APUSH: Period 7, 1890-1945 - Theodore Roosevelt and the Square Deal

Why This Matters

Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal is significant because it represents a pivotal moment in American history, marking a shift from laissez-faire capitalism to a more interventionist government. This period, spanning from 1901 to 1909, is crucial for understanding the Progressive Era's emphasis on social and economic reform, which continues to influence American politics and society today. The Square Deal's focus on consumer protection, conservation, and corporate regulation reflects the AP theme of Politics and Power, highlighting the tension between individual rights and government authority.

Key Events & People

• Theodore Roosevelt (26th U.S. President, 1901-1909): Implemented the Square Deal, a domestic policy aimed at promoting social and economic reform.
• Elkins Act (1903): Prohibited railroads from giving rebates to favored shippers, a key component of the Square Deal's consumer protection efforts.
• Hepburn Act (1906): Authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates, further regulating the industry.
• Meat Inspection Act (1906): Required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect meat products for safety and quality.
• Conservation Movement: Roosevelt's emphasis on preserving natural resources, including the establishment of 18 national monuments and 5 national parks.
• Trust Busting: Roosevelt's efforts to break up large corporations, including the dissolution of the Standard Oil Company in 1911.
• William Howard Taft: Roosevelt's successor, who continued some of the Square Deal's policies but ultimately failed to maintain the same level of momentum.
• Louis Brandeis: A leading Progressive and advocate for social and economic reform, who later became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
• Ida Tarbell: A journalist and writer who exposed the Standard Oil Company's practices, contributing to the trust-busting efforts.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: The growing public awareness of corporate abuses and social injustices during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Effect: The rise of the Progressive Movement, which sought to address these issues through government intervention and regulation.
• Long-term consequence: The establishment of a more active federal government, which would continue to shape American politics and society in the decades to come.

Essential Vocabulary

• Laissez-faire capitalism: An economic system that minimizes government intervention in business and industry.
• Trust busting: The practice of breaking up large corporations into smaller, more manageable entities.
• Consumer protection: Laws and regulations aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of consumers.
• Conservation: The practice of preserving and protecting natural resources for future generations.
• Progressive Era: A period of significant social and economic reform in the United States, spanning from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries.
• Square Deal: Theodore Roosevelt's domestic policy, which aimed to promote social and economic reform through government intervention.
• Regulatory commissions: Government agencies responsible for overseeing and regulating industries, such as the Interstate Commerce Commission.
• Meat inspection: The process of examining meat products for safety and quality.
• Standard Oil Company: A large oil company that was dissolved in 1911 due to antitrust laws.
• Ida Tarbell's "The History of the Standard Oil Company": A book that exposed the company's practices and contributed to the trust-busting efforts.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: Believing that the Square Deal was a single law or policy, rather than a comprehensive domestic policy.
• Correction: The Square Deal was a collection of laws, regulations, and policies aimed at promoting social and economic reform.
• What students often get wrong: Confusing the Square Deal with the New Deal, a later domestic policy implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• Correction: The Square Deal was a Progressive Era policy, while the New Deal was a response to the Great Depression.
• What students often get wrong: Thinking that Theodore Roosevelt was the only president to implement the Square Deal.
• Correction: While Roosevelt was the primary architect of the Square Deal, his successor, William Howard Taft, continued some of its policies.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the role of the Square Deal in promoting social and economic reform in the United States during the Progressive Era. Be sure to include specific laws, regulations, and policies, as well as the key figures involved.
• Possible evidence: The Elkins Act, the Hepburn Act, the Meat Inspection Act, and Theodore Roosevelt's speeches and writings.
• Possible essay prompt: Compare and contrast the Square Deal with the New Deal, highlighting their similarities and differences in terms of domestic policy and government intervention.
• Possible evidence: The Square Deal's focus on consumer protection and conservation, versus the New Deal's emphasis on economic recovery and social welfare.

Quick Self?Check

1. What was the primary goal of the Square Deal? Correct answer: To promote social and economic reform through government intervention.
2. Which law prohibited railroads from giving rebates to favored shippers? Correct answer: The Elkins Act.
3. Who was a leading Progressive and advocate for social and economic reform? Correct answer: Louis Brandeis.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The Square Deal was not a single law, but a comprehensive domestic policy.
• The Elkins Act prohibited railroads from giving rebates to favored shippers.
• The Hepburn Act authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates.
• The Meat Inspection Act required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect meat products for safety and quality.
• Theodore Roosevelt was the primary architect of the Square Deal.
• The Square Deal was a Progressive Era policy, not a New Deal policy.
• William Howard Taft continued some of the Square Deal's policies, but ultimately failed to maintain the same level of momentum.
• Louis Brandeis was a leading Progressive and advocate for social and economic reform.
• Ida Tarbell's book exposed the Standard Oil Company's practices and contributed to the trust-busting efforts.
• The Square Deal's focus on consumer protection and conservation was a key aspect of its domestic policy.