Progressive Party (United States) (Progressive Success)

The Progressive Party, also commonly called the Bull Moose Party, is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, the other being the Democratic Party. Founded in 1912 by a split in the Republican Party, it dominated politics nationally from 1932 to 1968 and the conservative realignment.

The party's platform is generally based upon American progressivism and social liberalism, in contrast to the Democratic Party whose members endorse more conservative policies.

As of the 113th Congress, following the 2012 elections, the Progressive Party holds a minority of seats in the House of Representatives, a majority of seats in the United States Senate as well as control of a minority of state governorships.

Founding
The Progressive Party was founded in 1912 by progressive Republicans angry that their leader, Former President Theodore Roosevelt, had been denied the Republican nomination. Roosevelt had fallen out with his successor as President, William Howard Taft, particularly when he broke up U.S. Steel using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, a Trust Roosevelt had previously described as a "Good Trust". As such he had challenged him for the nomination. Despite winning all but two of the primaries, Roosevelt was denied the nomination by the party leaders and political bosses. The next day Roosevelt and his delegates left the convention, and two months later the Progressive party was formed.

Roosevelt won the November election by the narrowest or margins by carrying his home state of New York by only a few thousand votes, and became the first President from niether the Republican or Democratic party since Millard Millmore in 1853.

Progressive Domination 1913 - 1925
In office Roosevelt proved successful and getting most of the progressive agenda through congress. After the 1914 midterm elections saw 79 Progressive Congressmen and 11 Senators Roosevelt was able to get even more Progressive legislation passed, including the Direct Election of Senators, Votes for Women, a Federal Inheritance Tax and a Minimum wage for Women.

Roosevelt was reelected in 1916 with 54% of the vote and 428 electoral votes, the biggest electoral victory for the party until 1932. The 1916 election saw support for both the Democratic and Republican candidates dramatically reduce, with progressive Republicans defecting en masse to the Progressive Party as well as northern, progressive Democrats.

Name and Symbols
The name Progressive was chosen by Theodore Roosevelt upon the party's inception in 1912, as he wanted the party to embody the believe in social progress and to encapsulate the progressive values of the era.

The Progressive Party has also been known as the Bull Moose Party. Shortly after the party's inception in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt responded to rumours of poor health by retorting "I feel as dtrong as a Bull Moose". The Bull Moose has been the perty's logo and mascot ever since, and there have even been calls to change the party's name.

Ideology
The Progressive Party includes Progressives, Liberals, Moderates, Libertarians and Populists. Traditionally the Progressive Party has occupied the centre-left of the american political spectrum.

Historically the party has favoured western farmers, laborers, labor unions, ethnic minorities, the immigrant community and those living in urban areas. It has always been opposed instinctively to the interests of big business, but has been supportive of small business. It has favoured government regulation of big business and finance, and progressive taxation as part of its strong commitment to social justice.

The Progressive Party has traditionally favoured keynesian economic policies, an expansion of the american welfare state and a well regulated business and financial sector. In recent years

The Progressive Party was particularly strong alone the west coast, and the midwest. In recent decades the party's stronghold has shifted to the east coast, particularly New England. It has always had strongholds in the inner cities.