- Trust-Busting
Broke up monopolies and large corporate trusts (e.g., Northern Securities Company) under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Sought to ensure fair competition and reduce corporate power over markets.
- Regulation of Corporations
Created the Bureau of Corporations to investigate business practices.
Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroad rates with the Hepburn Act (1906).
- Consumer Protection
Championed the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act (1906), expanding federal power to regulate food and medicine industries.
- Labor Advocacy
Intervened in the 1902 Coal Strike not to crush the unions, but to mediate between labor and management—a novel approach at the time.
Supported the right of workers to organize and called for improved labor conditions.
- Environmental Conservation
Established 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, and over 150 national forests.
Created the United States Forest Service and greatly expanded federal land protection.
- Progressive Reforms
Advocated for progressive taxation, such as a graduated income tax (later realized in the 16th Amendment).
Supported inheritance taxes on the wealthy.
Urged campaign finance reform to reduce corporate influence on elections.
- Social Justice and Equity
Called for a “Square Deal”, promoting fair treatment for workers, consumers, and businesses alike.
Although not fully aligned with civil rights for African Americans, he did invite Booker T. Washington to the White House—symbolic for its time.
- Government Oversight and Intervention
Believed the federal government should regulate the economy in the public interest.
Supported state and federal regulation over laissez-faire capitalism.
- Public Health and Safety
Supported increased government responsibility for urban sanitation, public health campaigns, and infrastructure safety.
Comments
The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written.
Broke up monopolies and large corporate trusts (e.g., Northern Securities Company) under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Sought to ensure fair competition and reduce corporate power over markets.
Created the Bureau of Corporations to investigate business practices.
Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroad rates with the Hepburn Act (1906).
Championed the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act (1906), expanding federal power to regulate food and medicine industries.
Intervened in the 1902 Coal Strike not to crush the unions, but to mediate between labor and management—a novel approach at the time.
Supported the right of workers to organize and called for improved labor conditions.
Established 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, and over 150 national forests.
Created the United States Forest Service and greatly expanded federal land protection.
Advocated for progressive taxation, such as a graduated income tax (later realized in the 16th Amendment).
Supported inheritance taxes on the wealthy.
Urged campaign finance reform to reduce corporate influence on elections.
Called for a “Square Deal”, promoting fair treatment for workers, consumers, and businesses alike.
Although not fully aligned with civil rights for African Americans, he did invite Booker T. Washington to the White House—symbolic for its time.
Believed the federal government should regulate the economy in the public interest.
Supported state and federal regulation over laissez-faire capitalism.
Supported increased government responsibility for urban sanitation, public health campaigns, and infrastructure safety.
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He was actually a progressive liberal. The real name of the Bull Moose part was the Progressive Party.
Yep
Yes, 100%, especially relative to his time, but he even holds up now with the label I think.
For the standard of the time he would be a liberal on the further left of the party. You could call him at progressive. Actually his party name was the progressive party.
For the standard of any time he would be a bad ass and an excellent leader
Really the biggest break is around imperialism, which until very recently wasn’t a liberal/conservative dividing issue. He was a clear imperialist and was in favor of military expansionism. Definitely would be excited about taking Greenland.
Theodore Roosevelt sought to maintain and implement conservative liberal policies within the framework of the progressive wing of the Republican Party. He’s what today is known as progressive conservatism.
In terms of modern ideology, he was very much a big government liberal on much domestic economic and environmental policy.
His “speak softly and carry a big stick” fits more with traditional (pre-Trump) modern conservativism.
His belief that immigrants should become and be accepted as just American (as opposed to being perpetual “hyphenated Americans”) is very traditional (pre-Trump) modern conservative as well.
Written by ChatGPT.
It’s hard to label people centuries ago with modern ideologies. He was progressive for his time but many of his views would be seen as reprehensible now, especially his opinions on foreign policy
I think the Liberal/Conservative divide is a tough thing to apply to other times in history or other countries.
Nixon and George W also did a lot for national parks.
Regan, the patron saint of conservatism spoke about undocumented immigrants and policy towards them that would get anyone branded a “libtard” today.
After Roe v. Wade passed, many democrats, including Joe Biden were against the ruling and some prominent republicans were big supporters.
Clinton through both terms and Obama in his first had policies and expressed viewpoints on LGBTQ people that would get anyone labelled a homophobic bigot to express today.
And until MAGA, even the conservatives hadn’t fully bought into “starve the beast”. Plenty of Republicans in the not too distant past were on board with some basic empathy and belief the government could do things and that’s not a bad thing.
It’s all very relative.
I think the labels are less useful the farther you get from the present context. But if you really wanted to try to apply them, you’d want to look at the national dialogue in the moment and compare them to social norms and their opposition. Someone MORE on the side of protecting underserved groups, MORE of the belief that government can and should do things that markets fail at etc could probably be seen as aligned with liberal ideas,
He’s further left than most liberals, I’d call him a progressive
The OG Bull Moose Progressive
He wouldn’t be a Republican I’ll tell you that. They’d call him woke if he tried defending Alaska from oil drilling.
“Thank God I’m not a Free Trader” — Theodore Roosevelt
He definitely supported some degree of Protectionism in trade.
Yes. I think you can make some arguments against, especially if you ignore that society tends to progress over time, but by and large I would say he falls squarely under the liberal label.
Honestly, the Roosevelt family needs a comeback. With Teddy and FDR, they shaped this country for the better. Just ignore all the racist shit