TR & The Early Antitrust Movement

    Theodore Roosevelt was one of the first and greatest presidents of the Progressive Movement. He was president during the era of the muckrakers when social critics were very successful in swaying public opinion toward change and turning attention toward society’s ills. His domestic plan, called the Square Deal, advocated a moral approach to solving society’s problems and an equal chance in life for all people and businesses.

    In his fight against trusts and monopolies, he passed the Hepburn act, which strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission and ended the unfair business practices of the railroads, such as dropping fares to drive competitors out of business. He also vigorously enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act, raising lawsuits against many trusts. These suits were largely unsuccessful, but brought attention to the need for legal action against trusts.

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