Roosevelt 1901-09

• Roosevelt believed in what?

  Realpolitik - governed by what is right for the people no interests in ideology
• Roosevelt is a progressive president 1901- 1909 what are the other two progressive presidents?

  Woodrow Wilson 1913-21

  William Taft 1909- 13
• What was Theodore Roosevelt’s background?

  Privileged upbringing, Harvard graduate, rancher, soldier, politician.
• Why was Theodore Roosevelt chosen as vice president?

  To balance the ticket appealing to progressive voters for more voters for McKinley therefore Roosevelt would disappear- not have much to do but this backfired after McKinley’s death
• How did big business feel about Theodore Roosevelt?

  seen as a threat to their monopolies.

  dangerous

  described as the nemesis of big business
• How progressive was Theodore Roosevelt?

  very progressive for a Republican (because they are often seen in the pocket of big business) TR not easily manipulated. - he took on big business, sides with the workers and introduced environmental reforms
• Trust busting

  • 1902 - Northern securities were sued under the Sherman antitrust act of 1890.
  • 1904 - US Supreme Court ordered JP Morgan’s Northern securities to be dismantled for restricting trade
  • this victory prevented Morgan from monopolising the nations railways
• Environmentalism

  • 1901 - used forest reserve act to protect forest from big business.
  • 1903 - established pelican island - National wildlife refuge
  • 1906 - the antiquities act protected landmarks of historic or scientific interest
• Square deal (reforms that helped the consumer/workers)

  • 1902 - intervened in miners strike on the side of the miners - pay rise/ shorter days
  • 1906 - Hepburn Railroad regulation act - gave the interstate commerce commission the authority to establish maximum railroad rates
  • 1906 - pure food and drug act
  • 1906 - meat inspection act
  • 1901 - New York tenement act - housing must be cleaner and safer
• What are TR’s best achievements?

  Trust-busting, conservation, Panama Canal, Square Deal, Progressive Era