Theodore Roosevelt Dbq

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

actions would be taken in the future that might have threatened democracy in the United States.
The second source that will be evaluated in depth in Jim Powell’s book “Bully Boy: The Truth about Theodore Roosevelt’s Legacy” written in 2006 explaining actions Roosevelt took during his presidency. The origin of the source is valuable because Powell is an author on the history of liberty and has written three books about the consequences of major presidential policies. He is a Senior Fellow at a libertarian think tank in D.C and has given international talks at universities such as Harvard and Stanford. Furthermore, the date of publication in 2006 strengthens the sources value because it allows Powell, as a historian, to analyze many sources on the topic of Roosevelt and his economic changes and is a modern viewpoint of Roosevelt. Powell’s strong view of Roosevelt’s presidency and questions he brings up on how helpful his economic programs were adds value to the source because it gives a different perspective and criticizes what Roosevelt did in office. Although this bias of Powell can be a limitation as well. The content in the source captures a negative viewpoint on the President and explains the “real” reputation Roosevelt should have.
The purpose of Powell’s book was to analyze a different perspective on the outcome and effect of Roosevelt’s trust bust program and business planning during 1901-1909. The different points that Powell makes are valuable to a historian because it accounts a legacy of Roosevelt that audiences had not looked at and contradicts how other sources portray the president.
The second source evaluated was an autobiography written by Roosevelt, “The works of Theodore Roosevelt”.

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

corporations.

Section II: Investigation:
Many historians would agree that Theodore Roosevelt was an important leading figure in the justice and equality of big business monopoly and the relationship of employees and the employer. Roosevelt became the 26th President after the assassination of McKinley. Before Roosevelt took office in 1901 he had plans to change the monopolizing forces of big businesses and corporations over people’s everyday lives. He took the deepest personal satisfaction in fighting the criminal rich and the soulless corporations, because he regarded them not only as lawbreakers, malefactors of great wealth, but as despicably mean, in that they used their power to oppress the poor and helpless classes (Thayer 242). As New York police commissioner, Roosevelt saw changes he wanted to make to government and its role in economic and social affairs. Roosevelt had a love for justice and expressed his idea that the poor man should have justice, and the rich man should have justice, and that no made should have more or less (Thayer 243). Roosevelt enacted policies, like his Square Deal plan, went against powerful businesses and challenged court decisions during his presidency of 1901-1909 to advocate for government influence over the economy. Roosevelt believed that big corporations and people in charge of these businesses controlled much of the economy and commerce and that if this hierarchical system was to continue, then democracy would be lost. Roosevelt stated from his writings that as President he had to deal with the Nation’s attitude of big businesses (Roosevelt 485). He was worried about the power held by these men who had gained these fortunes from giant corporations which they controlled and the power of the might industrial overlords of the country would increase with giant strides and methods of government controlling them or checking abuse made by them would be practically impotent (Roosevelt 486). Roosevelt’s efforts to reform and regulate business changed the relationship of government roles in the country’s everyday life and work.
The Roosevelt administration made great progress in weakening the patronage link between Congress and the bureaucracy (White 162).

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

to violent actions toward the mine workers he brought in both parties to discuss issues; this meeting emphasized to him the inequalities between the work force and bosses, but also how much an effect big businesses such as the coal industry had on the consumer. The Coal Strike of 1902 ended with the miners and operators agreeing on commission (Thayer 245), but this strike made Americans and the president realize that big industries such as coal are essential to the life of the Nation and is in the hands of the selfish interest of those in charge of business (Thayer 247). This event also showed the public the growing tensions of the poor labor force against the industrializing business and wealthy. Roosevelt sympathized with the suffering and grievances of the labor force and he wanted to find a way to find a remedy for the deep-rooted cause of the quarrel instead of a temporary peace (Thayer 249). He aimed to find a balance of justice between the workers and employer.
Roosevelt also believed in the equality between big business monopolies and the consumer. With the Coal Strike scare in 1902 and other labor unions being formed, Roosevelt implemented policies which would make certain the consumer economy did not just rely on few businesses controlled by a small percent. Roosevelt wanted to shape the economy and approached the start for change between Federal powers and business with his Trust Bust program beginning in 1902 when he decided to approve a government lawsuit against companies for violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Roosevelt believed that Wall Street Financers like JP Morgan and powerful trust titans had been acting foolishly and unjustly; they were eating off fancy china on mahogany tables and the masses were roughing it and docking wages to increase their profit gave too much power to a few. Roosevelt believed that commerce and industry were important factors of the economy, but powerful businesses needed to understand the federal government was in charge of rules and regulations (Roosevelt 469). Even before the coal strike, Roosevelt was determined to strengthen the powers of the federal government over the great industrial combinations (Yarbrough 150). Beginning the 1860s, Americans began enjoying goods and services and business big and small were successful but, owners of the big businesses wanted to stamp out all of the competitors in order for them to control the market (Brexel 7). The Trust Bust program was designed to look for the good versus bad trusts in industry; if the trusts were bad, like exploiting consumers and rates being jacked up, the trusts would be attacked and shut down. Although Roosevelt was applauded for his boldness in fixing the corruption of the structure of the American economy, many historians like Jim Powell, argue that Roosevelt was in favor of monopolies and big businesses and government control over people would be the solution to problems facing the economy (Powell 22). Powell goes on to explain that Roosevelt’s economic programs took jobs away and disrupted the economic market (Powell 28).
Roosevelt’s programs did call for more federal government involvement and control which caused a strain of individual and state’s rights of regulating commerce and business, but as a whole his changes as president allowed for a better work environment for both Labor and Capital (Thayer 245) and gives everyone, both consumer and business, a “square deal” in commerce and industry. Some historians will argue that Roosevelt’s approach of federal control threatened individual rights in the democratic government, but Roosevelt argues that the laissez-faire economics and individualistic approach of corporation leads to fraud and Government must step in to protect labor, public welfare, and business (Roosevelt 287).
Section 3: Reflection
This investigation has allowed me to gain an insight into some of the methods used by historians, as well as to the challenges that historians face when carrying out historical investigations. In order to carry out the investigation into my research question I had to read works by other historians, many whom had contrasting views, analyze where the source came from and if it had value, and look at primary sources to get a view from the past.
Working on my investigation showed me the difficulty facing historians when analyzing a variety of sources and the points of view of each of them. The primary sources used were Teddy Roosevelt’s autobiographies and letters written by him. They helped me to gain insight of his point of view and bring me closer to the time period of my research question. I also brought in secondary documents such as video documentaries, biographies of Roosevelt, and books relating to my topic. These sources allowed me to see commentary and opinions of other historians on the topic of Roosevelt’s influence on the economy. Although analyzing numerous sources as a historian has made me aware of the challenges of coming across one conclusion because of the many different opinions and “truths”; there is not just one theory or one correct answer in history. I read different interpretations from sources to formulate my own conclusion of whether or not Roosevelt and his changes during his presidency impacted the economy and big businesses. I interpreted the negative aspects of Jim Powell in Bully Boy, autobiographies and factual evidence from documentaries and his biography of why he wanted to change the relationship dynamic between big businesses and workers.
Challenges facing historians when reading into different ideas of a subject is coming to a conclusion that can support all of the information just given and figuring out if the information provided is historically accurate. This differs from challenges facing scientists because it is difficult to establish proof of history. Therefor motives of historians are to look at sources and viewpoints presented and conclude or prove that an event did happen in history. It is also difficult for historians to be unbiased when coming to conclusions of proof and finding resources because there should be different opinions to consider. I realized how difficult it was for historians to construct an objective and accurate account of history because certain facts appeal more than others when investigating different accounts of an event. When choosing information, the historian must look at the bias of the source and from my investigation I found that it was challenging to find facts and views that fit the time period. By having different viewpoints it can make the history and facts of events more arguable.