Overview of Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidency

presidency + beliefs

• perceived by critics as wild, impulsive

• also highly personable, fit "cowboy" brand → gained him popularity in midwest

• [radically] progressive

• known for being able to crack down with his big stick and get things done through force when needed

legislation

• established panama canal to increase naval mobility

• ended conflict between Japanese + Russians in New Hampshire in 1905

• many Japanese people came to the US to work under dangerous conditions → they were not allowed to become citizens, and racism against Asians ran rampant

• this led to the segregation of schools to make room for more white students in the San Francisco area, which Roosevelt put an end to

• square deal: occurred after coal strikes broke out in Pennsylvania

• demanded 20% pay increase, work day from 10→9 hours

• due to this, factories, schools, hospitals, etc. had to shut down because it was too cold for them to function

• Roosevelt threatened military force and a compromise was made (10% pay increase, 9 hours/day)

• created new department of commerce + labor to handle similar affairs in the future

• corporations

• interstate commerce commission proved useless

• Roosevelt began passing railroad-related legislation in 1903 with the Elkins Act, targeting rebates

• Hepburn Act of 1906 - restricts free passes

• food safety

• passed Meat Inspection Act of 1906 → preparation of meat shipped between states subject to federal inspection every step of the way

• also passed Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 to stop alteration + mislabeling of foods + pharmaceuticals

• environment

• Roosevelt was a huge proponent of environmental protection

• set 125 million+ of natural land aside in federal reserves

• conservation efforts were originally met with some resistance, but eventually, Western farmers/ranchers/etc. learned to work with the Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation

• economy + 1908 campaign

• panic of 1907 → fiscal reform

• branded as a radical by his political opponents, traveled to Africa to hunt lions following the election of 1908