Compare and contrast the Democrat and Republican parties in how effective they were in dealing with national reform and foreign policy in the period 1901 to 1920.

 "Our country - this great Republic - means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy, the triumph of popular government, and, in the long run, of an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed the opportunity to show the best that there is in him...

when I say that I am for the square deal, I mean not merely that I stand for fair play under the present rules of the games, but that I stand for having those rules changed so as to work for a more substantial equality of opportunity and of reward for equally good service... It has become entirely clear that we must have government supervision of the capitalization, not only of public-service corporations, including, particularly, railways, but of all corporations doing and interstate business."

"We have become a great nation, forced by the fact of its greatness into relations with the other nations of the earth, and we must behave as beseems a people with such responsibilities. Toward all other nations, large and small, our attitude must be one of cordial and sincere friendship. We must show not only in our words, but in our deeds, that we are earnestly desirous of securing their good will by acting toward them in a spirit of just and generous recognition of all their rights. But justice and generosity in a nation, as in an individual, count most when shown not by the weak but by the strong. While ever careful to refrain from wrongdoing others, we must be no less insistent that we are not wronged ourselves. We wish peace, but we wish the peace of justice, the peace of righteousness. We wish it because we think it is right and not because we are afraid. No weak nation that acts manfully and justly should ever have cause to fear us, and no strong power should ever be able to single us out as a subject for insolent aggression."

Document D
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty - November 8, 1903

"If it should become necessary at any time to employ armed forces for the safety or protection of the Canal, or of the ships that make use of the same, or the railways and auxiliary works, the United States shall have the right, at all times and in its discretion, to use its police and its land and naval forces or to establish fortifications for these purposes...

All damages caused to the owners of private lands or private property of any kind by reason of the grants contained in this treaty or by reason of the operations of the United States, its agents or employees, or by reason of the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation and protection of the said Canal or of the works of sanitation and protection herein provided for, shall be appraised and settled by a joint Commission appointed by the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Panama, whose decisions as to such damages shall be final and whose awards as to such damages shall be paid solely by the United States"

"Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned...

The people of the United States are drawn from many nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. It is natural and inevitable that there should be the utmost variety of sympathy and desire among them with regard to the issues and circumstances of the conflict. Some will wish one nation, others another, to succeed in the momentous struggle...

Such divisions amongst us would be fatal to our peace of mind and might seriously stand in the way of the proper performance of our duty as the one great nation at peace...

The United States must be neutral in fact, as well in name...

We must be impartial in thought, as well in action"

Document F
The Espionage Act of May 16, 1918, Section 3

"Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports, or false statements, or say or do anything except by way of bona fide and not disloyal advice to an investor... with intent to obstruct the sale by the United States of bonds... or making of loans by or to the United States, or whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully cause... or incite... insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully obstruct... the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, and whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States... or shall willfully display the flag of any foreign enemy... shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both"

"I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view.

II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants.

III. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance...

XIV. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.

We do not wish to fight [Germany] either with arms or with hostile arrangements of trade if she is willing to associate herself with us and the other peace- loving nations of the world in covenants of justice and law and fair dealing. We wish her only to accept a place of equality among the peoples of the world, -- the new world in which we now live, -- instead of a place of mastery"

"I admit the popularity of the theory that the trusts have come about through the natural development of business conditions in the United States, and that it is a mistake to try to oppose the processes by which they have been built up, because those processes belong to the very nature of business in our time, and that therefore the only thing we can do, and the only thing we ought to attempt to do, is to accept them as inevitable arrangements and make the best out of it that we can by regulation...

The only thing that can ever make a free country is to keep a free and hopeful heart under every jacket in it. Honest American industry has always thriven, when it has thriven at all, on freedom; it has never thriven on monopoly"

Essay

The early twentieth century, between 1901 and 1919, was a period of great change in the American nation. New methods of handling foreign policy were being tested by the Democratic and Republican parties. Additionally, national reform was bringing the government and society closer together. Each party had varying degrees on the amount of impact on the people. While both the Democrats and Republicans had a significant impact, the Republicans were more effective carrying out their plans.

The reform policies of the Republican party were beneficial to the people and the economy. Roosevelt recognized the fact that the developing economy needed new up to date regulations. He felt that a new set of rules for all corporations involved in intrastate commerce was imperative to preserve the American people’s equality of opportunity (Doc A). He did just this with the passing of the Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act of 1906, which sought to restore some authority to the government over regulation. Roosevelt, prompted by muckrakers, such as Upton Sinclair and his book The Jungle, passed the Meat Inspection Act in 1906. He also pushed for the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as in 1907 an eight-hour work day, broader compensation for victims of industrial accidents, and regulation of the stock market. Taft also had his hands in the economy as well. On October 27, 1911, the Taft administration filed a suit against US Steel for their monopolistic actions. The Republicans also dealt with the countries natural resources. The National Reclamation Act was passed in 1902 to provide federal funds for the construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals in the West. The Republican’s effects on national reform were well rounded and directly effected every American person, unlike the Democrats who were generally involved in monetary issues, such as trusts and taxes.

The Democrat’s reforms showed them to be primarily concerned with economic issues. The 16^th amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1913 to allow the government to impose an income tax on both people and corporations for the first time. Also in 1913, Wilson passed the Underwood Simmons Tariff in order to lower protective tariffs, allowing an increase in foreign competition, challenging the power of trusts in America. Wilson felt that "honest American industry has always thriven, when it has thriven at all, on freedom; it has never thriven on monopoly" (Doc H). While he was in office he frequently fought the hold that trusts had on the American economy. Another act that Wilson passed was the Federal Reserve Act in 1913. The Federal Reserve Act set up 12 regional banks with the authority to regulate all local banks to create a stable banking system. The act also created a uniform paper currency, which was backed up by the government, to be used as the medium of trade across the nation. While the Democrats focused mainly on economic issues, they did pass the Espionage Act of 1918. However, while their economic policies were beneficial to the growth of the nation, the Espionage Act was, in effect, unconstitutional. The first amendment of the constitution assures the people freedom of religion, speech, and of the press, but in article 3 of the Espionage Act is states "whoever... shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution... shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both" (Doc F). It prevented people from expressing their opinions of the government if they were negative. The legislation passed by the Democratic party that was for the good of the people was overwhelmingly related to the economic concerns of the country.

While the Republicans held the position of president the United States became involved in many foreign affairs. The Roosevelt viewed the United States as a powerful nation with a duty to preserve world peace and international justice (Doc B). The affair in which the Republican party involved themselves proved this to be true. During the Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt played an active role in the peace making process, winning himself the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. When American interests turned towards the construction of the Panama Canal the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty in 1903 again displayed this attitude. While the treaty gave the Unites States the right to provide protection for the canal and the land about it at their discretion, it was not without compensating responsibility. If any private land or private property were to become damaged due to any actions of the United States a joint commission would be formed by Panama and the United States to determine the amount to be paid solely by the United States for reparations (Doc D). Both of these events show America’s ability to play the role of the moderator in world affairs to maintain global stability and security. Cartoonist Louis Dalrymple illustrates Roosevelt’s "New Diplomacy" showing his inclination to use the "big stick" for the "less civilized" people and arbitration for the "civilized" nations (Doc C). Taft had is own method of carrying out the countries diplomatic affairs with the idea of "dollar diplomacy," in which the United States would aggressively invest and extend into less-developed countries. This form of diplomacy would allow both nations to grow cooperatively. The Republicans were consistently involved in foreign affairs as they maintained their beliefs of America’s responsibility to keep the world at peace.

The Democrats approached foreign policy in a much less pro-active way. With the start of World War I, Wilson fervently declared the United States neutrality claiming that the nation was "too proud to fight." He explained that the nation would be severely weakened by the schism of people’s attitudes (Doc E). Despite Wilson’s steady position of neutrality, America became involved in World War I when Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war on April 2, 1917. Wilson then wrote the Fourteen Points which stated America’s desire to quickly cool things down to allow the United States to initiate in trade again, over free seas. The Fourteen Points displayed Wilson’s goal to restore the lost world. Wilson wrote "We do not wish to fight [Germany] either with arms or with hostile arrangements of trade if she is willing to associate herself with us and the other peace- loving nations of the world in covenants of justice and law and fair dealing" (Doc G) However, Wilson never provided a way in which any of these goals would be accomplished or how any infringements on the statements contained therein would be dealt with. It was much like the Declaration of Neutrality because it merely stated his opinion of how America should conduct itself in foreign affairs. After World War I Wilson had still achieved very little and he was still primarily talking. At the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson insisted that he alone represented the United States. Wilson was unable to win approval of many of goals, such as freedom of the seas, and free trade. He also was forced to give way on the other Allied leader’s demands of German reparations. Wilson was able to create the League of Nations in 1919, but there were no provisions on how the league would enforce any of it’s decisions. Foreign policy of the Democrats consisted mainly of talk and discussion. Little was done by Wilson to use America’s power and influence in the world, as opposed to the Republicans.

Both the Democrats and the Republicans were involved in a lot of foreign policy and national reform. The Democrats focus was mostly on economic reform, whereas the Republicans passed a large, well rounded amount of legislation dealing with many of the country’s pressing issues. When it came down to foreign policy, the Republicans led the way in thrusting America into international affairs, wielding the United States great power and influence as necessary in order to look after the bests interests of the country and those they were dealing with. The Democrats, however, made attempts to keep the nation out of foreign affairs, and when they were unable to do so their involvement was primarily limited to discussions of ideas and principles.