Download Jessie Walton Roosevelt to Taft As Roosevelt`s successor, William

1 Jessie Walton Roosevelt to Taft As Roosevelt’s successor, William Taft assumed the role as president for the Republicans. Taft entered his presidency hoping to continue the strong domestic policy left behind by Roosevelt, but they had a difference of opinion on the presidential powers. For foreign policy, however, Taft had a different view on how to apply American capabilities with the world. Going into office, William Taft was enthusiastic about pursuing Roosevelt’s powerful domestic policies. Roosevelt had set up a strong domestic policy focusing on helping the working Americans. He worked to break up the corporate trusts; he passed multiple laws ensuring the safety of the food and drugs that were sold in the United States; he created national parks, preserving thousands of acres of American nature; and he helped regulate interstate commerce. Following these strong principles, Taft continued to break up trusts, such as the Standard Oil Trust and the American Tobacco Industry. He also continued to regulate interstate commerce activities. However, unlike Roosevelt, Taft did not believe in stretching the presidential powers. He believed more in a limited interpretation of powers and did not want to stretch the powers, like Roosevelt, to achieve a goal. At this, Taft’s domestic policy began to take a turn from Roosevelt’s. He lost the support of the Progressive Party, and with a compromise with the Conservatives about reducing the tariff and conserving natural resources, Taft had ensured his fate in the next presidential election. 2 As for foreign policy, both Roosevelt and Taft saw a need to involve the United States with the rest of the world. However, they both had different reasons and ways of doing so. Roosevelt created the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which said that America would intervene in any country in the western hemisphere that was guilty of “brutal wrongdoing.” Whereas Taft was more interested in foreign trade and investments. Taft drafted a free‐trade agreement in 1911, which would have significantly lowered tariffs, but it was rejected by the Canadian government. Roosevelt showed the power of the United States military support the revolution of Panama from Columbia. Taft showed the power of America’s military through protect business in the United States, especially in South America. When Honduras and Nicaragua threatened a revolution, Taft sent the military in order to protect America citizens and property, where Roosevelt would have tried to become involved to end the conflict. Roosevelt also intervened to peacefully settle a dispute between Japan and Russia; Taft would have not become involved. Both of these presidents saw a need for American presence in the world, but they had different reasons. Roosevelt wanted to become involved and show America’s strength, where Taft wanted to promote trade and investment. Overall, in domestic affairs, Taft attempted to closely follow the strong policies left behind by Roosevelt, but with his strict interpretation of presidential powers, he was unable to sustain support and quickly lost popularity. In foreign policies, both Taft and Roosevelt believed in incorporating the United States into the world, but for different reasons. Roosevelt wanted to show military strength and gain respect, but Taft wanted to build a strong world trade and make the United States a strong world competitor. 3