Bernard Baruch and his WIB systematically helped increase national industrial production levels more than 20% as well as appling many price controls at the wholesale level. Unfortunately, these controls were key in raising prices and around 1918 nearly double prior to WWI.
One of the reasons our nation was such a force in the early industrial age was because of the appointment of Baruch as the leader of the War Industries Board. The lasting effect of the changes and methodolgies implemented affect us to this day. Therefore, this single appointment may be one of the more influential ties to why hisstorians are smitten with Roosevelt.
The National Origins Act
Chinese immigration was a major factor in the late 1800's and the difference in culture and life philosophies changed many immigration treaties that gave Chinese more privileged travel and residence status in the United States but did not legally permit them to naturalize as citizens. Actually, the favored nation status did not stop the government from creating the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which was aimed at barring any large immigration movements by Chinese. "The Act barred the further entry of Chinese male laborers (and subsequently their wives) and prevented the Chinese from becoming naturalized citizens. The combined effect of these two aspects of Exclusion along with the enforcement of anti-miscegenation laws in many Western U.S. states severely restricted family formation and the emergence of a second generation." (Chew and Liu) This was the mentality of the nation during the turn of the century.
Ellis Island)
Bringing us into the twentieth century, immigration should bring to mind a vision of historic Ellis Island and happy pre and post World War mass indoctrinations of new Americans. However, the truth of the time is far from that sedate. Our nation's immigration policies were fueled by fears and racism. For example, many immigration and naturalization policies in the early 1900's were obvious attempts to restrict the civil rights of new immigrants and certain social or ethnic groups - Germans, for instance, had obvious difficulties immediately during and after World War I with restrictive laws such as the 1917 espionage Act, the 1918 Sedition Act, and a draft of the Civil Service Act.
The concept or philosophy of nativism throughout the 1920's also led to the enactment...
This act imposed strict against people from various European areas specifically Southern and Eastern Europe. But the racist like act also entailed that immigration from the likes of Asia and Africa was also to be limited. The act can be considered as being racist because of the favoring of
emigration from other areas such as England and other northern European nations.
The overall racist philosophies against Chinese, African and eastern block Europeans has only improved slightly and may still represent the overall beliefs of modern day citizens. Consider how immigration, work and student visa polices recently changed after 9/11. This trend was similar to our immigration policies after WWII. The only difference between Roosevelt's time and then was the ostracized group -- Japanese, Italian and German citizens. So in this case, policies and inherent beliefs that are similar to those of early 1900's tie Roosevelt and the historical factions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay aimed to present concise, historically accurate and factually specific responses to why historians are fascinated by the presidency of
Theodore Roosevelt. The underlying objective was to present insights into how the President was able to use his clear philosophical goals to reshape an entire era of
American history. Through a presentation of some of his many
achievements, both foreign and domestic, this report provided insights into what may have been the cause of his staying
power.
References
Chew, Kenneth SY, and John M. Liu. (2004). "Hidden in Plain Sight: Global Labor Force Exchange in the Chinese-American Population, 1880-1940." Population and Development Review Vol. 30
Ellis Island. (2005.) Migration. Retrieved on May 17, 2005, from EdMonroe K12 at http://www.monroe.k12.fl.us/kls/Immigration/EllisIsland/Ellisisland.htm.
Meyer, Ronald Bruce. (n.d.). Clarence Darrow (1857). Retrieved on May 17, 2005, at http://ronaldbrucemeyer.com/rants/0418almanac.htm
Smitha, Frank E. (1998). World War in 1915: The United States and War at Sea. Retrieved on May 16, 2005, at http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch05b.htm
UNC. (n.d.). Antecedents of Nativism: the
1920S and the 1980s. Retrieved on May 17, 2005, at http://www.unc.edu/~rdgreenb/native
White House. (n.d.). Theodore Roosevelt. Retrieved on May 16, 2005, at http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html
American History
