Roosevelt’s Square Deal: Trust Busting & Conservation

Conservation Forests depleted (only 20% left) Farmland exhausted by overuse Waterways used without regard to flooding possibilities Animals endangered by erosion of their environment & hunting Trust busting Trust: legal body that owns stocks in several corporations, usually in the same industry In essence, a trust was a monopoly owned by a small group Sherman Anti-Trust Act passed in 1890 but not enforced

Political cartoon showing Roosevelt as a friend to animals & nature

Nonunion workers brought in to replace union workers on strike

The lowest amount a worker can be paid per hour

An organization of workers who work together to try to change working conditions

Refusal to work until demands are addressed

Economic system where workers own and control means of production & profits equally

Organized workers using strength in numbers to gain something for all workers

Absence or rejection of governmental authority

Trustbusting Roosevelt believed industry had to be regulated for the public good 44 lawsuits for antitrust violations, including Railroads Standard Oil Company Tobacco

Conservation Roosevelt preserved 194 million acres of public lands Created U.S. Forest Service Gave government an activist role in protecting the environment

Unless you’re this guy…

Journalists who worked to expose issues that needed to be addressed by government

Movement to protect and preserve natural resources

Political action to end monopolies and trusts

Political movement that believed government power should be used to fight injustice and improve people’s rights

Why are these Progressive movements? Trustbusting Conservation Increased government regulation Goal is to protect people from corrupt business practices New legislation & increased strength to existing laws New government regulation Goal is to protect natural resources for the future Creation of new government agencies to manage resources Employed experts