Final answer:
Theodore Roosevelt's New Nationalism and Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom both sought active federal government roles in the Progressive Era, with Roosevelt focusing on regulation and Wilson on dismantling trusts and prioritizing small businesses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson both agreed that the federal government needed to play an active role during the Progressive Era, but they had different visions of how to achieve reform. Roosevelt's New Nationalism called for a strong federal government to regulate the economy, protect the public interest, and maintain social justice. In contrast, Wilson's New Freedom aimed for a smaller federal government that would eliminate monopolies rather than regulate them and instead focus on creating opportunities for small businesses.
The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 is an example of federal intervention during this era. While both Roosevelt and Wilson shared a concern for protecting consumer interests and preventing monopolies, Wilson placed more emphasis on dismantling trusts entirely and reducing the size of big businesses. Roosevelt, however, believed in the regulation of big business through federal oversight.
Ultimately, both presidents contributed to the expansion of federal powers in different capacities: Roosevelt's stewardship concept and Wilson's focus on small enterprises and antitrust legislation laid the groundwork for modern regulatory policies and frameworks in the United States.