Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

1. Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal How does Theodore Roosevelt bring Progressivism to the White House?

2. Rough Rider • Republican Party convinces outspoken Gov Theodore Roosevelt to run as VP with McKinley • McKinley assassinated 6 mos into his second term, Roosevelt becomes president at age 42 • Begins the “Square Deal”, plan to protect the common man from big business

3. Square Deal: Trustbusting • Trusts created to hold numerous companies, allowing big business to have legal monopolies • Roosevelt files 44 law suits against companies w/ monopolies, Supreme Court rules trusts must be broken up (Trustbuster) Square Deal: Labor Reform ●Miners strike for fair pay, mine co’s refuse to budge. Roosevelt threatens govt takeover of mines if owners won’t give fair pay ● Railroad Reform: ICC had little power to enforce regulations on RR cos. Roosevelt gives ICC more power to regulate RRs

4. Square Deal: Health & Environmental Reform • Roosevelt pushes for the passage of the Meat Inspection Act, which dictates cleanliness standards & federal inspection • Roosevelt reads Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, whichexposes the sickening conditions in the Meat Packing Industry ● Roosevelt pushes for Pure Food & Drug Act, which stops sale of contaminated foods & medicines and requires truth in labeling ●Aftercamping with conservationist John Muir, Roosevelt agrees that US natural resources are not limitless, creates Ntl Park Sys.

5. Square Deal: Civil Rights • Appoints some African-Americans to government positions & invites Booker T. Washington to the White House • Roosevelt did not fully support civil rights, however was willing to work with black leaders • However, other black leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois criticized Booker Washington for working with Roosevelt • Du Bois argued in Souls of Black Folks that Af-Ams like Washington are holding Blacks back, need full rights ● Du Bois helps form National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) goal is full equality amongst races