President Theodore Roosevelt• VP Theodore Roosevelt became

president after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901• TR was a different kind of president–He thought the gov’t ought to take

responsibility for the welfare of the American people–His agenda of progressive reform

was called the “Square Deal”

Theodore Roosevelt: A “Modern” President

• TR was committed to a series of reforms:–Breaking up harmful

monopolies (called “trustbusting”)–Regulating businesses

such as railroads & the meat industry–Conservation of

natural resources

Trustbusting• During the Gilded Age, Congress passed a

series of laws designed to keep big business in check:–The Interstate Commerce Commission

(ICC) was formed in 1886 to regulate railroads–The Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890

made it illegal for companies to restrict trade

• But neither of these laws were strict enough to control monopolies

Trustbusting• Roosevelt saw the benefit of efficient

monopolies, but wanted to control bad trusts:–In 1902, the gov’t ordered the

Northern Securities Company (a giant railroad monopoly) broken up because it violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act–The Roosevelt administration “busted”

25 trusts in 7 years

Conservation of the Environment• During the Gilded Age, corporations

clear-cut forests & viewed America’s natural resources as endless• Roosevelt began the 1st national

environmental conservation program–The gov’t protected 195 million acres

as off limits to businesses–The Reclamation Service to place

natural resources (oil, trees, coal) under federal protection

National Parks and Forests

The Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt• In 1908, Roosevelt decided not to run

for re-election as president• TR’s presidency was important because

for the first time, the national government:–Regulated big business–Protected the environment–Assumed responsibility for the welfare

of workers & consumers

The Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt• In 1908, Roosevelt decided not to run for re-

election as president• TR’s presidency was important because for the

first time, the national government:– Regulated big business– Protected the environment– Assumed responsibility for the welfare of workers

& consumers

When Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908, his successor to

the presidency was Republican William

Howard Taft

William Howard Taft

The Presidency of Taft• Like TR, Taft believed that the U.S. needed

progressive reform:– In his 4 years as president, Taft helped break up

twice as many monopolies as Roosevelt– Created the Children’s Bureau & pushed for child

labor laws– Helped create safety codes for coal miners &

railroad workers

The Presidency of Taft• But, Taft did not always trust the gov’t

to solve problems & often sided with conservative Republicans–He angered progressives when he

supported a high tariff which helped monopolies–He allowed a cabinet secretary to sell

1 million acres of conservation land to businesses

• Progressive politicians hoped that TR would run for president again

Progressives (& Roosevelt) began to view Taft as having made a mess of TR’s reforms

The Election of 1912• TR decided to run for president in

1912 but the Republican Party picked Taft as their candidate–TR created the Progressive (“Bull

Moose”) Party–Taft was the Republican nominee &

the Democrats ran a reform governor, Woodrow Wilson

• Republican voters were divided in whom to support: Roosevelt or Taft

U.S. Imperialism: PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rice is still a U.S. territory; Lots of poverty & unemployment

U.S. Imperialism: PHILIPPINESWhen the Philippines were annexed by the USA & not granted independence after the Spanish-American War, the Filipino-American War began in 1898

The Filipino-American War lasted 3 years & cost more in money & American lives

than the Spanish-American War

U.S. Imperialism: DOMINICAN REPUBLICWhen Theodore Roosevelt became president, he used “Big Stick Diplomacy”:

Develop an active U.S. foreign policy with a strong navy to accomplish goals

TR added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, giving the United States “police powers” to protect Latin America

from European imperialism

U.S. Imperialism: PANAMATR used “Big Stick Diplomacy” to build the Panama Canal by encouraging a

Panamanians to rebel from Colombia

U.S. Imperialism: MEXICOThe USA tried to intervene in Mexican affairs when Huerta overthrew Diaz &

again when Carranza overthrew Huerta

Mexico & the USA almost went to war when

Mexican rebel Pancho Villa killed 33 Americans

The U.S. Becomes a World Power• By the 20th century, the USA was a

world power:–Built the world’s 3rd largest navy –Annexed Hawaii, the Philippines,

Puerto Rico, many Pacific islands–Asserted itself in Latin America

(Spanish-American War, Panama Canal, & Roosevelt Corollary–Influenced Asia (Open Door Policy)