Teddy Roosevelt and Progressivism

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Teddy Roosevelt and Progressivism
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President 1901-1909

• Old Rough and Tumble
• Rugged Individualism (Rugged rough, strong,
  physical, tough)
• Conservative Republican, but opposed to unfairly
  large business
• Walk softly and carry a big stick

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Era of Progressivism

• Progressivism political response to
  industrialization and its social by-products
• Immigration
• urban growth
• growth of corporate power
• widening class divisions
• Differed from Populism urban movement, not
  agrarian
• Never cohesive, aided by intellectuals,
  journalists, unionists, socialists

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Examples of Progressive Causes

• John Dewey school reform schools as an
  embryonic community
• Novelists criticized Standard Oil, railroads,
  political corruption
• Magazines McClures and Colliers published
  exposés on corruption
• Deemed Muckrakers by TR
• Booker Washington Blacks must develop skills to
  join society and end racism
• W.E.B. DuBois created NAACP blacks must have
  equal access to education, and must fight racism
• Municipal government reformers
• Anti-alcohol, prohibition campaign

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TR Managed Natural Resources

• Saw long-term value in natural resources, for
  economy and natural beauty
• Rational scientific management of natural
  resources
• Supported national Parks created Mesa Verde,
  Wind Cave, Crater Lake
• National govt paid for irrigation of the
  southwest, including Los Angeles

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Controlled Big Business

• Trusts, monopolies and vertical integration
• Enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890).
• 1902 Filed suit against JP Morgans Northern
  Securities Company, which held control of Union
  Pacific, Northern Pacific, and Burlington
  railroads
• 1902 Forced coal mine owners to arbitrate with
  United Mine Workers union.
• 1906 Meat Inspection Act outlawed using dangerous
  chemicals in meat

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Panama Canal 1906

• Predicted huge savings in time and money if ships
  could avoid traveling around South America
• Negotiated with Colombia to buy a Canal Zone
• Colombia refused to lower price, so Roosevelt
  encouraged revolution in Panama, protected new
  nation, and leased land
• Panama Canal symbolized Roosevelts presidency
  far-seeing, ambitious, practical, with Big
  Stick methods if necessary
• US lease in Panama has expired canal now
  operated by Panama

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TR Helped Set 20th C Tradition

• Economic growth with fairness
• Government regulation to protect consumers
• Balancing the preservation of natural resources
  with profit
• Direct US involvement in central America
• Practical use of force in world affairs