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Date: July 1, 1898
During the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt led the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as the "Rough Riders," in a charge up Kettle Hill, which was part of the Battle of San Juan Heights. This highly publicized military exploit made Roosevelt a national hero, giving him the political fame he needed to launch his political career. -
Date: September 6, 1901
Theodore Roosevelt became president following the assassination of President William McKinley. At just 42 years old, he was the youngest president in U.S. history and immediately began to expand the power of the executive branch by vigorously pursuing progressive reforms and an assertive foreign policy. -
Date: May–October 1902
The Anthracite Coal Strike involved 147,000 miners in Pennsylvania who were striking for higher wages, shorter workdays, and union recognition. President Theodore Roosevelt intervened as an impartial arbitrator, a groundbreaking move that set a precedent for federal government involvement in labor disputes. The strike was settled with a 10% wage increase and a nine-hour workday, although the union was not officially recognized. -
Date: June 17, 1902
Also known as the Newlands Act, this law authorized the federal government to use funds from public land sales to finance irrigation projects and "reclaim" arid land in 17 western states. The act dramatically transformed the American West by promoting agricultural development and westward settlement. -
Date: February 1903
The Elkins Act made it illegal for railroads to offer, and for shippers to accept, rebates on freight charges. The act was a significant step in Theodore Roosevelt's "Square Deal" and aimed to create a more level playing field for businesses by providing federal oversight of railroad rates. -
The cause of the Northern Securities case was the 1901 formation of the Northern Securities Company, a holding company that consolidated the stock of three major competing railroads to create a monopoly over rail traffic in the northwestern U.S.. Led by financiers like J.P. Morgan and James J. Hill, this move drew alarm from the public and challenged the government's authority to regulate powerful corporations. -
Date: November 8, 1904
Theodore Roosevelt won his first full term as president in a landslide election, defeating the Democratic nominee, Alton B. Parker. His victory was significant because he was the first president to have ascended to the office after the death of his predecessor and then win a full term in his own right. -
Date: 1906
Yosemite was initially granted to California in 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln, but John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt took a historic three-day camping trip in the area in 1903. This trip convinced Roosevelt that the land needed greater protection, and in 1906, the state of California returned control of Yosemite Valley to the federal government, consolidating it within Yosemite National Park. -
Date: June 30, 1906
This act was passed in response to public outrage following the publication of Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle, which exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry. The legislation prohibited the sale of adulterated or misbranded meat products and mandated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspect all cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and horses before and after slaughter for interstate commerce. -
Date: June 30, 1906
Passed on the same day as the Meat Inspection Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce. This landmark legislation was a response to public demands for consumer protection and led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -
Date: March 1909 – June 1910
After leaving the presidency on March 4, 1909, Theodore Roosevelt embarked on an African expedition with his son Kermit. The trip was sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, and its primary purpose was to collect plant and animal specimens for the Smithsonian's new natural history museum. -
Date: 1912
After losing the Republican Party nomination to William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party, nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party". His third-party candidacy split the Republican vote, allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the presidency. The Bull Moose platform advocated for numerous progressive reforms, including women's suffrage and social insurance.