1. Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal
Theodore Roosevelt
Square Deal
Upton Sinclair
The Jungle
Meat Inspection Act
Pure Food and Drug Act
Conservation

2. Theodore Roosevelt
Pres. William McKinley added TR to the ticket in 1900
TR was the gov. of NY
McKinley won and TR was the new VP
McKinley was assassinated in 1901
TR became the youngest president
42 years old
Brought new vitality to the office

3. Square Deal Wanted to make sure that Americans were not being abused
Sponsored many progressive reforms during his time in office

4. Trust-busting
Trusts: legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies
Controlled 4/5 of the industries in the U.S.
Standard Oil was a trust
Used unfair business practices
Lowered prices in order to drive out competition and then jacked prices up higher than before
TR ordered the Justice Dept. to break up monopolies like RR companies

5. Meat Inspection Act
After reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Americans were calling for reforms
TR asked for an investigation of the meat packing industry
Report backed up Sinclair’s account
TR pushed for the Meat Inspection Act in 1906
Required strict cleanliness and federal inspectors

6. Pure Food and Drug Act
Halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines
Also called for truth in advertising
Some products claimed to cure cancer or grow hair
Some children’s medications contained opiates, cocaine, or alcohol
Believed that if people were given accurate information, they would act wisely

7. Conservation TR saw that American resources were being sold or used up
TR began to set aside land as national parks to preserve resources
Created Yosemite National Park
Some areas would be preserved, while other lands would be developed for the common good