“Teddy Roosevelt’s
Square Deal”
Notes: Chapter 9 Section 3
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I.) A Rough-Riding President
A.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
1. born 1858 in New York City & is sickly & asthmatic as child
2. Life:
graduates from Harvard (1880)
elected New York Assembly (1881-1884)
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retires to ranch in Badlands (1884-1887)
Civil Service Commission (1888-1895)
New York City Police Commissioner (1895-1897)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1897-1898)
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forms & joins “First U.S. Volunteer Calvary Regiment” (Rough Riders)
during the Spanish-American War (1898)
elected governor of New York (1898-1900)
becomes Vice President under William McKinley (1900-1901)
becomes President after assassination of McKinley (1901-1909)
(youngest president at age 42)
B. creates the “Modern Presidency”
1. cites federal responsibility for the national welfare
2. Square Deal: Roosevelt’s Progressive reforms to protect the common
person against big business
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II.) Using Federal Power
A. Trustbusting
1. Problem: In 1900’s, trusts control about 4/5 of U.S. industries
2. Goal: Roosevelt wants to curb trusts that hurt public interest
3. “Trustbuster”: in 1902 orders Justice Dept. to sue Northern
Securities Company (railroad monopoly) under the
Sherman Antitrust Act
Outcome: 1904 Supreme Court
dissolves the company
B. 1902 Coal Strike
1. Issue: coal miners in Pennsylvania go on strike
2. Problem: 5 months in coal reserves run low
3. Outcome: operators to accept arbitration after threat
of take over
4. Importance: Sets principle of federal intervention when
strike threatens public
Continued . . .
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C. Railroad Regulation
1. Goal: federal regulation of the railroads
2. Problem: Interstate Commerce Commission has little power to
enforce regulations
3. Outcome: Elkins Act (1903): stops rebates, sudden rate changes
Hepburn Act (1906): limits passes, set maximum rates
4. Importance: government has more power to regulate railroads
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III.) Health and the Environment
A. Regulating Foods and Drugs
1. Problem: Upton Sinclair writes “The Jungle”: reveals
unsanitary conditions in meatpacking industry
2. Issue: Roosevelt’s creates commission that investigates and
backs up Sinclair’s account
3. Outcome: Meat Inspection Act (1906) passed by congress
- dictates sanitary requirements
- creates federal meat inspection program
B. Pure Food and Drug Act
1. Problem: Food, drug advertisements make false
claims; medicines often unsafe
2. Outcome: Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) passed by congress
- halts sale of contaminated food, medicine
- requires truth in labeling
Continued . . .
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C. Conservation and Natural Resources
1. Problem: U.S. Forest Bureau established in 1887
but stands by as private interests exploit
natural environment
2. Outcome: Roosevelt sets aside more than 148
million acres for forest reserves,
sanctuaries, national parks
3. Importance: U.S. belief is conservation part
saved for preservation and part
saved for development for public
Map
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IV.) Roosevelt and Civil Rights
A. Civil Rights at the Turn of the 20th Century
1. Roosevelt’s terms as president make no civil rights reforms
2. Appoints a few individual African Americans to civil service jobs
- invites Booker T. Washington to White House
B. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) founded 1909 by W. E. B. Du Bois & black/white reformers
Goal : full equality among races
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