In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

• CHAPTER TWO Bear Necessities : Theodore Roosevel t an d the Squar e Dea l THEODORE ROOSEVELT' S accessio n t o th e presidency , albei t i n tragic circumstances , signale d th e en d o f th e Gilde d Ag e o f 1865-1901 an d th e opening o f the Progressive Er a o f 1901-17 . I t seemed tha t progress , whethe r i n inventions , industry , o r dem ocratic government , wa s th e ke y t o moder n America . I t wa s a n insistence o n progres s tha t underla y th e refor m movemen t w e call Progressivism an d that wa s at its zenith in the early twentiet h century. Reformer s trie d t o brin g rationa l orde r t o politics , in dustry , an d citie s a s th e Unite d State s wa s bein g transforme d from a rura l t o a n urba n an d industria l economy . Progressive s thought tha t the y coul d correc t suc h dislocation s an d evil s as : excessive concentration o f economic powe r i n a few monopolies ; wasteful consumptio n o f th e nation' s resources ; corrup t part y machines; sweatshops, chil d labor , an d overcrowde d slums . The first center s of the progressive movemen t i n th e 1890 s were the larg e citie s o f th e Northeas t an d Midwes t an d th e mainl y agrarian communitie s o f th e Midwes t an d part s o f th e South . After wha t novelis t Theodor e Dreise r calle d "th e furnac e stage " in th e making o f major cities , a n optimistic an d energeti c middl e 46 • AMERIC A I N TH E AG E O F TH E TITAN S class first move d t o improv e facilities , remode l government , an d enhance it s social status. Th e Progressiv e movemen t the n move d to stat e governmen t wit h th e electio n o f refor m governor s lik e Robert M . L a Follett e o f Wisconsi n (1901-6) , an d gaine d a na tional voic e durin g Theodor e Roosevelt' s presidenc y (1901-9) , scoring legislatio n i n hi s secon d administration . I t concentrate d its refor m idea s durin g th e disappointin g presidenc y o f Willia m Howard Taf t (1909-13) , forme d a thir d politica l part y i n 1912 , and achieve d severa l fundamenta l federa l reform s durin g th e first administration o f Woodrow Wilso n (1913-17) . I t was divided b y Wilson's policie s durin g Worl d Wa r I an d resurface d briefl y i n the elections of 192 4 when L a Follette stood a s a third part y pres idential candidate . Its impact o n th e federa l Constitutio n ca n b e seen in the adop tion , afte r a gap o f over fort y year s fro m 1870 , of no fewe r tha n four ne w amendment s sponsore d b y variou s Progressives : th e Sixteenth, allowin g fo r federa l incom e ta x (1913) ; th e Seven teenth , providin g fo r th e direc t electio n o f U.S . senator s (1913) ; the Eighteenth , imposin g nationa l prohibitio n o f alcoho l (1919) ; and th e Nineteenth , introducin g femal e suffrag e (1920) . We might sa y there were tw o sort s of Progressives: those wh o promoted reform s i n governmen t an d busines s o n th e ground s of efficiency—suc h a s busines s modernizer s an d efficienc y ex perts , an d thos e wh o supporte d humanitaria n policie s i n govern ment an d who m w e woul d no w cal l liberals . However , thes e two section s wer e no t self-containe d entities . Th e aim s an d po litical wil l o f eac h frequentl...

Share