APUSH essay

T. Roosevelt and Wilson

1) To what extent did the role of the federal government change under President Theodore Roosevelt in
regard to TWO of the following: labor, trusts, conservation, world affairs.
2) Compare and contrast the foreign policies of Theodore Roosevelt and
Woodrow Wilson.

Following the Civil War, the federal government played an increasingly

passive role in American life. This can be especially seen in the federal government's
laissez-faire attitude toward the growth of big business. All of this changed when
Theodore Roosevelt became the President in 1901. TR revitalized the presidency and
thus expanded the role of the federal govt. This can be clearly seen in TR's policies
towards labor, trusts and world affairs.
As a progressive president, Roosevelt held a different attitude toward labor
issue. In 1902, over 100,000 Mine Workers struck the coalmines in western PA. The
miners demanded a 20% boost in salary and a reduction of their working day from 10
hours to 9 hours. The owners refused to negotiate thus precipitating the long and bitter
Anthracite Coal Strike. History and precedent seemed to be on the owner's side. The
defeat of the Pullman workers encouraged the coal owners. However, their confidence
proved to be wrong. In an effort to resolve the strike, TR invited both sides to a White
House conference. Outraged by the owners arrogance and recalcitrance, TR
threatened to use federal troops to take over the mines. Stunned by President
Roosevelt's threat, the owners reluctantly accepted federal arbitration. The resulting
settlement gave the workers higher wages and reduced hours. And Roosevelt became
the first president to side with workers. The Anthracite Coal Strike marked a
watershed event in American labor history. Roosevelt's vigorous action set a precedent
for active federal intervention in labor disputes. TR's bold leadership underscored his
commitment to a "Square Deal" for the American people.
Roosevelt's determination to use all his presidential authority against the
tyranny of corrupted business can also be seen in his approach to trusts. By 1910,
giant trusts dominated the American economy. Like many Progressives, TR believed
that monopolistic trusts posed a threat to free markets. In contrast to the pro-business
policies of Cleveland and McKinley, TR used the federal govt to reduce the power of
the trusts and thus defend the public interest. In 1902, the Justice Department filed
suit against the Northern Securities Company, a giant railroad holding company. 2
years later, the Supreme Court upheld the anti-trust suit and dissolved the National
Securities Company. This landmark victory encouraged TR to become the nations
trustbuster and pursue over 40 other anti-trust suits including cases against Standard
Oil and American Tobacco.TR further expanded the federal government's regulatory
power over business by signing the Elkins Act and Hepburn Act, which important law
gave the ICC greater authority over RR.

APUSH essay
T. Roosevelt and Wilson

Roosevelts foreign policy:

Roosevelt pushed federal govt into a more active role in world affairs by his
aggressive Big Stick foreign policy based on his favorite expression to "speak
softly and carry a big stick." Roosevelt was eager to build a canal through Central
America to connect Atlantic and Pacific oceans. After the agreement made in HayPauncefote Treaty that exclude British participation in the canal-building, by
supporting Panamas revolution against Colombia, Roosevelt successfully got control
over canal zone and made Panama a US protectorate through Hay-Bunau-Varilla
Treaty. The building of Panama Canal thus gave US a commanding position in
Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt consolidated US dominance over Caribbean as well.
The Platt Amendment limited Cubas self-govt for American interests. The
establishment of Roosevelt Corollary strengthened the Monroe Doctrine and made
US the policemen of the Caribbean. However, the relationship between US and Japan
during Roosevelts presidency grew increasing competitive. In 1905, Roosevelt made
effort ending Russo-Japanese war with the Treaty of Portsmouth and thus received
the Nobel Peace Price. Though US respected Japans paramount interest in Yellow
Sea, a surge of anti-Asian sentiment in CA complicated Roosevelts efforts. To
smooth Japans fury over mistreatment of Japanese in CA, the Gentlemens
Agreement was made in 1907, in which Japan agreed to restrict immigration to the
US and in return for Roosevelt persuading CA to repeal the discriminatory laws. To
demonstrate US naval power to the world, Roosevelt sent Great White Fleet on an
around-the-world cruise and meted with warm reception by the Japanese.
Wilsons foreign policy:
Wilson promised a moral approach to foreign affairs and opposed
imperialism and the big stick and dollar-diplomacy policies of his Republican
predecessors. He insisted that US should conduct its foreign policy with its
democratic principles and foster constitutional liberty in the world and
demonstrated his belief with the passage of Jones Act, which was viewed by Wilson
as corrective to wrongful policies of the past. After remain neutral with He kept us
out of war being a rallying slogan that supported his reelection, Wilson eventually
asked congress for the declaration of war after the sinking of Lusitania and
Zimmerman telegram incident. As an idealistic opposed to the imperialist Roosevelt,
Wilson insist on a peace without victory when the war ended and these ideals were
expressed in Wilsons Fourteen Points, which called for freedom of seas, arms
reduction, removal of trade barriers and most importantly, creation of the League of
Nation.

APUSH essay
T. Roosevelt and Wilson