Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

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