Government by Committee: President's Changing Leadership Responsibilities
Throughout most of the 18th and 19th centuries Congress jealously guarded its legislative powers. But as the nation moved from an agrarian to an industrial society, stronger presidential leadership became necessary. Woodrow Wilson viewed the preside...
Question of Sovereignty, A: Federalism: Shifting Winds
Federalism is not a fixed principle. It changes as the country's political needs change. During times of national crisis the balance of power tends to shift toward the nation's capital as we saw in the aftermath of 9/11. But it didn't take long for ...
Living Constitution, The: Dividing Sovereign Powers Between State and Federal Governments
Power was divided not only among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, but between federal and state governments. Federalism is a kind of political competition where the national government and the states vie to attract th...
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Woodrow Wilson-Retreat and Advance
Despite the Democrats mid-term election losses in the House of Representatives in 1914, Woodrow Wilson initiates another round of reforms in 1915 and 1916 and appoints Louis Brandeis to Supreme Court. It becomes evident that there is a mismatch betw...
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Woodrow Wilson and The New Freedom
Woodrow Wilson is a bold and forceful leader clearly in charge of the Executive branch. In legislative matters, he skillfully uses his position as party leader to solidify support for his program in Congress. Wilson sees a strong link between popula...
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Wilson's Attempts to Blend Diplomacy with Morality
Woodrow Wilson's view of America's role in the Western Hemisphere differs somewhat from both Roosevelt and Taft. Although the U.S. does become involved in some skirmishes in Mexico, Wilson also tries to initiate talks among nations about major issue...
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: The Presidential Election of 1912
In the presidential election of 1912 Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive), Woodrow Wilson (Democrat), and Eugene Debs (Socialist) compete for the same constituencies: farmers, laborers, and immigrants. Roosevelt endorses minimum-wage legislation and cor...
Woodrow Wilson, Immigration and Minorities
Professor of history Gary Gerstle explains that Woodrow Wilson's views on immigrants and assimilation were very similar to those of Theodore Roosevelt. But while Roosevelt was very conflicted about minority rights, Wilson was much more set in his ra...
Woodrow Wilson and Women's Suffrage
Professor of history Gary Gerstle talks about Woodrow Wilson's reluctant initial support for women's suffrage. Professor Gerstle explains that it was only when Wilson realized he needed the backing of women during World War I that he, "...really put...