TR's Square Deal

1. How did Roosevelt create the modern presidency?
Roosevelt created the modern presidency by setting an example with his leadership and use of publicity campaigns.

2. How did Roosevelt's intervention in a coal strike set a precedent for federal arbitration?
Roosevelt's intervention set a new principle. This was that when public welfare was at stake, especially due to strikes at this time, the government was expected to step in to help settle the dispute.

3. What did Roosevelt do to the trusts and railroads?
In the public's best interests, President Roosevelt tried to delete the trusts and to gain more control railroads to make sure they do not cheat or hurt the people. His goal was federal regulation. Trusts would extremely lower prices to drive out competition and then extremely raise prices when there was no competition. Roosevelt tried to dissolve and break up trusts using the Sherman Antitrust Act. He was successful but was unable to slow the merger movement. Railroad companies tried to collude by fixing high prices in a certain area. This became prohibited when Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act. Meeting Roosevelt's needs the Elkins Act was passed, which prohibited the railroads from giving, and people from accepting, rebates given to use one certain railroad. It also prohibited them from changing rates without public notification. The the Hepburn Act was passed limiting the the distribution of free railroad passes. Roosevelt took these actions to stop the trust and railroads.


4. What legislation passed during Roosevelt's presidency protected citizens?
Meat Inspection Act




5. What did Roosevelt do to protect the environment?
He set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves, 1.8 million acres for water-power sites, and 80 million acres for mineral and water resource exploration. With the National Reclamation Act money from public land funded irrigation projects.