Teddy and the Coal Mines
One of his first actions related to the Progressivism movement was to create the "Square Deal," an idea that there should be fairness for capital, labor, and the public at large. This program embraced the three c's: control for the corporations, consumer protection and conservation of natural resources. This idea was tested when 140,000 coal miners of Pennsylvania went on trike, furious about their horrible treatments in the mines and fed up with their perpetual accident-plagued work environments. The strikers, many of which were illiterate immigrants, demanded 20% increased pay and a reduced working day of 9 hours (reduced from the normal 10).
Opinion: Honestly, I believe the miners had absolute right to begin rebelling. In fact, they should have done it a long time ago. corporate giants have ruled America for the past half century with their trusts and monopolies that forced the government to kow-tow and acquiesce to their wills. They had children working in their factories who received no pay at all and sneakily used their power and economic means to take advantage of the American people. They corrupted the American belief that people could move up on the social ladder and make something of themselves. For men to come from low economic statuses, such as Rockefeller you would think they would be more understanding to their workers.
Owners of the Pennsylvania mines refused to agree to the terms set by their miners and kept the same arrogant attitudes their predecessors had. When American people finally witnessed the effects of the shortage of coal in the old winter nights , Roosevelt quickly put his plan to action. He forced mine owners to consent to the demands of the miners or face the wrath of the American army.
After this incident, Roosevelt established the Department of commerce and Labor in 1903 to regulate interstate commerce, break the stranglehold of monopoly, and clear the road for the era of "trust-busting."
Opinion: Honestly, I believe the miners had absolute right to begin rebelling. In fact, they should have done it a long time ago. corporate giants have ruled America for the past half century with their trusts and monopolies that forced the government to kow-tow and acquiesce to their wills. They had children working in their factories who received no pay at all and sneakily used their power and economic means to take advantage of the American people. They corrupted the American belief that people could move up on the social ladder and make something of themselves. For men to come from low economic statuses, such as Rockefeller you would think they would be more understanding to their workers.
Owners of the Pennsylvania mines refused to agree to the terms set by their miners and kept the same arrogant attitudes their predecessors had. When American people finally witnessed the effects of the shortage of coal in the old winter nights , Roosevelt quickly put his plan to action. He forced mine owners to consent to the demands of the miners or face the wrath of the American army.
After this incident, Roosevelt established the Department of commerce and Labor in 1903 to regulate interstate commerce, break the stranglehold of monopoly, and clear the road for the era of "trust-busting."