Late 19th Century And Early 20th Century Conflicts In Today's American Identity

Throughout the years at the turn of the century, numerous changes occurred in the United States, both positive and negative. These conflicts formed the modern America, and were crucial to the advancement of the nation. Without the events that took place in this time period, the country would not have advanced so greatly. They essentially shaped the nation into what it is today. With all of these major changes that happened many years ago, historians wonder; how did late 19th century and early 20th century conflicts shape today’s American identity? In this time period, three primary individuals explain how the “American identity” was created. Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and William Taft each contributed to these advancements in the United
In his first annual presidential message, Taft addressed how much the government should involve itself with large American corporations. He said, “Today, more than ever before, American capital is seeking investment in foreign countries, and American products are more and more seeking foreign markets. As a consequence, there are American citizens and American interests to be protected, on occasion, by their Government… The resultant situation inevitably imposes upon this Government vastly increased responsibilities. This Administration is lending all proper support to legitimate and beneficial American enterprises in foreign countries, the degree of such support being measured by the national advantages to be expected. To avoid ceaseless vexations it is proper that in considering whether American enterprise should be encouraged or supported in a particular country, the Government should give full weight not only to the national, as opposed to the individual benefits to accrue, but also to the fact whether or not the Government of the country in question is in its administration and in its diplomacy faithful to the principles of moderation, equity and justice upon which alone depend international credit, in diplomacy as well as in finance.” Evidently, Taft was trying to establish a line that determined how much the government could control. Even today, many debate about what the true role of the government should be, and how much it should have control over. The point is, Taft tried to establish a fair system in which the government helped businesses, but also limited them enough to prevent them from becoming too powerful. By doing this, Taft pleased Americans with his sense of certainty and confidence. So, he clearly had a large responsibility when helping to form the American