Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. was overjoyed on October 27, 1858. His wife had given birth to a son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Yet as a child Theodore was short, skinny, and prone to sickness. He was nearsighted and spoke in a high, squeaky voice. But Teddy was determined to strengthen his body as well as his mind. Roosevelt wasted no time proving his abilities. As a student at Harvard University, he made the boxing team. After graduation he studied law and won a seat in the New York State Legislature. But in 1884, when both his wife and mother died (on the same day), Roosevelt headed west to become a cowboy. One day a cowboy in a hotel bar yelled to his friends that Roosevelt – “four eyes” – was going to buy drinks for everyone. Roosevelt responded with several quick punches.

Which of the following are examples of harships Teddy Roosevelt overcame?

• He graduated from law school.

• He got sick many times.

• He was a cowboy

• His mother and wife died.

His cattle ranch was ruined by the harsh winter of 1885-1886 and so Roosevelt moved back east, remarried, and re-entered politics. He became the New York City Police Commissioner. Never one to sit at a desk, Roosevelt walked the city streets to make certain that the police were doing their jobs. Thanks to his efforts the police force became more efficient and honest.Roosevelt campaigned for William McKinley in the 1896 presidential election and became Assistant Secretary of the Navy. When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, he organized a volunteer cavalry unit called the Rough Riders because its members were rough cowboys, sheriffs, and football players. He and his men won fame with their charge up Cuba’s San Juan Hill. Roosevelt’s image as a leader led to his victory in the race for governor of New York.

What is the name of the event Roosevelt and the Rough Riders participated in to enhance his image as a leader?

• The Civil War

• The War of 1812

• The Spanish American War

• The War of the Roses

As governor, Roosevelt passed progressive reforms, including a tax on corporations and civil service laws. He took the first steps to preserve the state’s natural resources. These moves led to a spot on the Republican national ticket in 1900. In the campaign, Roosevelt traveled some 21,000 miles to greet voters. The republican ticket won, and Roosevelt became Vice President.

According to the information above what goals of the Progressives did Roosevelt focus on as governor of New York?

• Making government more accessible to the people.

• To improve society in the midst of industrialization and urbanization.

• Government regulation of businesses

• Concern for victims of urbaniztion and industrialization

As you learned from your reading, Roosevelt was a man of action. 

He believed in using the “bully pulpit” of the presidency.

Believe it or not, in Teddy Roosevelt’s day, the word “bully” meant “terrific”. 

A pulpit is a platform where speeches or sermons are delivered. 

So, the bully pulpit means that the president has a “terrific platform” to give his ideas and views on things.

This continues today, presidents use their position as an opportunity to speak out on issues of importance.

You studied a platform previously when we studied the Populists. What is the definition of this kind of political platform?

• The structure that a president stands on to address a crowd.

• A political party's list of goals to be accompished.

• A group of people listening to a speech

• People who work for the president.

Every president will support both a domestic policy and a foreign policy. 

Today you will research Teddy Roosevelt’s domestic policy.

Before you begin, let’s go over what the term “domestic policy” means.  Look at the synonyms for domestic

Select one that you understand. 

Now select a synonym for the term policy. 

What is your definition of “domestic policy?

Domestic

At Home, National, Internal

Policy

Approach, Scheme, Program

The name of Roosevelt’s domestic policy was the “Square Deal.” 

This meant that Roosevelt was going to treat everyone fairly, regardless of wealth.

Issue #1 – Treatment of workers and labor unions.

You are going to see how Roosevelt’s belief that workers deserved a “square deal” became part of his domestic policy.

 

Issues #2 and #3 - Conservation and Trust-busting

Two other areas that Roosevelt had strong opinions about were conservation and breaking up trusts, called trust-busting. 

Make sure you know what these two terms mean as well: 

Issue #2 - Conservation – the saving and wise use of natural resources

Issue #3 - Trust-busting – the policy of bringing legal action against monopolies

Which of the following would be an example of conservation?

• Charging higher prices for railroads

• Preserving forests and praries.

• Taking companies to court.

• Helping workers get better conditions.

A Square Deal for Workers and Consumers- Labor unions and workers were rarely supported by government officials. For example, President Cleveland sent federal troops to end the Pullman Strike of 1894. And governors and mayors across the nation used the National Guard and police to end workers’ strikes.When Pennsylvania coal miners went on strike in 1902, the United Mine Workers had no reason to believe that President Theodore Roosevelt would do anything different. But they were wrong.The United Mine Workers were demanding higher wages, shorter hours, and official recognition of the union. The mine owners refused. As a result, 140,000 miners walked off the job and the Coal Miner’s strike began. The strike threatened to endanger coal supplies for the coming winter, so Roosevelt asked both owners and miners to accept federal mediation. When the mine owners refused, Roosevelt threatened to send federal troops to take over the mines and make coal available to the public. The owners gave in. The coal strikers won a 10 percent wage increase and a nine-hour day, but no recognition of their union. This compromise gave strikers less than they wanted but far more than they would have received if Roosevelt had not intervened.

Why did workers and labor unions support Theodore Roosevelt?

• Because he sent in federal troops to stopa strike.

• Because he outlawed the use of coal

• Because he was a boxer

• For standing up to mine owners

Theodore Roosevelt boasted that he had ended the coal miner’s strike to provide everyone with a “square deal.” Roosevelt tried to extend his square deal even further. Roosevelt asked Congress for laws to increase the government’s power to regulate railroad rates. The Hepburn Act of 1906 was passed as a result. Roosevelt pressured Congress into passing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. He proposed other progressive demands: an eight-hour workday, workmen’s compensation insurance for victims of industrial accidents, an income tax, and federal regulation of the stock market.Many thought Roosevelt would run for president in 1908. But Roosevelt had made a promise in 1904 to not run for president again. During his eight years as president he changed the role of the president in American government.

Explain how during the Progressive Era the government worked to protect the country from big business.

Conservation

President Roosevelt loved the American wilderness. Once, he had camped with conservationist John Muir (founder of the Sierra Club) Although Roosevelt agreed in many respects with Muir, he did not share the feeling that the wilderness should remain completely unused

Instead, the President’s program called for balancing development with conservation. He thought forests could be used for recreation and to provide wood for lumber products. In 1906, he supported the Forest Homestead Act, which allowed the opening of certain lands for agricultural use. In a message to Congress in 1907, Roosevelt expressed his beliefs. He wanted Congress to understand that if the nation depleted its natural resources, future generations would pay the price.

Using his executive [presidential] powers, Roosevelt added millions of acres of land, mostly in the West, to the national forest system. President Roosevelt slowed the destruction of American forests by barring the cutting of trees on 150 million acres of government timberland. He also promoted conservation by creating five national wilderness areas.The lasting impact of Roosevelt’s conservation policy was to establish that it was the government’s duty, not private individuals or businesses, to manage the development of lands.

According to Roosevelt, who's duty is it to manage the development of lands.

• Ecological specialists

• The goverment.

• Big Busineses

• The military

As president, Roosevelt gave federal protection for almost 230 million acres of land. He sat aside 150 national forests, the first 51 federal bird reservations, five national parks, the first 18 national monuments, the first four national game preserves and the first 24 reclamation, or federal irrigation, projects. These designations were bitterly opposed by industry.

Roosevelt also appointed as the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, who shared Roosevelt’s philosophy of conservation through sustainable use. These comments by Roosevelt, delivered on May 13, 1908 at the Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources reflected his beliefs about the need to preserve the natural world.

“We have become great because of the use of our resources and we have just reason to be proud of our growth. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil and the gas are exhausted, when the soils have been still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields, and obstructing navigation. ...It is time for us now as a nation to exercise the same reasonable foresight in dealing with our great natural resources that would be shown by any prudent man in conserving and wisely using the property which contains the assurance of well-being for himself and his children.”

How is this an example of Roosevelt protecting the country from big business?

• He is making business owners pay for what they take.

• He is selling land to rich people to make more taxes

• He is not allowing big business to use up all the resources in the USA

• He closed down any businesses tha use trees.