American History of 1870-1945's Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American History of 1870-1945's - Term Paper Example This paper focuses on achievements and political activities of both these persons as presidents of America. Emergence of America Ever since America found its place in world map, it underwent through a total of seven stages and is presently undergoing the eighth. The time from 1912 to 1929 is referred to as ‘Melting- pot America†. This period was preceded by an Industrial America (1870- 1912) and was immediately followed by America emerging as a superpower at the global level (1929- 1960). Melting pot America had certain distinctive features or characteristics. During this time America experienced some major changes in social and political field. Immigrants from across the world flooded into different American provinces. They not only brought their distinctive cultures with them and merged them with American culture, but at the same they also reinforced a reversal of political practices. It was during this time that America’s political and economic potentials were r ecognized, thereby making America play an important role during First World War. Another feature of Melting pot period is ‘Roaring Twenties’. All these made America urbanized and a fast paced destination from global point of view (Chhokar et al, 191-194). Both Woodrow Wilson as well as Theodore Roosevelt played significant roles in turning America into a superpower. Convention Politics and Theodore Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt was a Republican who succeeded William McKinley. Strategically, Roosevelt was the first to introduce a dynamic relation between the contradictory ideals of Conservatism and Liberalism. He was of the view that, approaches mush be made softy but, to be made tougher when the work is not delivered timely or some corruption creeps in. thus, Roosevelt displayed a tough attitude to issues which were bothering America during first half of twentieth century, like crime and corruption within unions or workplaces, political mechanism and most importantly Ã¢â‚¬Ë œanti- trust activities of monopolies’. At the same time, Roosevelt believed in ‘activist’ approach in presidency. As far as Liberalism is concerned, Roosevelt took some remarkable steps. One of them is introduction of progressive income tax, which ensured higher returns for the State. In this regard, he played a huge role in broadening the prospects of executive power in political scenario of contemporary America (Johnson, 194). The party machinery was very much clear when Roosevelt appeared in Chicago during June of 1912, before the election. At the time of his arrival, the entire political control was in the hands of political bosses who refused to support the delegates of Roosevelt and instead supported Taft. However towards the end, Roosevelt was finally able to make most delegates of Taft desert him. The Republicans choose to follow Roosevelt, thus expressing discontentment on the proposal of Republican- moderates of compromise. This counter- convention led to the formation of ‘Progressive Party’ or Bull Moose Party with Teddy Roosevelt as its president, and a pre-panned convention set for August that year. There was a clash of interests with the Democrats during this time as the Democrats chose to select Woodrow Wilson, then a reformist governor of New Jersey as their candidate for the electoral poll. As president, Roosevelt stressed upon the doctrine of ‘two- party system’, i.e. incorporating political ideologies of both Democrats and the Republicans, and eradication of