Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

Early Life Wealthy family Excellent marksman and horseman › Harvard Boxing and wrestling

William McKinley Passed the Dingley Tariff › Highest protective tariff in American History Led our country through the Spanish-American War and foreign conflicts with China › Showed the opportunities possible with imperialism Assassinated › Shot by an anarchist who was currently unemployed Leon Czolgosz

Roosevelt was picked to run as V.P. With McKinley › NY state leaders found him “impossible” to control TR took over in 1901 - 1909 › the youngest president at age 42. Political experience -served in the NY State Assembly -NY police commissioner -NY Governor -assistant secretary of U.S. Navy.

The Rough Riders Volunteer cavalry brigade Used in the Spanish-American War at the battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba. › Roosevelt returned a hero after the defeat

Modern Presidency Government should assume control when states proved they couldn’t deal with problems. “bully pulpit” – used to influence media and shape legislation

Square Deal – The 3 C’s Roosevelt’s plan to sponsor various progressive reforms › Conservation of natural resources › Control of corporations › Consumer protection.

Using Federal Power Square Deal- reform programs sponsored by the Roosevelt administration Trust busting trusts hold stock control how a business is run Sherman Antitrust Act stop monopolies and unfair business practices.

Coal Strike (1902) › demands by workers caused a strike 140,000 workers went on strike › Demanded a 20% raise and a 9 hour work day Roosevelt intervened on behalf of the interests and safety of the public

Election of 1904 Republican – Theodore Roosevelt Democrat – Alton Parker

“Big Stick Diplomacy” December 1904 › Roosevelt Corollary Nations with debts to U.S. were expected to fulfill them without argument The United States would intervene as a last result to ensure it Did not want to invite “foreign aggression to the detriment of the entire body of American nations.” › Don’t mess with the U.S. or anyone we have interest with

Russo-Japanese War Dispute over who controlled Manchuria › Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) Negotiations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire Led by Teddy Roosevelt Affirmed Japanese presence in southern Manchuria Kept the countries out of a war Roosevelt won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize

Railroad Regulation › Interstate Commerce Act › Interstate Commerce Commission › Enforce the act Elkins Act › Couldn’t give or receive rebates for use Hepburn Act Railroad couldn’t set high prices Limited free railroad passes Provided consistency within the RR system.

Health Regulating Food and Drugs › after reading Upton Sinclair’s, The Jungle, a commission investigated the meatpacking industry.

1906, Pure Food and Drug Act › Stopped the sale of contaminated foods and medicines › Called for truth in labeling

1906, Meat Inspection Act was passed › Strict cleanliness requirements for meatpackers › Created the federal meat inspection program

Environment Conservation measures – Yosemite National Park established – 1.5 million acres of water power sites – U.S. Geological Survey for mineral and water resources set aside land – 50 wildlife sanctuaries – National parks

National Reclamation Act (Newlands Act) -money from the sale of public land funded irrigation projects -established the federal government would manage water resources

Civil Rights Roosevelt failed to support civil rights for African Americans on a large scale. Advocates for equality joined together to form the NAACP- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909.