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== Teddy Roosevelt ==

== Teddy Roosevelt ==

Vice President Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt was only 42 years old when President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901.  Teddy Roosevelt thereby became the youngest President in American history.  Athletically fit and vigorous, he brought an exciting level of aggression in leading America.  He was a "progressive" but also an imperialist, pushing for a a strong foreign policy.  As President Andrew Jackson had done over 70 years earlier, Teddy Roosevelt expanded the power of the presidency with a view that he should take whatever action he thought promoted the public good, as long as it was not expressly prohibited by law or the Constitution.  "I did not usurp power," Teddy Roosevelt declared, "but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power."<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html</ref>

Vice President Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt was only 42 years old when President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901.  Teddy Roosevelt thereby became the youngest President in American history, a record that continues to this day (the minimum age required by the Constitution is 35 years old for the president).  Athletically fit and vigorous, he brought an exciting level of aggression in leading America.  He was a "progressive" but also an imperialist, pushing for a a strong foreign policy.  As President Andrew Jackson had done over 70 years earlier, Teddy Roosevelt expanded the power of the presidency with a view that he should take whatever action he thought promoted the public good, as long as it was not expressly prohibited by law or the Constitution.  "I did not usurp power," Teddy Roosevelt declared, "but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power."<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html</ref>

Roosevelt became famous as a "trust buster" for requiring the dissolution of a huge railroad conglomerate in the Northwest.  The Roosevelt Administration took the case of ''Northern Securities Co. v. U.S.'' to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1904 that the Sherman (Antitrust) Act required breaking up the railroad trust.  This decision had the effect of "resurrecting" or reviving the Sherman (Antitrust) Act, and Roosevelt used it to break up other monopolies.  His popularity soared as a result, because newspapers and the common man loathed the big corporations.

Roosevelt became famous as a "trust buster" for requiring the dissolution of a huge railroad conglomerate in the Northwest.  The Roosevelt Administration took the case of ''Northern Securities Co. v. U.S.'' to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1904 that the Sherman (Antitrust) Act required breaking up the railroad trust.  This decision had the effect of "resurrecting" or reviving the Sherman (Antitrust) Act, and Roosevelt used it to break up other monopolies.  His popularity soared as a result; newspapers and the common man loathed the big corporations, and considered Teddy Roosevelt to be a hero in winning against the largest companies.

The breaking up of monopolies was part of Roosevelt's approach that he called the "Square Deal," which was named after his negotiation of settlements between striking workers and big corporations, giving a "square deal" to both sides in the agreement.  He campaigned in 1904 by taking credit for treating the owners and workers equally in resolving a nasty coal miner's strike in 1902, giving them both a "square deal."

The breaking up of monopolies was part of Roosevelt's approach that he called the "Square Deal." This name resulted from his negotiation of settlements between striking workers and big corporations, which reportedly gave a "square deal" to both sides in the agreement.  He campaigned in 1904 by taking credit for treating the owners and workers equally in resolving a nasty coal miner's strike in 1902, giving them both a "square deal."

Roosevelt was neither a liberal nor a conservative, and after serving as president he even left the Republican Party to start a new political party based on his own personality.  He had his own "maverick" style similar to that of the recent Republican presidential candidate John McCain.   

Roosevelt was neither a liberal nor a conservative, and after serving as president he even left the Republican Party to start a new political party based on his own personality.  He had his own "maverick" style similar to that of the 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.   

Roosevelt approved many new regulations and assistance programs.  He signed the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, which gave federal assistance to irrigate Western land for farmers and ranchers.  He signed into law the Hepburn Act of 1906, which strengthened federal regulation of railroads by increasing the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).  Later, in 1910, the Mann-Elkins Act empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to suspend any increases in rates by railroads in shipping goods.  The Act also extended the ICC's authority to include communications.  The political support for this increased regulation was so broad that it passed by the huge margin of 50-12 in the U.S. Senate.

Roosevelt approved many new regulations and assistance programs.  He signed the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, which gave federal assistance to irrigate Western land for farmers and ranchers.  He signed into law the Hepburn Act of 1906, which strengthened federal regulation of railroads by increasing the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).  Later, in 1910, the Mann-Elkins Act empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to suspend any increases in rates by railroads in shipping goods.  The Act also extended the ICC's authority to include communications.  The political support for this increased regulation was so broad that it passed by the huge margin of 50-12 in the U.S. Senate.  9Note that there were not yet 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate then, because many states had not yet joined the United States).

In 1906 an influential book entitled "[[The Jungle]]" was published.  Author Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy conditions of Chicago slaughterhouses.  This resulted in swift passage in 1906 of both the Meat Inspection Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of slaughterhouses, and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of food and medications (drugs).

In 1906 an influential book entitled "[[The Jungle]]" was published.  Author Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy conditions of Chicago slaughterhouses.  This resulted in swift passage in 1906 of both the Meat Inspection Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of slaughterhouses, and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established federal regulation and inspection of food and medications (drugs).

In foreign policy, Roosevelt's famous approach was to "speak softly and carry a big stick" (to use against anyone who causes problems).  In 1902 there was a boundary dispute concerning Venezuela resulting in a blockade by both Britain and Germany, but Roosevelt persuaded both to withdraw.  He was a peacemaker, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating an end to the Russo-Japanese War.  

In foreign policy, Roosevelt's famous approach was to "speak softly and carry a big stick" (to use against anyone who causes problems).  In 1902 there was a boundary dispute concerning Venezuela resulting in a blockade by both Britain and Germany, but Roosevelt persuaded both to withdraw.  He was a peacemaker, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating an end to the Russo-Japanese War.  

The Russo-Japanese War was an astounding victory by the small Japan against the large Russia on Chinese soil in 1904-05.  In June 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth (New Hampshire) was signed ending that war because Roosevelt invited Japan and Russia to a conference in New Hampshire to make peace.  As a result of this treaty Japan expanded its influence in Far East, but Roosevelt rejected Japan's demand for reparations from Russia.   

 

The Russo-Japanese War was an astounding victory by the relatively small Japan against the large Russia on Chinese soil in 1904-05.  In June 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth (New Hampshire) was signed ending that war because Roosevelt invited Japan and Russia to a conference in New Hampshire to make peace.  As a result of this treaty Japan expanded its influence in Far East, but Roosevelt rejected Japan's demand for reparations from Russia.   

The Taft-Katsura Agreement in 1905 recognized (allowed) Japan's dominance in Korea, which Secretary of War (and future president) William Howard Taft approved.  In return, Japan promised not to invade the Philippines, which was American territory at that time.  

The Taft-Katsura Agreement in 1905 recognized (allowed) Japan's dominance in Korea, which Secretary of War (and future president) William Howard Taft approved.  In return, Japan promised not to invade the Philippines, which was American territory at that time.  

But issues with Japan continued, as Japan was growing into a world power that would lead to World War II less than 40 years later.  Roosevelt reached the "Gentleman's Agreement" with Japan in 1907, which excluded Japanese immigrants from the United States.  Note that even the Progressives, including Roosevelt, opposed immigration.  Roosevelt was particularly concerned about preserving the English language in America:

But issues with Japan continued, as Japan was growing into a world power that would lead to World War II less than 40 years later.  Roosevelt reached the "Gentleman's Agreement" with Japan in 1907, which excluded Japanese immigrants from the United States.   

 

 

Note that even the Progressives, including Roosevelt, opposed immigration.  Roosevelt was particularly concerned about preserving the English language in America:

:There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.

:There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.

In 1908 the Root-Takahira Agreement, yet another deal was reached with Japan by Secretary of State Elihu Root.  This kept the status quo with Japan but established an "Open Door" policy allowing trade by many countries with China.  Japan was allowed to annex Korea, which resulted in an animosity between Koreans and Japan that exists to this day.   

In 1908 the Root-Takahira Agreement, yet another deal was reached with Japan by Secretary of State Elihu Root.  This kept the status quo with Japan but established an "Open Door" policy allowing trade by many countries with China.  Japan was allowed to annex Korea, which resulted in an animosity between Koreans and Japan that exists to this day.   

Roosevelt enjoyed support in newspapers, particularly among "muckrakers".  Muckrakers were journalists who sensationalized the bad parts of big business and machine politics.  Whenever Roosevelt "took on" big business, he was glorified in the papers and he probably enjoyed that.

Roosevelt enjoyed support in newspapers, particularly among "muckrakers".  Muckrakers were journalists who sensationalized the bad parts of big business and machine politics.  Whenever Roosevelt "took on" big business, he was glorified in the papers and he probably enjoyed that.

But he was occasionally ridiculed too.  In 1906, Andrew Carnegie proposed simplifying English so that it could become the most popular language for the entire world.<ref>http://history1900s.about.com/od/1900s/qt/trspelling.htm</ref>  He set up the "Simplified Spelling Board" and placed famous Americans like Mark Twain on it to simplify the spelling of words like "ghost" ("gost") to make it easier for the rest of the world to learn and use.

But Roosevelt was occasionally ridiculed too.  In 1906, Andrew Carnegie proposed simplifying English so that it could become the most popular language for the entire world.<ref>http://history1900s.about.com/od/1900s/qt/trspelling.htm</ref>  He set up the "Simplified Spelling Board" and placed famous Americans like Mark Twain on it to simplify the spelling of words like "ghost" ("gost") to make it easier for the rest of the world to learn and use.

Roosevelt was enthralled with this idea, and with his typically naive gusto embraced it completely.  He quietly ordered the United States Government Printing Office to use the new spellings of 300 words as recommended by the Simplified Spelling Board.  Newspapers, when they saw the result, mercilessly ridiculed Roosevelt's action in -- you guessed it -- political cartoons. Congress was angry for not being asked to approve this, and in December 1906 passed a resolution saying it would use the dictionary instead.  Roosevelt had to sheepishly retract his order.  Today many of the "new spellings" have been adopted by common usage.

Roosevelt was enthralled with this idea, and with his typically naive gusto embraced it completely.  He quietly ordered the United States Government Printing Office to use the new spellings of 300 words as recommended by the Simplified Spelling Board.  Newspapers, when they saw the result, mercilessly ridiculed Roosevelt's action in -- you guessed it -- political cartoons. Congress was angry for not being asked to approve this, and in December 1906 passed a resolution saying it would use the dictionary instead.  Roosevelt had to sheepishly retract his order.  But today many of the "new spellings" have been adopted by common usage anyway.

Roosevelt died at the age of 61.

Roosevelt died at the age of 61.