Theodore Roosevelt's Contributions

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Holding the office of President of the United States means that a person is someone who serves as a symbol or representation for the entire country. They not only represent the country to the rest of the world, but they hold the responsibility of pursuing actions that benefit the U.S. citizens. Due to the office of president being a large responsibility, the person holding the office must be able to complete the job in the best interest of the people, while also conducting actions that will benefit the entire country. A perfect balance between the two is necessary. In the Election of 1912, progressivism was a large interest of the people and the best option for president is Theodore Roosevelt because of his actions in regulating business, standing …show more content…

One of his contributions was pushing for the Department of Commerce and Labor to be established, which concerned with controlling the excesses of big business monopolies. The department dissolved monopolies and promoted fair competition between businesses. This allowed for smaller businesses to flourish in the United States. Roosevelt also pushed Congress to pass the Elkins Act, which authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to impose fines on railroad companies that offered unfair pricing differences. This was needed because farmers were charged more than large businesses for railroad use, with an intention of large businesses gaining an increase in profit. This represents unfair business practices, which Roosevelt stood against. Along with the Elkins Act, came the influence of the Hepburn Act. This act allowed for the government inspection of railroad businesses. Along with influencing many acts, Roosevelt was also the first president to use the Sherman Antitrust Act against large businesses. By pushing for the Department of Commerce, the Elkins Act and the Hepburn Act, Theodore Roosevelt broke up 40 large monopolies in the United States. Through his actions he proved to be the first president to promote fair business …show more content…

He knew the appeal of the people was needed in order for government initiatives to be successful. Because of this, Roosevelt was the first president to use the power of the media to appeal directly to the American people. His friendly personality, rambunctious family and his many opinions served as good content for the press. He also knew that the media was a good outlet for him to reach out to the people, bypassing political parties and political machines. His outlet was an easy way to develop the approval of the people and establish a relationship with them. His discoveries founded a new way for politicians to communicate their ideas with the people. Along with using the media to promote his causes to the people, Roosevelt also pursued actions for the good of the U.S. people. In the Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Strike, workers demanded to be treated better by their employers. To solve this issue, Roosevelt used his “Big Stick” policy to force the coal business owners to increase their payments by 10% and also limit work days to 9 hours. By his actions, Roosevelt attained a greater relationship with the U.S. people and less of a relationship with large businesses. He became the first president to ever side with the people in a dispute similar to the strike. During his presidency, Roosevelt also established the Food and Drug Administration

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