Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal Chapter 9 Section 3 The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th Century http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/biopictures.htm

A Rough-Riding President The man who was never suppose to be President. The New York Political Machine could not control the new young governor and so they plotted to get him kicked upstairs. What does “kicked upstairs” mean? The Bosses got him nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate for McKinley in 1900. What they didn’t realize was that he was a heartbeat from the American Presidency.

Life &Times of Roosevelt Came from wealthy New York family As a child he was of poor health and suffered from asthma He embraced a vigorous lifestyle to make himself strong. Marksmen Horsemen Boxing Wrestling Hunting

Roosevelt’s Political Career New York State Assemblyman New York City Police Commissioner Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Navy Governor of New York Vice-President of the United States President of the United States

The Modern Presidency Roosevelt became the youngest person ever to be President. (Age 42) Who is the youngest person to ever be elected President? Roosevelt established a new type of Presidency and was constantly in the news with his many exploits. Name some examples: Boxing with a Professional and losing the sight in one eye Galloped on horseback for 100 miles Spared the life of a bear cub and started the use of “Teddy Bears”

Roosevelt On Life “In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: HIT THE LINE HARD” http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/biopictures.htm

THE MODERN PRESIDENCY “Bully Pulpit” – Use of the Presidency to influence the media and shape legislation. Roosevelt used his dynamic personality and extreme popularity to advance his programs of change. Cited federal responsibility for national welfare Thought if states could not handle problems then the federal government should

THE SQUARE DEAL Term used to describe the various progressive reforms sponsored by the Roosevelt administration. Wanted to save the common man from the victimization by big business and give them a “Square Deal”.

ROOSEVELT USES FEDERAL POWERS 1902 Coal Strike Federal Arbitration Trust Busting Railroad Regulation Protecting Citizens Protecting the Environment

1902 COAL STRIKE 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania go on strike Want 20% Raise 9 Hour Work Day Right to Organize a Union Owners refuse to give into demands Strike lasts 5 months, reserves of coal run low Schools and factories close, hospitals are freezing Roosevelt calls both sides to the White House

FEDERAL ARBITRATION Roosevelt threatens to take over the mines. Sides agree to Federal Arbitration Arbitration commission works with both sides to mediate the dispute. Compromise Settlement 10% wage increase 9 Hour work day Gave up demands for a closed-shop: all workers must belong to a union Gave up the right to strike for 3 years Set precedent of the federal government intervening and the expectation of them doing so.

TRUSTS Trust = Monopoly What % of U.S. industries were controlled by trusts at the turn of the century? 80% Many used unfair business practices and took advantage of competitors and customers. Standard Oil – John D. Rockefeller

Roosevelt on Trusts Didn’t think all Trusts were BAD Fights to curb trusts when their actions hurt public interest. Used the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) Difficult to enforce this very vague law Filed 44 antitrust suits against big business with his real intent to institute FEDERAL REGULATION.

Roosevelt on Railroad Regulation Interstate Commerce Act (1887) Est. the Interstate Commerce Commission Prohibited “pools” in which wealthy railroad owners divided the business in a given area and shared the profits Elkins Act (1903) Made it illegal for RR officials to give, and shippers to receive, REBATES-discounts or refunds. Specified that once a RR had set rates, it could not change them w/out notifying the public. Hepburn Act (1906) Strictly limited the distribution of free RR passes, a common form of bribery. Allowed the ICC the power to set max. rates, subject to the court, if shippers complained.

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Book that tried to show the poor working conditions in Chicago meat packing plants and its effect on workers. “I aimed at a nations heart, but by accident I hit it in the stomach.” Exposed the sickening, dirty conditions of the meat packing industry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beef_industry_panorama_1900_loc.jpg

Meat Inspection Act Dictated strict cleanliness requirements for meatpackers Created a federal meat inspection program that is still in use today http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle

Pure Food and Drug Act Manufactures often used harmful substances in foods and drugs Coal-tar Borax Formaldehyde Halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines Called for “Truth in Labeling”

Conservation and Natural Resources Government did little to protect U.S. natural resources prior to the Roosevelt Administration. Companies exploited resources and wasted much. Pollution Problems Americans saw resources as endless

Establishment of National Parks Service Yellowstone National Park 1872 – 1st NP Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest land in reserve Set aside 1.5 million acres of water-power sites Set aside 80 million acres of land for exploration of minerals and water resources Established more than 50 wildlife sanctuaries and more national parks

Gifford Pinchot Conservation vs. Preservation Professional conservationist and head of the U.S. Forest Service Conservation – Some wilderness areas would be preserved while others would be developed for the common good. Preservation – Complete preservation of wilderness areas. National Reclamation Act (Newlands Act)- Money from the sale of public lands in the West would fund large-scale irrigation projects Established the practice of the federal governments management of precious water resources

Presidents on Civil Rights Roosevelt Not a supporter of civil rights for African-Americans Did support a few individual African-Americans South Carolina Custom house official Invited Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House Taft No action on civil rights Wilson Opposed federal anti-lynching laws Resumed the practice of segregation in Federal offices Threw an African-American delegation out after being confronted about the lack of presidential support for civil rights