Theodore Roosevelt had a progressive presidency where he expanded presidential power and brought progressive policies to the White House. He came from a wealthy family but had a varied career including being a rancher and police commissioner before becoming governor of New York. As president, he established the Square Deal to curb abuses by big business and illegal monopolies while also helping small businesses and consumers. He regulated railroads and busted trusts like the Northern Securities Company. Roosevelt also passed laws reforming the food and meat industries to protect consumers and the environment by establishing the first national parks and forests.

1. Progressive Policies

2. Theodore Roosevelt Rise to the presidency Graduated from Harvard Studied Law at Columbia then elected to the New York State Assembly Spent 3 years in the Assembly Moved to a Ranch in the West New York City’s Board of Police Commission 1898 resigned post to form the Rough Riders Governor of New York Elected as McKinley’s running mate in 1900

3. Rough Riders cowboys, gold or mining prospectors, hunters, gamblers, Native Americans and college boys Mostly from Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and college students Roosevelt led the charge at San Juan Heights Result of the war led to America acquiring Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam Why was this significant?

4. Presidency Mckinley assassinated in early 1900 Young and Charismatic Expanded the power of the presidency Brought Progressive movements to the presidency Square Deal Goals were to keep the wealthy and powerful from taking advantage of small business owners and the poor Bust up illegal monopolies and reduce abusive business practices

5. Labor Issues Coal Miners went on strike in Pennsylvania Roosevelt wanted the strike ended quickly Steady supply of coal was necessary to keep factories open Miners refused to return to work even after Roosevelt pleaded with them Roosevelt threatened to send in troops to put down the strike Why is this significant?

6. Railroads Elkins Act in 1903 Imposed fines on railroads that gave special rates to favored shippers Hepburn Act Gave the ICC the teeth to regulate private railroads and make the system more fair The government had the ability to set and limit shipping costs

7. Trustbusters Northern Securities Company A big railroad company that was considered an illegal trust by Roosevelt Broker the company up into smaller companies Good and Bad Trusts Big business was not always bad as long as they dealt fairly with their consumers

8. Food Inspections Meat Inspection Act Provided federal agents to inspect any meat sold across state line Required federal processing procedures Pure Food and Drug and Act Banned interstate shipment of impure food and the mislabeling of food and drugs FDA still enforces these laws today

9. Environmentalist John Muir Yosemite National Park Roosevelt believed that some land should be saved while others contained valuable natural resources Giford Pinchot Protect the forests not for the wilderness itself but so that over time people could use the resources such as timber National Reclamation Act Gave the government the power to redistribute water and develop reservoirs