of all people, prioritizing public welfare (Roosevelt, 1913). These progressivism goals help establish and maintain equal opportunity and justice for every citizen.
Addressed Society Areas
Progressivism aims to address several societal areas since it focuses on the idea of control for every person. The suggestions addressed the following areas: nation and state laws, labor and industrial injustice, business and commercial development, tariffs, taxes, costs of living, “equal suffrage,” corruption, and health (Roosevelt, 1913, p. 325). Some of the targeted groups included wage workers, especially women, children, and those living in poverty (Roosevelt, 1913). Further, in his Levee Convention speech, Roosevelt (1912a) highlighted the importance of “thinking nationally,” meaning that the problems society faces can only be addressed as a whole and only by exercising national power (para. 2). Hence, progressivism addresses numerous societal areas, from the government to industry, and does so holistically.
Achievements of Progressivism
Highlighted achievements of progressivism in the speeches are mostly contrasted with old political platforms. In Roosevelt’s (1912b) presidential campaign speech in Connecticut, while campaigning for president on the Progressive Party, he articulates that progressivism, unlike other parties, offers more than rhetorical efforts. For instance, Roosevelt (1912c) refers to the declared one-in-seven days rest for workers in continuous employment. Further, Roosevelt (1912d) discusses the “workmen compensation act,” which limited the hours of labor and safeguarded hazardous employment, stating that people deserve to have access to just labor laws (para. 1). Roosevelt (1912d) outlines that the overarching achievement of progressivism is people standing together for everyone, not just for the privileged ones. Lastly, Roosevelt (1913) addresses the implemented Sherman anti-trust law, which has been used against monopolies but still requires nation-state cooperation to accomplish its full potential. The highlighted progressivism achievements generally represent various legal actions targeted toward the good of common people.
References
Roosevelt, T. (1912a). Levee convention speech: Image 105 of Theodore Roosevelt papers. [Image].
Roosevelt, T. (1912b). Progressive Party president campaign speech: Image 67 of Theodore Roosevelt papers [Image].
Roosevelt, T. (1912c). Progressive Party president campaign speech: Image 70 of Theodore Roosevelt papers [Image].
Roosevelt, T. (1912d). Progressive Party president campaign speech: Image 71 of Theodore Roosevelt papers [Image].
Roosevelt, T. (1913). Progressive principles (E. H. Youngman, Ed.). Progressive National Service.