The 1912 Presidential Election.pdf

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Progressive Movement 1890-1920 The 1912 Presidential Election Despite not being as flashy or overtly progressive as Roosevelt, Taft's ability to plan ahead and his usually strong presidential performance matched the party leadership's apprehensions about another Roosevelt administration, winning him the Republican Party candidacy. Roosevelt and the other Progressive Republicans, incensed by this rejection, broke away from the Republican Party in 1912 to form the Progressive Party. Due to his popularity, he was hoped to run as a third-party candidate and win the presidential election. He was shot in the eye by the assassin in October 1912 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but escaped with just minor injuries as the bullet struck his eyeglass case. He used the near-death incident as a springboard for his political career. He insisted on giving the speech in front of the audience before getting help, telling them that "a bull moose takes more than just a bullet to kill!" For the duration of the campaign, Roosevelt's Progressive Party was referred to as the Bull Moose Party and the nickname stuck (Figure 21.20). The Republicans were split, and the Democrats thought they had a decent chance of winning the presidency again for the first time since 1896. Woodrow Wilson, the progressive governor of New Jersey, was their choice. Many Progressive reformers found Wilson's intellectual manner appealing. Wilson was a former Princeton University president and history professor. Wilson was seen by many Democrats as an outsider in Washington who had made considerably fewer political enemies than Taft and Roosevelt. Taft did not appear to be a genuine contender, did not make a single speech, and never really campaigned for the position. Roosevelt and Wilson developed opposing Progressive agendas for their campaigns. Wilson referred to his more centrist stance as New Freedom, which advocated for a more limited federal government to safeguard the public interest against the perils connected to large corporations and financial institutions. Roosevelt ran on a platform of New Nationalism, which he claimed necessitated a strong and active federal government to safeguard the interests of the people. He aimed to use the stewardship model he had popularized in his former role as president. With more than six million votes, Wilson defeated Roosevelt with four million and Taft with three and a half million. Republicans lost both the Senate and the White House as a result of their internal divisions, even though Democrats had already taken control of the House in 1910. Wilson only received 42% of the popular vote to win the presidency, meaning that if he wanted to run for president again, he would need to win over a sizable majority of voters. In the United States, the Progressive Movement of 1890–1920 marked the beginning of a major period of political and social change. Theodore Roosevelt's rise to prominence as a leading Republican Party politician who embodied progressive values in the 1912 presidential contest changed the political landscape. William Howard Taft did not have Roosevelt's magnetism, but his strategic planning and all-around good performance as president won him the Republican Party candidacy. This choice was a reflection of the party leadership's want for a more stable and predictable candidate as well as their worries about another Roosevelt government. But Taft's selection infuriated Roosevelt and other progressive Republicans, who saw it as a rejection of their reformist program. As a result, they split from the Republican Party and established the Progressive Party, which Roosevelt led. The Progressive Party marked a major split within the Republican Party and became known as the Bull Moose Party, named for Roosevelt's belligerent comment made after an assassination attempt. Roosevelt was a strong third-party candidate because of his widespread appeal and fortitude in the face of hardship. Roosevelt survived an assassin's gunshot wound to the eye, but the ordeal only strengthened his reputation as a tough and unwavering leader. He rallied supporters after the incident, showcasing his everlasting dedication to his cause. The Progressive Party's program, which called for strong government action to solve social and economic inequities, stood in stark contrast to the Republican and Democratic parties' more conservative stances throughout the campaign. Amid this political turmoil, the Democrats took advantage of the situation to present Woodrow Wilson, the governor of New Jersey, as their own progressive nominee. Many progressive reformers found Wilson's scholarly manner and relative absence of political baggage appealing. Wilson gave the campaign an air of scholarship because he was a reputable history professor and the past president of Princeton University. His New Freedom program placed a strong emphasis on the necessity of a more limited federal government in order to defend the public interest against the excesses of large financial institutions and corporations. Thus, opposing progressive ideologies found a battlefield in the 1912 presidential contest. Roosevelt's New Nationalism, which favored a strong federal government to defend the rights of common people, contrasted with Wilson's New Freedom program. The candidates' contrasting ideologies were indicative of larger discussions over the role of government in society within the progressive movement. Ultimately, Wilson triumphed, garnering more than six million votes and winning the Electoral College handily. With four million votes, Roosevelt came in second, while Taft came in third with three and a half million. In the end, Roosevelt's third-party candidacies and internal conflicts within the Republican Party cost them both the Senate majority and the presidency. Wilson barely garnered 42% of the popular vote, therefore his mandate was somewhat limited even though he was elected president. Still, his win represented a sea change in American politics and a critical turning point in the continuous fight for progressive change.