The Possibility Of Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Reform

Of the progressive presidents discussed in Chapter 17, the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt was not only the most successful, but also the pilot of national progressive reforms. Upon taking office in 1901, Roosevelt’s bold character and personality spurred him to tackle the issues cited by progressive reformers in the 1890s. Known as The Trust Buster, President Roosevelt upheld the progressive goal of creating economic reform through the Sherman Antitrust Act. While Roosevelt did not believe that trusts were all inherently bad, he fought to shut down those that hurt the general public. Under the Sherman Antitrust Act, Roosevelt filed numerous lawsuits against companies and made it to the front page of the news when he ordered the Department …show more content…
Upon receiving reports of the disgusting conditions of the meatpacking industry, Roosevelt pushed for the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. These acts subjected the meatpacking industry to federal checks and strict cleanliness requirements and required food/drug manufacturers to truthfully label their products. By passing and enforcing regulatory laws in the food industry, Roosevelt allowed the general public to make their own informed decisions, empowering the workers to make decisions that benefited themselves. Moreover, Roosevelt’s conservation of wildlife during his terms as president served to bolster his protection of social welfare. Unlike his predecessors, Roosevelt understood that the seemingly abundant natural resources were, in fact, limited and required governmental intervention to save the diminishing wilderness. With some persuasion from naturalist John Muir, Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserve and established over 50 sanctuaries and national

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The Possibility Of Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Reform

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