Theodore Roosevelt Dbq

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Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources The focus of this investigation will be “How much of an impact did Theodore Roosevelt and his economic changes, like his Trust Bust program, shape business and economic turmoil from 1901-1909?” and will analyze changes Roosevelt made to the monopolies of big businesses, his trust bust campaign, and help to the common man. Roosevelt felt, as chief executive, that it was his duty to help ensure social justice and economic opportunity by making certain that there was government regulation with big businesses. Theodore Roosevelt was not a radical by any means. He believed that big businesses was inevitable with a growing industrial economy, but he knew that it must be regulated or else extreme …show more content…

Published in 1906, his works included letters, speeches, papers and writings. The origin of this source is valuable because it is a primary view of Roosevelt and actions he took, believing his economic changes with better help the democratic government of the United States. This source is valuable because the letters and works compiled into his autobiography give insight to what was going on during the early 1900s with big businesses and government control. However, even though it gives first-hand information on Roosevelt and his presidency and accurate details told by himself, the source is limited in terms of origin because of the bias and subjective account Roosevelt gives; he believes that his economic changes will greatly benefit bureaucracy and monopolies. The autobiography of Roosevelt provides his view on the nation during his presidency and why he took such a strong lead in changing commerce and big businesses. The purpose for his letters and writing his autobiography was to give accounts of his life and explain his government action on controlling commerce and …show more content…

One of Roosevelt’s changes while in office was his Square Deal policy made for business employees and employers. Roosevelt’s presidency was a time period, start of the 20th century, when big business and industry were stimulating the economy and growing rapidly. Roosevelt saw the implications of what too much power to a small number of wealthy people would do to the democratic values of the United States; a small minority ruled over and controlled the economy for the poor majority. Roosevelt had no toleration for the Labor demagogue, for the walking delegate, and all similar parasites, who preyed upon the working classes for their own profit, and fomented the irritation of Labor and Capital (Thayer 242). The Square Deal became Roosevelt’s 1904 campaign slogan and the framework for much of his presidency. It promised that the needs of workers, business, and consumers should be balanced justly. The Square Deal was based on the control of corporations and consumer protection. His idea was that the labor unions shall have a square deal, and the corporations shall have a square deal (Roosevelt 345). Tension between the labor unions and employers rose in the summer of 1902 when coal miners of Pennsylvania stopped working and people realized that the idea of a coal famine would threaten the country’s economy (Thayer 243). Instead of Roosevelt resorting

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