Square Deal Teddy Roosevelt President Mc Kinleys VP

Square Deal Teddy Roosevelt

President Mc. Kinley’s VP • Mc. Kinley was assassinated and that make Roosevelt the President in 1901 – Former NY Police Commissioner – Asst. Sec of Navy – Sp/Am War hero • Square Deal: – Plan of reform to help common people to not get victimized by big business

Federal Power w/ strikes • 1902 Coal Strike • Both sides called to White House – 140, 000 coal workers strike, demand 20% raise, 9 • Roosevelt threatens govt. hr. workday, and organize takeover a Union. – Operators refuse demands • Both sides agree to arbitration – Coal reserves run low during the winter – workers= 10% raise, 9 hr. Workday – Operators/owners= workers give up union, and right to strike for 3 years.

Trust Busting • By 1900 trusts controlled about 1/5 of all industry in US • “Good Trust” vs. “Bad Trust” • Enforcement of Sherman Anti-Trust Act • 1902 - TR ordered the Justice Dept. to sue No. Securities Co. Which established a monopoly on NW RR’s • 1904 – Sup. Crt. Dissolved the No. Securities Co. – Later takes on beef, tobacco, and oil trusts

Rail Road Regulation • Elkins Act 1903 – Made it illegal for railroad officials and shippers to give or receive rebates. – RR could not change its’ rates w/out notifying the public. • Hepburn Act 1906 – Limited the distribution of free RR passes – Allowed the ICC power to set max railroad rates.

Labor Issues • Boston Police strike – Lack of raise – Commissioner fired union representatives – Remaining officers went on strike – Mass. Gov. Calvin Coolidge calls the National Guard to end the strike • Hires new commissioner, and replace strikers • AFL (Samuel Gompers) appeals to Gov. on police behalf • “public safety can not be at risk or dangered on strike at any time”

Conservation / National Park System • Yellowstone National Park: 1872 • Yosemite National Park: 1890 – efforts of John Muir pushing Congress to preserve the wildlife in the area • Gifford Pinchot – Placed in charge of the Division of Forestry in the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture by Roosevelt – Save/conserve more than 100 million acres • Pinchot preserved the land for public use. Funded by the government for the usage and tourism of the American Public.

Misc. Roosevelt • Kept business in line with 42 Anti-trust (Anti-monopoly) lawsuits • Aided the environment (Conservationism) by setting aside 200 million acres of land for national forests, mineral resources and water reserves (Including the Tennessee Valley Authority) • 16 th Amendment – Income Tax. More money from the wealthy • 18 th Amendment – Prohibition. Manufacture, sale and possession of alcohol illegal. • Does not seek re-election after 2 nd term, Chooses William H. Taft to be his successor • Nobel Peace Prize for settling the Russo-Japanese War. • PROHIBITION was a result of the Woman’s Temperance Movement who sought to end the poverty and violence associated with alcohol.