The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.
President Roosevelt speech, Who is a Progressive? highlights the characteristics of a progressive. He describes the three key elements as control or corporations, protection of consumers, and conservation of nature and its resources. These principles emerged from the adversities of industrialization on Americans like income inequality and unequal wealth distribution especially among the middle class. Theodor Roosevelt, the first president to pioneer progressivism, developed a program that would seek sought to transform the American political landscape, reforming the economy and environmental reservation. The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.
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Drawing from his speech, a progressive is someone optimistic about life considered the possibility to progress and could resolve problems. The other characteristic stemming from one of the three principles is that a progressive is someone who acts out of concern of the implications of industrialization to humanize and regulation of corporations to prevent them from exploiting people and the environment. The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.Progressives are passionate about change, offer voluntary services, and are willing to use governmental authority to transform the world around them for the better.
The Characteristics of “Anti-progressive” and Activities they Engage in
Anti-progressives are individuals who disregard human dignity, values material possessions. These individuals do not care about the environment and use all possible means to accumulate as much wealth as possible. As a result, they are hostile towards the idea of progressivism. They engage in activities that undermine the activities of progressiveness like environmental conservation, protection of consumers, and control of corporations in an industrial world (Robertson, 2015). Moreover, they participate in activities that contributed to the exploitation of workers, wealth disparity, and unbridled capitalism. The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.
Due to love for wealth, anti-progressive individuals seek the establishment of powerful institutions that undermine the impacts of democracy in providing checks and balances. Similarly, the conservatives reinforce protection of certain groups in the society and passionately oppose majoritarian views. In reference to the American political landscape during the eras of anti-progressivism, those in power seemed to promote anti-democratic mechanisms and strongly fought the idea of democratizing public institutions and reforms leading to larger governments. In conclusion, this group of people engages in activities skeptical about the progressive agenda.
The goals of progressivism and areas of society should be addressed
The first goal of progressiveness is revealed when Roosevelt says, “our aim is to secure the real and not the nominal rule of the people.” This objective centers on getting rid of industrial and social injustices that subjected to people by the government. This is an objective centered on protecting social welfare of people and its areas of relevance and applicability involved prohibiting child labor and making working conditions and hours favorable for all the working class (Robertson, 2015). The second goal was to create economic reform for the Americans.The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment. This aim arose from the realization that capitalism was not fair for the Americans and that the government and politicians exhibited special treatment towards big businesses thereby limiting competition.
Roosevelt’s speech sought to protect the welfare of consumers and the public by controlling the interests and actions of large business entities is another essential goal. Without proper control, large corporations, especially in the manufacturing sector, tend to destroy the environment through pollution or over depletion of natural resources (Robertson, 2015). Moreover, large companies focus more on profitability instead of the welfare of their workers thereby exposing them to poor working conditions and low pay. As a result, Roosevelt sought to protect the welfare of consumers and the public by controlling the interests and actions of large business entities. The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.
Progressive achievements that Roosevelt highlight in his speech
In his speech, Roosevelt acknowledges the efforts of his predecessors in combating conservatism. He starts by highlighting some of the goals they achieved in their effort to transform America into a progressive society. One such goal is revealed when he says, “for two years the administration did everything in its power to undo the most valuable work that had been done in Conservation, especially in securing to the people the right to regulate water power franchise in the public interest.” Roosevelt highlights this accomplishment while describing its significance in instilling social justice to the Americans despite the high rate of industrialization.
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Roosevelt applauds people who have taken up the initiative of enhancing change in society. He asserts that actions taken in the interests of common people regardless of strong objections from the majority enhance the ideology of progressiveness in American society. Roosevelt praises President Taft and the people who championed his views on progressivism and the need to transform American lives. Some of the accomplishments before Roosevelt’s administration included the Illinois Factory Act of 1893 that prohibit child labor while limiting womens’ working hours Robertson, 2015). The other States quickly followed suit in creating policies that advocate for the welfare and rights of workers. Therefore, Roosevelt highlights the efforts of his predecessors and state policies in enhancing the ideology of progression in America. The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.
References
Robertson, D. B. (2015). The progressive era. Oxford handbook of US social policy, 41-58.
Roosevelt, T. (1912). Who is a Progressive? Retrieved from http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/who-is-a-progressive/
The characteristics of a progressive Research Assignment.