Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era: A Study of the Square Deal, Lecture notes of United States History

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THE PROGRESSIVE

ERA

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

ROOSEVELT’S RISE Theodore Roosevelt has sickly childhood, drives self in athletics Is ambitious, rises through New York politics to become governor NY political bosses cannot control him, urge run for vice-president

TRUSTBUSTING By 1900, trusts control about 4/5 of U. S. industries Roosevelt wants to curb trusts that hurt public interest

• breaks up some trusts under Sherman Antitrust Act

1902 COAL STRIKE Coal reserves low; forces miners, operators to accept arbitration Sets principle of federal intervention when strike threatens public

REGULATING FOOD AND DRUGS Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle – unsanitary conditions in meatpacking Roosevelt commission investigates, backs up Sinclair’s account Roosevelt pushes for Meat Inspection Act:

• dictates sanitary requirements
• creates federal meat inspection program

PURE FOOD & DRUG ACT Food, drug advertisements make false claims; medicines often unsafe Pure Food and Drug Act halts sale of contaminated food, medicine

• requires truth in labeling

CONSERVATION MEASURES Roosevelt sets aside forest reserves, sanctuaries, national parks Believes conservation part preservation, part development for public

CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH

CENTURY

Roosevelt does not support civil rights for African Americans Supports individual African Americans in civil service

• invites Booker T. Washington to the White House NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• goal is full equality among races Founded 1909 by W.E.B. DuBois and black, white reformers