Domestic Strategy of the Progressives

In fact, however, the true progressives, as we shall see from the sources used in this study, were not imperialistic, but were rather far more pacific in foreign affairs. To whatever degree these Presidents pursued an imperialist or interventionist foreign policy, then, they were in fact twisting progressivism to fit their own purposes.

There were clear differences in the ways these three Presidents went about imposing the will of the United States government around the world as an extension of progressivist activist domestic policy, and in the degree to which they can be truly termed imperialists. Roosevelt pursued and personalized his aggressively militaristic foreign policy far more than the other two; Taft focused more on economics than on military aggression, and was far less dedicated to imperialistic practices than either Roosevelt or Wilson; and Wilson put a perverse twist on progressivism which resulted in attempted repression of dissent aimed at both his domest

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ve national policy at home, as well as providing international peace" (Sarasohn, 1989, pp. 158-159). Taft's presidency was marked by a relative tepidness compared to Roosevelt's both at home and abroad. Link argues that Taft "possessed neither Roosevelt's astuteness nor his energy." Taft immediately left many "wondering how deep the President's progressivism went." Finally, in the spring of 1910 [Taft} took the last step in his devolution from progressivism to conservatism. He joined the Old Guard in a well-planned and generously financed campaign to root [progressive] insurgency out of the party, by defeating progressive Republicans for renomination in the coming primaries in the Middle West (Link, 1954, pp. 3-5). It is no surprise to find, then, that Roosevelt and Taft parted ways over the course of progressivism both at home and abroad. Actually, to most progressives, in the international realm, Taft was more aligned with their principles of peace than either Roosevelt or Wilson proved to be. As Cooper writes, In foreign policy Taft departed from the path forged by Roosevelt. . . . Taft did not engage in anything like Roosevelt's activist, great-power diplomacy. He did continue a supervisory role for the United States in
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Approximate Word count = 1507
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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