Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era Chapter 9: Section 3 Ms. Garratt.

Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive

Era

Chapter 9: Section 3Ms. Garratt

Colorful background

WealthyHarvard educatedActive in state politicsAsst sec of navyRough Riders in CubaParty bossesMcKinley

assassinationYoungest president at

the time (42)

Modern President

Saw presidency as a bully pulpit from which he could influence the media and shape legislation

Perceived different role of the presidency

“It is the duty of the president to act upon the theory that he is the steward of the people and …to assume that he has the legal right to do whatever the needs of the people demand, unless the Constitution or the laws explicitly forbid him to do so.”

Trustbuster

Was Teddy after all trusts?

NO. He used the 1890 Sherman Anti-trust Act to go after those trusts that hurt the public interest the most.

Those that eliminated competition

1902 Coal Strike

Used power of the president to mediate disputes.

Established new principle –right of fed’l gov to intervene when strike threatened the public welfare

Role of experts

Railroad Regulation

Interstate Commerce Act

Commission was weak

Elkins ActHepburn ActICC set maximum

ratesBoosted fed’l control

Upton Sinclair, the Jungle & the Meat Inspection Act

Video Segment on the Jungle

http://www.ratedesi.com/video/v/m1U0kXX0RAM/Upton-Sinclair%27s-The-Jungle

Pure Food & Drug Act

Contaminated foods & medicines could no longer be sold.

Called for truth in labeling laws

Regulating Food & Drugs

“Pure food and drug act will limit human thumb levels in meats”

Oh yummy. Please pass the mustard.

Conservation of Natural Resources

Newlands Act - Reclamation

Allowed large tracts of land to be irrigated in the SW

Let to lots of Mexican migration

Civil Rights

Like other progressives very little attention paid to civil rights

Roosevelt & the World

Mediator between Japan & Russia

Panama Canal

Roosevelt Corollary