The Square Deal: Social Reform to Avoid Disaster

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The Square Deal: Social Reform to Avoid Disaster

America at the turn of the century was a very different place than it is today. The industrial revolution had set into motion a series of events that empowered and enriched some and nearly enslaved others. Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” was a necessary response to growing social unrest. A severely unequal distribution of wealth along with poor living and working conditions were leading workers and capitalists to increasingly extreme means. By enacting a large body of legislation intended to set right the wrongs in society and using whatever force necessary, Roosevelt avoided what could have been a popular revolution of the working class.

The purpose of this essay is to develop a better understanding of Roosevelt’s “Square Deal”. An examination of historical events will provide a clear picture of the outlook in America during the time of Roosevelt’s presidency that led to the necessity of the legislation and presidential actions that characterized Progressive Party politics. Roosevelt’s response was nothing short of precisely what was necessary to remedy the social unrest that was overtaking the working people of America.

As is the case with any major public policy, the “Square Deal” had its roots in beliefs set forth in the United States Constitution and the basic tenets of Democracy. Without support, large scale changes to the system go down in history as simply another idealistic effort. Roosevelt believed in his ideas and had a way of pushing policies through that resulted in sweeping changes that avoided catastrophe. Every conscious of the possibility of revolution, Roosevelt sought to avoid it by any means necessary.

Beginning in the 1800’s, the face of America was changing. As the Industrial Revolution took a firm hold here and around the world, the everyday life of common Americans was affected in almost unimaginable ways. Between 1885 and 1945, a sweeping change was taking place throughout the world. Large scale mechanization as well as new modern modes of transportation and communication changed the way people looked at the world (Rowland, 1997, p. 14). As thousands of new jobs were created, a large scale urban migration began. People were leaving the far...

... middle of paper ...

... 10, 2005 from SIRS Knowledge Source at http://www.sirs.com

Pure Food and Drug Act. Retrieved on March 30, 2005 from

http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/rcah/html/

ah_072600_purefoodandd.htm

Rowland, P. (1997). Designing the modern world: the messages of objects, and design,

shape our perception of the modern world. Carnegie Magazine, 8, 14+.

Sherman Antitrust Act. Retrieved on March 30, 2005 from

http://www.bartleby.com/65/sh/ShermanA.html

Thayer, W.R. (1919). The Square Deal in action.

Retrieved March 15, 2005 from http://www.bartleby.com

The Interstate Commerce Act. Retrieved on March 30, 2005 from

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h921.html

Wattenberg, B and Mazzetti, M. (1998). Rough riding into the 20th century. American Legion

Magazine, 28, 32-36.

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