Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byBarnaby Moody Modified over 9 years ago
1
Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal
2
A Rough-Riding President Theodore Roosevelt was never intended to be president, because he was wild and uncontrollable. In 1900, he was nominated for vice president for McKinley, with the intention of “kicking him upstairs”, where he could do no harm. That plan died, when McKinley was assassinated six months into his second term. Theodore Roosevelt, who was called “that damned cowboy”, was now the most powerful person in government. Theodore Roosevelt was never intended to be president, because he was wild and uncontrollable. In 1900, he was nominated for vice president for McKinley, with the intention of “kicking him upstairs”, where he could do no harm. That plan died, when McKinley was assassinated six months into his second term. Theodore Roosevelt, who was called “that damned cowboy”, was now the most powerful person in government. He became the youngest president to hold office at 42 years. He became the youngest president to hold office at 42 years. He used his dynamic personality to advance programs He used his dynamic personality to advance programs
3
Roosevelt’s Rise Roosevelt suffered from asthma, and was extremely frail. Despite this, he challenged himself with demanding physical feats. Roosevelt suffered from asthma, and was extremely frail. Despite this, he challenged himself with demanding physical feats. He served 3 terms in the New York State Assembly, and then became NYC’s police commissioner and then assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy. He served 3 terms in the New York State Assembly, and then became NYC’s police commissioner and then assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy. When Roosevelt went to war in Spain in 1898, he came back as a war hero with his cavalry, The Rough Riders. When Roosevelt went to war in Spain in 1898, he came back as a war hero with his cavalry, The Rough Riders. As an aspiring war hero, he easily won election to Governorship of New York, and then Vice-Presidency. As an aspiring war hero, he easily won election to Governorship of New York, and then Vice-Presidency.
4
1902 Coal Strike 140,000 coal miners went on strike, demanding a 20% raise, and 9-hour workdays. Mine operators, however, refused to meet or bargain with them. 140,000 coal miners went on strike, demanding a 20% raise, and 9-hour workdays. Mine operators, however, refused to meet or bargain with them. Instead of calling in troops, Roosevelt had both sides talk it out. He threatened to take control of the mines himself, so the opposing sides finally found compromise. Instead of calling in troops, Roosevelt had both sides talk it out. He threatened to take control of the mines himself, so the opposing sides finally found compromise. The minors won a 10% raise and a 9 hour workday, and they gave up their right to strike for 3 years. The minors won a 10% raise and a 9 hour workday, and they gave up their right to strike for 3 years.
5
The Trustbuster A trust is “a combination of firms or corporations for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or an industry” – answers.com Many trusts lowered their prices to drive competitors out of the market, and then jacked the prices to whatever they wanted. The Sherman Antitrust Act was meant to get this under control, but because of the laws vague language, it was hard to enforce. Roosevelt believed in “good trusts” and “bad trusts”. The trusts that hurt public interest were bad, but he also said that big business would ensure national greatness. The Roosevelt administration had filed 44 antitrust suits. He’d won the nickname, “The Trustbuster”.
6
He was a tree hugger Roosevelt promoted laws that protected citizen’s health and the environment. Roosevelt promoted laws that protected citizen’s health and the environment. 1906, he pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act, which dictated that meat had to be clean. 1906, he pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act, which dictated that meat had to be clean. The Pure Food and Drug Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines, and called for truth in labeling. The Pure Food and Drug Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines, and called for truth in labeling. Before Roosevelt, the government paid little attention to natural resources. Roosevelt set aside 1.5 million acres of water-power sites and another 80 million acres of land that would be explored for water and mineral resources. He established more than 50 wildlife sanctuaries and several national parks. Before Roosevelt, the government paid little attention to natural resources. Roosevelt set aside 1.5 million acres of water-power sites and another 80 million acres of land that would be explored for water and mineral resources. He established more than 50 wildlife sanctuaries and several national parks.
7
Roosevelt and Civil Rights Roosevelt did not support civil rights for African Americans, even though there were a few individual African Americans that he did support. Roosevelt did not support civil rights for African Americans, even though there were a few individual African Americans that he did support. He appointed an African American as head of the Charleston, South Carolina, custom house. He appointed an African American as head of the Charleston, South Carolina, custom house.
8
Progressivism Under Taft
9
Mr. President Taft Roosevelt was so popular, that he could pick a successor. He chose his secretary of war, William Howard Taft. Because he was chosen by Roosevelt, victory in the election was easy. Roosevelt was so popular, that he could pick a successor. He chose his secretary of war, William Howard Taft. Because he was chosen by Roosevelt, victory in the election was easy. Taft was a more cautious president, more clumsy and had a tendency to irritate people. Taft was a more cautious president, more clumsy and had a tendency to irritate people. Though he was for lowering tariffs, the Payne bill, which was suppose lower rates on manufactured goods, had most cuts eliminated by conservative Republicans in the Senate. Though he was for lowering tariffs, the Payne bill, which was suppose lower rates on manufactured goods, had most cuts eliminated by conservative Republicans in the Senate.
10
Disputing Land Taft appointed Richard A. Ballinger as his Secretary of the Interior, which angered conversationalists. Taft appointed Richard A. Ballinger as his Secretary of the Interior, which angered conversationalists. Ballinger removed one million acres of forest and mining lands from the reserved list and sold them to Seattle businesses. Ballinger removed one million acres of forest and mining lands from the reserved list and sold them to Seattle businesses.
11
The Republican Party Splits Taft’s timid nature made it impossible to hold together the two sides of the Republican Party: The Progressives and the Conservatives. Taft’s timid nature made it impossible to hold together the two sides of the Republican Party: The Progressives and the Conservatives. The party split as Taft gave support to Joseph Cannon, who was your every day, poker-playing, rough-talking and tobacco chewing, “Uncle Joe”. The party split as Taft gave support to Joseph Cannon, who was your every day, poker-playing, rough-talking and tobacco chewing, “Uncle Joe”. He was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He anointed himself head of the Committee on Rules, which decided the bills that Congress would consider. Under his virtual dictatorship, progressive bills were often ignored, or weakened. He anointed himself head of the Committee on Rules, which decided the bills that Congress would consider. Under his virtual dictatorship, progressive bills were often ignored, or weakened. They progressive Republicans wanted him out, and finally got it after George W. Norris debated a resolution that called for the entire House to elect the Committee on Rules. They progressive Republicans wanted him out, and finally got it after George W. Norris debated a resolution that called for the entire House to elect the Committee on Rules. The Committee was run by Democrats after that. The Committee was run by Democrats after that.
12
The Bull Moose Party During this time, Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Africa. In 1910, he had a hero’s welcome, people were very happy to see him. During this time, Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Africa. In 1910, he had a hero’s welcome, people were very happy to see him. He became a leader of the Progressive Republican Party. He became a leader of the Progressive Republican Party. They named themselves the “Bull Moose Party”, because Roosevelt boasted that he was “as strong as a bull moose.” They named themselves the “Bull Moose Party”, because Roosevelt boasted that he was “as strong as a bull moose.” Because the Republican Party was at such a war, the Democrats finally had a window of opportunity at the White House since 1892. Because the Republican Party was at such a war, the Democrats finally had a window of opportunity at the White House since 1892. Their reformer candidate, and the Governor of New Jersey, Woodrow Wilson. Their reformer candidate, and the Governor of New Jersey, Woodrow Wilson.
13
The Election of 1912 Wilson’s views were progressive, but demanded stronger antitrust legislation, banking reform and reduced tariffs. Wilson’s views were progressive, but demanded stronger antitrust legislation, banking reform and reduced tariffs. Roosevelt and Taft were caught up in their own war within the Republican Party. Taft labeled Roosevelt as a “dangerous egotist”, while Roosevelt labeled Taft as a “fathead” with the brain of a “guinea pig”. Wilson stayed by the sidelines and watched, quietly gloating, “don’t interfere when your enemy is destroying himself.” Roosevelt and Taft were caught up in their own war within the Republican Party. Taft labeled Roosevelt as a “dangerous egotist”, while Roosevelt labeled Taft as a “fathead” with the brain of a “guinea pig”. Wilson stayed by the sidelines and watched, quietly gloating, “don’t interfere when your enemy is destroying himself.” Roosevelt and Wilson both believed in a strong government role, they just had differing strategies. Roosevelt and Wilson both believed in a strong government role, they just had differing strategies. Roosevelt believed in the government babysitting big companies, making sure that monopolies didn’t get out of hand. Wilson believed in eliminating them all together. Roosevelt believed in the government babysitting big companies, making sure that monopolies didn’t get out of hand. Wilson believed in eliminating them all together.
14
The Election of 1912 Cont. There was one more presidential runner, who was Eugene V. Debs, who called for an end to capitalism all together, and believed that wealth should be distributed more equally among the people. There was one more presidential runner, who was Eugene V. Debs, who called for an end to capitalism all together, and believed that wealth should be distributed more equally among the people. In the end, it was Wilson who won the presidential election in 1912 In the end, it was Wilson who won the presidential election in 1912
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.