Why is Theodore Roosevelt considered Why is Theodore Roosevelt considered a a ProgressiveProgressive President? President?

Teddy RooseveltTeddy RooseveltEarly CareerEarly Career– Roosevelt was determined Roosevelt was determined

to end corruption and to end corruption and protect the public interest.protect the public interest.

– By 26, he was serving in By 26, he was serving in the NYS legislature.the NYS legislature.

– Served on the Civil Served on the Civil Service Commission.Service Commission.

– Head of the NYPD and Head of the NYPD and assistant secretary of the assistant secretary of the navy.navy.

– He was a war hero in the He was a war hero in the Spanish-American War.Spanish-American War.

Teddy RooseveltTeddy RooseveltProgressive GovernorProgressive Governor– Progressive governor of New Progressive governor of New

York.York.– Reformed New York Reformed New York

government and tried to end government and tried to end corruption.corruption.

– He was nominated to run as He was nominated to run as Vice President with William Vice President with William McKinley.McKinley.

– In September 1901, an In September 1901, an assassin shot President assassin shot President McKinley. At age 42 Roosevelt McKinley. At age 42 Roosevelt became the youngest became the youngest President.President.

Theodore Roosevelt & Big BusinessTheodore Roosevelt & Big BusinessTaking on the TrustsTaking on the Trusts– Roosevelt continued McKinleyRoosevelt continued McKinley’’s s

pro-business policies.pro-business policies.– Believed that there were good Believed that there were good

trusts and bad trusts.trusts and bad trusts.– Good trusts were efficient and Good trusts were efficient and

fair-- the government should fair-- the government should leave them alone.leave them alone.

– Bad trusts cheated workers and Bad trusts cheated workers and the public--they needed the public--they needed government regulation.government regulation.

– He broke up Standard Oil, He broke up Standard Oil, American Tobacco, among American Tobacco, among others.others.

– Roosevelt became known as Roosevelt became known as the the ““TrustbusterTrustbuster””

Theodore Roosevelt & Big BusinessTheodore Roosevelt & Big BusinessSupport for LaborSupport for Labor– TR forced an agreement between TR forced an agreement between

miners and mine owners in the miners and mine owners in the Pennsylvania coal strike.Pennsylvania coal strike.

– Prior presidents used the army to Prior presidents used the army to break strikes and support break strikes and support management.management.

– TR threatened to use troops to run TR threatened to use troops to run the mines which meant that workers the mines which meant that workers wouldnwouldn’’t get paid and owners t get paid and owners wouldnwouldn’’t make any money.t make any money.

– TRTR’’s actions resulted in an end to s actions resulted in an end to the strike & a fair deal for workers & the strike & a fair deal for workers & ownersowners

– He gained the support working men He gained the support working men and women.and women.

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt’’s Square Deals Square DealIn 1904, TR ran for In 1904, TR ran for president and promised a president and promised a Square Deal.Square Deal.The Square Deal offered The Square Deal offered equal opportunity to equal opportunity to farmers, consumers, farmers, consumers, workers and owners.workers and owners.Part of the Square Deal Part of the Square Deal was to limit the power of was to limit the power of railroads by setting railroads by setting railroad rates.railroad rates.The promise of a Square The promise of a Square Deal helped TR win in a Deal helped TR win in a landslide victory.landslide victory.

Protecting Consumers Protecting Consumers TR was shocked at Upton TR was shocked at Upton SinclairSinclair’’s s The Jungle.The Jungle.Worked with Congress to pass Worked with Congress to pass the Meat Inspection Act of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, which allowed the 1906, which allowed the inspection of meat packing inspection of meat packing plants.plants.When food and drug When food and drug companies sold dangerous companies sold dangerous products, TR passed the Pure products, TR passed the Pure Food and Drug Act.Food and Drug Act.RooseveltRoosevelt’’s actions made food s actions made food and medicines safer for public and medicines safer for public use.use.

Protecting Resources Protecting Resources TR was a big outdoorsman TR was a big outdoorsman and wanted to protect and wanted to protect AmericaAmerica’’s wilderness.s wilderness.

TR was the first TR was the first conservationistconservationist president. president.

He believed in the protection He believed in the protection of natural resources.of natural resources.

He allowed some forests He allowed some forests and mountain areas to be and mountain areas to be used for industry.used for industry.

He also set aside other He also set aside other areas as areas as national parksnational parks (170,000 acres).(170,000 acres).

ConclusionConclusion

Why is Theodore Roosevelt considered a Why is Theodore Roosevelt considered a ProgressiveProgressive President? President?– Square Deal provided equal opportunities for all Square Deal provided equal opportunities for all

citizens.citizens.– As a As a ““trustbustertrustbuster”” he broke up unfair trusts & he broke up unfair trusts &

monopolies.monopolies.– Helped workers gain fair contracts from owners.Helped workers gain fair contracts from owners.– TR made food and medicine safer for public use.TR made food and medicine safer for public use.– Protected AmericaProtected America’’s natural resources and s natural resources and

created the national park system for future created the national park system for future generations to enjoy.generations to enjoy.