Roosevelt, "The Square Deal" and the Rise of the Progressives From the TEL Library: U.S. History: Book 2 2 | U.S. History 2 Inquire How Did Theodore " Teddy" Roosevelt 's Leadership Bring About t he Progressive Era and t he Progressive Movem ent ? Scan the QR code below to access the lesson online. Overview As the Gilded Age came to an end, there were huge problems throughout America. Capitalism and laissez-faire economics had led to a rising economy and a struggling working class. America looked good on the outside - gilded with ideas of freedom, equality, and opportunity - but the truth was much darker. Slums and harsh living conditions awaited most immigrants. The American government was slowly instituting a policy of harassment and destruction that eradicated the Native American population. Big political machines used the laissez-faire: holes in the democratic process to control elections - and therefore, large city and even state governments - all to line their pockets with bribes and control the population with fear. Even abstention by national power was concentrated in the hands of the very few: the industrialists who governments from controlled the major industries. interfering in the workings of the free market indust rialist : a person involved in the ownership and management of industry Figure 1.1: A political cartoon of Roosevelt adding "spices" to his speeches Big Quest ion What progressive changes, or fixes, did Teddy institute in his presidency? Roosevelt, "The Square Deal" and the Rise of the Progressives | 3 The Populist Movement died after the election of 1896, but the reform efforts in America were just getting started. Led by President Theodore ?Teddy? Roosevelt, a new movement - The The Progressive Progressive Movem ent - would begin addressing the problems that surfaced during the Movem ent : Gilded Age, and American society would make changes as America moved from a second-tier a widespread movement country to a true world power. of social activism and Although he was only elected president once, the 26th president, Theodore ?Teddy? Roosevelt, political reform across the served from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909. In U.S. history, there is no more colorful, United States, from the 1890s to the 1920s energetic, or forceful political figure than Teddy Roosevelt. There has certainly never been another president like him. Teddy typically makes the top five of the greatest presidents on almost any historian or political scientist?s list. He splashed onto the national scene by raising and funding a private army that was instrumental in winning the Spanish-American War, and he loudly and publicly championed the cause of the people vs. large industrialists - men like John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Andrew Carnegie. The industrialists attempted to control him by nominating him for vice president in President McKinley?s second term. When McKinley was assassinated only months after the election of 1900, the industrialists? worst nightmare occurred; Teddy became president. While the industrialists may have considered it a disaster, the American people found a hero, a leader, a visionary, and the man who would change not only the United States, but the world?s opinion of it. Wat ch "Perdicardis Alive, or Raisuli Dead!" Scan the QR code below to watch the video online. The following text is an edited transcript from the video. As we will see, President Teddy Roosevelt believed America was the greatest country in the world and Americans were the world's greatest people. Roosevelt also believed in doing whatever was necessary to protect Americans at home and abroad. On May 18, 1904, Roosevelt?s strong convictions were put to the test. A Greek-American citizen, Ion Perdicaris and his stepson were kidnapped by a Moroccan brigand, Ahmed ibn-Muhammed Raisuli, in Tangier, Morocco. Raisuli attempted to use Perdicaris and his stepson as leverage to have Roosevelt bring pressure on the Sultan Abdelaziz of Morocco. He 4 | U.S. History 2 demanded ransom payments and political influence in exchange for the Perdicaris? safe return.1 President Roosevelt wasted no time in responding to the kidnapping. He ordered a naval squadron, with a detachment of Marines, to Morocco. Roosevelt was committed to protecting even two American lives. Negotiations languished, and on May 31, 1904 France offered assistance in resolving the affair, but the sultan continued to refuse to meet Raisuli?s demands. Finally, at Roosevelt?s instructions, on June 22, 1904, U.S. Secretary of State John Hay dispatched an ultimatum to the Moroccan sultan; deliver ?Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead.? or America would take whatever action was necessary, including the possibility of sending U.S. troops onto Moroccan soil. On June 24, 1904, the sultan agreed to meet Raisuli?s demands, and the hostages were released.1 ?The Perdicaris Affair,? as it came to be known, illustrates Roosevelt?s willingness to do whatever was necessary. When he made up his mind to accomplish a task, he was not overly concerned about legality. Roosevelt?s Attorney General, Philander Knox, admired Roosevelt?s way of overriding even Knox?s own advice. Knox was once asked his opinion on a decision and responded, ?Ah, Mr. President, why have such a beautiful action marred by any taint of legality?? 2 When Roosevelt asked for a solution regarding the political problem of annexing the Hawaiian Islands, Admiral Mahan, a close Roosevelt advisor, answered, ?Do nothing unrighteous but ? take the islands first and solve (the problem) afterward.?2 ?The Perdicaris Affair? reached mainstream American society when MGM released, in 1975, a major motion picture of the event called The Wind and the Lion.3 Liberties were taken with the facts - Perdicaris became a woman with two small children ? but, otherwise, the story stayed close to the historical account. The Raisuli was played by the great Sean Connery, and Brian Keith played an amazing Teddy Roosevelt.3 America became '?Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead? America' and the world learned to take Roosevelt at his word.3 Read "Hiding Roosevelt " - The Presidency That Was Never Meant t o Be Figure 1.2: An illustration of the assassination of President McKinley Roosevelt, "The Square Deal" and the Rise of the Progressives | 5 The Republican Party never intended for Theodore Roosevelt to be president. He was seen as a reckless cowboy by many in the Republican Party leadership. As his popularity soared, he became more and more of a threat. He spoke of controlling the wealthy industrialists and protecting the people from abuse ? words that concerned men of power ? men like JP Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Andrew Carnegie. His success with the Rough Riders in Cuba made him a war hero in the eyes of many Americans. Riding this wave, he was elected as governor of New York. 4 During the campaign of 1900, party leadership decided? under pressure from the Industrialists - that nominating Roosevelt for the vice-presidency would serve two purposes. First, his popularity would surely help President McKinley's reelection bid. Second, moving him to vice-presidency might decrease his power. The last vice-president elected in his own right had been Martin Van Buren in 1837. The Industrialists and others believed Roosevelt could do less harm as vice-president than as governor of New York. 4 Their plan worked flawlessly - McKinley and Roosevelt easily won the election, and all was proceeding according to plan until an assassin's bullet ended McKinley's life in September 1901. 4 There had never been a president like Roosevelt. He was only 42 years old - the youngest age ever for a chief executive - when his predecessor William McKinley was assassinated.5 Roosevelt ?s Philosophies Although Roosevelt himself hailed from the wealthy classes, he strongly believed that no individual, no matter how rich and powerful, should control the people's representatives. Furthermore, Roosevelt was convinced that if abuse of workers continued to go unchecked, a violent revolution would sweep the nation. An outspoken foe of socialism, Roosevelt believed that, with a little restraint and common sense, capitalism could be preserved. Within months of becoming president, he began to wield his newfound power. 5 Unlike his quieter predecessors, Roosevelt knew that if the Washington politicians resisted change, he would have to take his case to the people directly. The country was thirsting for leadership and Roosevelt became a political and popular hero. Merchandise, paintings and lithographs were created in his honor; there was even a motion picture that portrayed him as a fairytale hero. Roosevelt claimed the presidency was a ?bully pulpit? - by which he meant it was a terrific platform from which to advocate his agenda to the people. 5 Figure 1.3: An image of Teddy Roosevelt in his military uniform The " Three C's" of Roosevelt 's "Square Deal" Roosevelt believed the government should apply its resources toward pursuit of a domestic policy he called The Square Deal. His programs covered three basic ideas: conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection - the "three Cs" of 6 | U.S. History 2 Roosevelt's Square Deal. 9 Cont rol of Corporat ions - The Trust Bust er Teddy Roosevelt believed a revolution was coming. By 1904, two-fifths of the nation's industrial output was controlled by only 318 trusts, including banking and railroads.9 There seemed to be no limit to greed. If docking employee wages would increase corporation profits, it was done. If higher railroad rates put more gold in the railroad tycoons' coffers, it was done. How much was enough, Roosevelt wondered? 6, 8 Figure 1.4: A political cartoon portraying Standard Oil as an octopus The Sherm an Ant i-Trust Act Although he himself was a man of means, Roosevelt criticized the wealthy class of Americans on two counts.