Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

Chapter 9, Section 3

“In life, as in a football game, the principle…is: Hit the line hard.” –Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt

Became President when McKinley assassinated

Helped create the modern presidency with his bold and aggressive programs.

Square DealSquare Deal – progressive reforms sponsored by Roosevelt

Trust Busting

4/5 of Industry were controlled by trusts in 1900.

Ordered the Justice Department to file 44 anti-trust suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Was successful in breaking up some trusts.

Pg 319

Coal Strike of 1902

140,000 coal miners in PN went on strike, demanding 20% raise and 9 hour workday.

Roosevelt threatened to take over the mines when coal reserves ran low.

A compromise was reached. PrecedentPrecedent: government was expected to

intervene when a strike threatened public welfare.

Railroad Regulation

Roosevelt wanted federal regulation. Elkins Act, 1903Elkins Act, 1903

Made it illegal for railroads to give rebates for using particular railroads.

Illegal to change set rates without notifying public.

Hepburn Act, 1906Hepburn Act, 1906 Limited the distribution of free railroad passes ICC could set max. railroad rates.

Regulating Foods and Drugs

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Exposed the horrors of the meatpacking

industry. Roosevelt appointed a commission that

echoed Sinclair’s claims. Meat Inspection Act, 1906Meat Inspection Act, 1906

Dictated cleanliness requirements for meatpackers

Program for federal meat inspecting

Regulating Foods and Drugs

Manufacturers claimed products were miracle cures.

Pure Food and Drug Act, Pure Food and Drug Act, 19061906 Halted sale of

contaminated foods and medicines

Truth in labeling policy

Conservation and Natural Resources

Natural Resources were being used irresponsibly and pollution was rampant. Set aside areas for government study 50 wildlife sanctuaries 7 national parks

National Reclamation Act, 1902National Reclamation Act, 1902 Money from selling public land funded

irrigation projects.

Civil Rights

Roosevelt did very little to support civil rights for African Americans.

Progressivism Under Taft

Chapter 9, Section 4

William Taft

Taft becomes President

Taft and the Republicans easily win in 1908.

Taft does not use presidency as “bully pulpit” like Roosevelt.

Taft Stumbles Tariffs and Conservation

The Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Taft campaigned to lower tariffs House – Payne Bill – lowering tariffs Senate – Aldrich Bill – increased tariffs Taft signed Payne-Aldrich TariffPayne-Aldrich Tariff

Compromise moderated high rates. Progressives in the party felt betrayed.

Disputing Public Lands

Richard Ballinger, Secretary of the Interior Removed 1 million acres of land from the

reserve list. Taft fires Gifford Pinochet

(Head of US Forest Service) for speaking out against Ballinger.

Republican Party Splits

Progressives did not trust Taft. Blamed cost-of-living on the Payne-Aldrich Bill Didn’t believe Taft would support conservation

Conservatives stuck with Taft Saw him as a moderate who would not make

too many drastic changes.

Bull Moose Party

Roosevelt entered Presidential race under a Progressive Third Party called “Bull Moose Party”“Bull Moose Party” Direct election of senators Women’s Suffrage Workmen’s compensation Eight-hour workday Minimum wage for women Outlawing child labor Federal regulation of business

Election of 1912

Woodrow Wilson (D) – “New Freedom” William Taft (R) – “Conservatism” Theodore Roosevelt (P) – “Progressivism” Eugene Debs (S) – “Socialism”

Fighting in the Republican Party

Taft – “Roosevelt dangerous egotist”

Roosevelt – “Taft fathead with brain of a guinea pig.”

Wilson’s New Freedom

Chapter 9, Section 5

Woodrow Wilson

Clayton Antitrust Act, 1914

Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act, 1890

Prohibited corporations from acquiring stock of another if it created a monopoly MonopolyMonopoly – when there is only one business

that offers a service (no competition) Labor Unions had the right to exist

Strikes, picketing, boycotts became legal

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Federal Trade Commission Act, 1914 Set up the FTC Watchdog agency

Power to investigate violations Required reports from corporations

New Tax System

Underwood Tariff, 1913 Reduced tariff rates

16th Amendment Federal Income Tax to replace income from

reduced tariffs Federal Reserve Act, 1913

Set up Federal Reserve System Regional central banks in 12 districts of the

country.

Pg 334

Women’s Suffrage

Women win the right to vote after years of campaigning across the country.

19th Amendment Nationalizes Women’s right to vote.

Wilson on Civil Rights

Retreats from Civil Rights Puts White Southerners in his cabinet Re-segregates federal buildings in

Washington, DC

Pg 336