Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt  Governor of New York  Hero of the Spanish-American War  Chosen as William McKinley’s Vice-Presidential nominee  The GOP found him hard to control  Thought they could “hide” him  Becomes president when McKinley is assassinated  1901  Governor of New York  Hero of the Spanish-American War  Chosen as William McKinley’s Vice-Presidential nominee  The GOP found him hard to control  Thought they could “hide” him  Becomes president when McKinley is assassinated  1901

“TR”  Becomes president at 42 years old  Youngest president in history  Bold and adventurous man  Boxing, horseback riding, hunting  Used his personality and popularity  Publicly campaigned for causes  Dominated the news  Becomes president at 42 years old  Youngest president in history  Bold and adventurous man  Boxing, horseback riding, hunting  Used his personality and popularity  Publicly campaigned for causes  Dominated the news

Roosevelt in Cuba

Roosevelt in Africa

“Bully Pulpit” and federal power  TR saw the presidency as a bully pulpit  Bully Pulpit: Place to push for ideas  Believed regular people needed a fair chance to succeed  A “Square Deal”  Used federal power to push reform  TR saw the presidency as a bully pulpit  Bully Pulpit: Place to push for ideas  Believed regular people needed a fair chance to succeed  A “Square Deal”  Used federal power to push reform

Trustbusting  1900: Trusts control 80% of all industry  Priced competitors out of the market  Then boosted prices  Sherman Antitrust Act was ineffective  TR orders Justice Dept. to sue Northern Securities (railroad company)  Supreme Court dissolves the company  1900: Trusts control 80% of all industry  Priced competitors out of the market  Then boosted prices  Sherman Antitrust Act was ineffective  TR orders Justice Dept. to sue Northern Securities (railroad company)  Supreme Court dissolves the company

Teddy the Trustbuster

Federal Power  1902 Coal Strike:  Coal shortage threatens country  TR brings both sides to White House  Hammers out deal by threatening to take mines  Railroads  Hepburn Act (1906)  Limits free railroad passes  1902 Coal Strike:  Coal shortage threatens country  TR brings both sides to White House  Hammers out deal by threatening to take mines  Railroads  Hepburn Act (1906)  Limits free railroad passes

Health and Food  Meat Inspection Act (1906)  Cleanliness requirements for meatpackers  Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)  Medicines often have harmful ingredients  Law halts sale of bad food/medicine  Truth in labeling  Meat Inspection Act (1906)  Cleanliness requirements for meatpackers  Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)  Medicines often have harmful ingredients  Law halts sale of bad food/medicine  Truth in labeling

Conservation  Roosevelt sets aside land  1.5 million acres for water-power sites  80 million acres for mineral/water resources  Creates 50 wildlife sanctuaries  Conservation:  Preservation of the wilderness  Roosevelt sets aside land  1.5 million acres for water-power sites  80 million acres for mineral/water resources  Creates 50 wildlife sanctuaries  Conservation:  Preservation of the wilderness