What Is the Progressive Party?

The Progressive party is best known for its role in presidential races.

The U.S. Progressive Party has emerged at several points in U.S. history, and is best known for its role in the presidential races of Theodore Roosevelt, Robert La Follette and Henry Wallace.

History

The Progressive Party was formed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, although he lost the presidential race to Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt's party stood for tariff reform, women's suffrage, the prohibition of child labor and other reforms.

Types

The name "Progressive Party" has been used to define three distinct political parties throughout U.S. history: Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party of 1912 to 1917, the 1924 League for Progressive Political Action and the Progressive Party of 1948.

Significance

Roosevelt's Progressive Party was revolutionary because it was the first to suggest America create a program of social insurance. According to Social Security Online, Roosevelt's Progressive Party platform was the precursor to his cousin Franklin Roosevelt's 1935 social security program.

Features

Components of Roosevelt's Progressive Party platform include: the rule of the people, minimum wage standards for working women, the protection of home life against illness and old age, the strong national regulation of interstate corporations and the implementation of a protective tariff.

Considerations

The Progressive Party has not re-emerged as a serious political party since 1952.

References

• Progressive Party
• Progressive Party
• Social Security Online

Resources

• Platform of the Progressive Party