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1912 Dbq

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A time of betrayal, uncertainty, confusion, and corruption, the Election of 1912 was a peculiarly exciting bout between four candidates Roosevelt, Wilson, Taft and Debs. Brett Flehinger state in The Election of 1912 and the Power of Progressivism, “The 1912 election was a unique moment in the Progressive Era because it drew together politicians, social reformers, intellectuals, and economists onto a single stage and produced a many-sided national debate.” (Flehinger vii) All were concerned with one central issue: the future of America’s economic, political, and social structures. The role of blacks in society, women’s suffrage, trust busting, and tariffs were some of the major political issues of the 1912 election. Candidates Taft and Wilson …show more content…

He was a big supporter of the constitution and felt it makes our government a popular government. During a speech in Elkton, Maryland, Taft declares “that I [represent] a cause and that cause is the cause of constitutional government.” (Flehinger 152) He also tried to re-assure the people that he was not antidemocratic due to the fact he “took the definition of the people that Lincoln gave and construed it and explained it.” (Flehinger 153) He attempted to justify his take on Lincolns definition; “It is a government of the people because it belongs to the people—men, women, and children. It is a government for the people because it’s a government which protects the right of every person.” (Flehinger 153) Taft can be seen as an advocate of the constitution and the rights to the people it provides. Through the suggestions provided to him by Louis Brandeis, who was a member of the Supreme Court, candidate Wilson felt there were uncertainties with the Sherman Law. Wilson was presented with three measures to improve the uncertainty of the Sherman Law. Taft felt we should enforce the law as it is written, in Brandeis’ letter to Wilson he writes “Second: Facilitate the Enforcement of the Law by the Courts.” (Flehinger 120) The material provided by Brandeis would help shape Woodrow’s ideas toward the end of his

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