The Progressive President: Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was a progressive because he supported labor and he tore down large companies, supporting small businesses. He created the Square Deal in 1901 that would supposedly solve the problems: control of corporation, consumer protection and conservation. Coal mining was dirty and dangerous, so miners went on strike for higher pay and reduction in workday. The first part of the deal was control of corporation. Mine owners didn’t want to negotiate with Roosevelt, but it wasn’t until he declared that he would seize the mines and operate it with the federal troops that the miner owners listened to him. Owners increased pay by 10 percent and shortened the work day to 9 hours. In addition, Roosevelt began to attack large monopolistic corporations because the companies were engaged in corrupt practices. The Northern Securities Company controlled most of the railroads and wanted to create a total monopoly. Roosevelt stopped them and the Supreme Court ordered the company to be dissolved. The second part of the deal was consumer protection. Roosevelt passed the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. These acts ensured healthy products. The last part of the deal was conservation. In 1902, he passed the Newlands Act so that the government could sell public lands. Landowners would have to pay back the irrigation costs from the money they earned from their fertile land.