Monday, February 24, 2014

Progressive Characters

Progressive Characters 

Theodore Roosevelt



    A. Explain the biographical ideas behind the character 
Theodore Roosevelt was born and raised in New York City. As a child he was sick very often; consequently, forcing him to spend much of him time at home. During this time he fell in love with reading. Since Roosevelt wasn't brawn or had much fun as a child, as an adult he lived a life full of risks.

    B. Explain the major legislation related to this character

The Major legislation(s) related to Theodore Roosevelt include: the Big Stick Policy, Monroe Doctrine, and the Bull Moose Movement. The Big Stick Policy read, "A man should walk softly and carry a big stick". This basically meant that if a country needed to be controlled, the United States should control it (since it carries the 'big stick'). The Monroe Doctrine was by President James Monroe which prohibited European countries from taking over South and Central America, Roosevelt basically edited it by adding the Roosevelt Corollary.

    C. Describe how this character attempted to progress the nation.

Theodore Roosevelt is delineated as a man who was willing to help the United States progress through out his whole life. For instance, he was a believer in Manifest destiny who additionally claimed that it was the United States' duty to help others seeking or lacking aid. When the Anthracite coal miners launched a nation wide strike Roosevelt stood for what he believed in and fought alongside the workers (figuratively). 

Woodrow Wilson



    A. Explain the biographical ideas behind the character
Today, Woodrow Wilson is not only commemorated for have been the twenty-eighth president of the United States but is also remembered for having lead the country into World War I. Wilson strongly believed and advocated the idea that the United States had the power and responsibility to help the rest of the world be free and democratic. Many did not agree with Woodrow's argument; however, that did not impede him from intending to help America progress. 
  
    B. Explain the major legislations related to this character
The major legislations for which Woodrow Wilson is remembered include: the theory of Moral Internationalism, the Treaty if Versailles and his 14 Points. Wilson's theory advocated that America was a strong and prosperous country, and had to therefore be involved. The Treaty of Versailles ended the World War I for which Wilson contributed his 14 Points. The 14 Points included ideas such as: Peace without victory, freedom of the seas, and the league of the nations. Unfortunately, despite Wilson's great effort, the treaty was never accepted by the United States. 

    C. Describe how this character attempted to progress the nation.
Wilson is characterized as a determined and relentless man willing to give up his own life, just to help thee United States progress. He fought for the Treaty of Paris to be accepted and ratified in America, without any success. The most controversial part was the League of the Nations from his 14 Points. The league of Nations was the idea that if all countries joined each other they'd be successful in overcoming obstacles including: hunger, poverty, and war. 

Ida Tarbel




    A. Explain the biographical ideas behind the character
Ida Tarbel was born and raised in Pennsylvania, she  is characterized as a relentless, risk taking and successful individual coming from a determined and hard-working family. She was the first woman to attend and graduate from Allegheny College, she taught herself French, became a prominent writer in Paris, and even the author of a best-selling book. She was the first of the muckrakers, and a very distinguished one at that. 


    B. Explain the major legislations related to this character
Tarbel's family. wildcatters, owned oil wells. John D. Rockefeller owner of the Standard Oil Company stole the oil fields from the owners of the oil fields, including Tarbel's family. As Tarbel became a well-known writer she became interested in exposing the Standard Oil Company and it's real intentions. She was also distinguished from most muckrakers considered that she was respectful despite the fact that she felt anger toward Rockefeller and his company.

    C. Describe how this character attempted to progress the nation.
Due to Ida Tarbel's personal life and experience she became a well-known journalist, a muckraker. She was willing to risk her life and reputation in order to expose the "bad aspects" of the United States including the Standard Oil Company. Her work in writing ultimately lead to the investigation on the Standard Oil Company. The company was consequently considered a monopoly and broken up into six independent companies. 

Robert La Follette



    A. Explain the biographical ideas behind the character
Robert La Follette also known as "Fighting Bob" was born into an average American family in Wisconsin. He is characterized as having been a hard-working, just and moral man. He always remembered to speak out in favor of those in need, the less fortunate. He joined the District Attorney's office in Madison and soon came to the realization of how corrupt it actually was. Being a just and moral man, La Follette decided to speak out against it's corruption and ultimately became known as a trustworthy man. 


    B. Explain the major legislations related to this character
While he was involved with the House of Representatives, La Follette was involved in two significant legislations that granted people REAL power. Initiative and Referendum. Initiative was the idea that allowed citizens to propose laws without help from the legislature. Referendum however, was the idea that allowed the people to end an elected official's time of office earlier than expected. He was also the person who engendered the Wisconsin idea. 

    C. Describe how this character attempted to progress the nation.


Robert La Follette ran and was elected for the United States' House of Representative. Here he was best known as a just and equal "straight-talker" willing to expose corrupt Democrats and Republicans (even though HE was a Republican). He was a man willing to propose new ideas including: the Wisconsin idea, initiative and referendum, all three with one sole purpose: return the power of the people to the people. 


   A. Explain the biographical ideas behind the character
John D. Rockefeller was born in New York into a less fortunate family. Rockefeller is characterized for having been risk-taking and dedicated person when he was still only a inexperienced bookkeeper. However, as he worked his way up the social ladder he became a corrupt, ambitious and vicious business man ultimately becoming the owner of the Standard Oil company (a monopoly).                     

    B. Explain the major legislations related to this character
During the time in which oil was discovered, it instantly became a high demand. Rockefeller and friends joined to create their own oil company, the Standard Oil company. Their company soon became a monopoly of the oil refineries (1872). Predatory pricing assured Rockefeller's company that no one would try to compete against it, and if anyone did, they would fail. 

    C. Describe how this character attempted to progress the nation.John D. Rockefeller is not really characterized as an individual willing to help the United States progress. Instead, he is a person perceived as selfish and ambitious. Rockefeller opposed unions and did not allow them in the Standard Oil Trust. Even though he may have been mostly interested in his and his companies' well-being, he did help universities, African American Colleges and research institutes economically. 
Eugene V. Debs 




    A. Explain the biographical ideas behind the character
Eugene V. Debs was born in Indiana, into a low-income, yet surprisingly positive and happy German family. Debs is characterized for having been generous and kind, yet ferocious. Unfortunately, he was often perceived as an intellectual. When he realized that college was not an option he became a firefighter. At this time he realized that unnecessary and preventable accidents were taking place: it was the industry's fault. 

    B. Explain the major legislations related to this character
Since the day that a man seeking Debs' help asked him for aid, Debs became a Union activist. The man wanted to engender a union for railway workers and he knew Debs would be of great help. Debs ultimately created the American Railway Union or ARU. Unfortunately, the ARU was destroyed and Debs was arrested after the Great Railway Strike. The Railway Strike was a very important strike fighting for the Pullman workers' rights.

    C. Describe how this character attempted to progress the nation.
Eugene V. Debs was a hard-working man willing to do anything in order to help those in need. He was a just and equal man who fought for the workers' rights his whole life. He believed in socialism and advocated for change in the United States. 

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