Final answer:
In the 1912 election, Roosevelt's platform of New Nationalism and Wilson's New Freedom offered voters contrasting approaches to Progressivism and government's role in regulating business. Roosevelt aimed for a strong federal presence, while Wilson advocated for limited government intervention. Wilson won amidst the divided Republican Party, but both candidates' progressive ideas left a lasting impact on American policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1912 election, voters were presented with distinct choices between former President Theodore Roosevelt running for the Progressive Party, incumbent William Howard Taft, and the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson. Supporters of Roosevelt might have been swayed by his New Nationalism platform which called for a strong federal government to regulate business and work towards direct democracy, representing a continuation of his previous reformist policies as president. In contrast, voters who chose Wilson likely favored his New Freedom agenda, promoting a more moderate approach with a smaller federal government to protect the public from big business and banks.
It's notable that Wilson's victory was primarily due to the split in the Republican vote between Taft and Roosevelt, as he won with just 42% of the popular vote. Post-election, many of Roosevelt's supporters returned to the Republican fold, but his and the Progressive Party's influence on American politics persisted, as evidenced by the shift in Wilson's policies towards more progressive measures once in office. Meanwhile, Taft found a more congenial role as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, after showing little passion for campaign politics.