Progressive President Superhero
Theodore Roosevelt "Busting Maverick"
"Speak softly and carry a big busting stick"
Octo-trust
This octopus-looking monster, has giant, strong tentacles as a powerful weapon to capture its victims and strangle them until they are destroyed.
- The Octo-trust, since its prey is other companies, kills off all of the competition in the area. Rather than there being options for consumers, the Octo-trust makes sure there is only one.
- Since there are no options for anyone to choose from, the prices are at the command of the trust. The company can hinder production to drive up the prices, or flood the market all together.
- It also controls politicians like puppets, bribing them to look away at all the misdeeds happening, corrupting them along the way. These politicians are the leaders of the nation, corrupting them causes the people under them to suffer.
- An economy oppressed by one mega company is inhibited in growth. People have no motivation or confidence to make a newer and better product. They believe that if they make the smallest attempt, they will be strangled by the trust.
- Products were also to be made of cheap quality since there is no competition to make anything better. So people were buying cheap quality expensive, products.
Sidekick: Frank Norris "Exposé"
Norris made his famous piece, The Octopus, in 1901.
It attacked corporate monopolies as it described the situation in the growing and distributing of wheat in California and the social and economic problems attached to it. In The Octopus depicted the struggles between the wheat growers and the railway corporation's monopoly.
It attacked corporate monopolies as it described the situation in the growing and distributing of wheat in California and the social and economic problems attached to it. In The Octopus depicted the struggles between the wheat growers and the railway corporation's monopoly.
There exposed was the absurd pricing policies made by the railways and the inhumane treatment towards the Midwestern, Great Plains, and Californian farmers.
While in office, over 44 antitrust suits were made.
The Interstate Commerce Act, although made by president Cleveland in 1887, was important during Roosevelt's presidency because he used it to regulate America's railroads.
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was also made before but important for Roosevelt. It enabled government departments and indivduals to use the court system to break up trusts and monopolies if they harmed trade.
The Northern Securities Case was the first of Roosevelt's anti-trust legislation to fight the monopolies, the monopoly this time was a company controlling railroads from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest.
The Elkins Act was made by the Pennsylvania Railroad to end rebating. Rebates give money back to the businesses who carry large amounts of products on the railroads. A lot of railroad companies disliked it because the companies could threaten to use another railroad if not given the rebate. The Elkins Act gave federal courts the ability to end rebates, the rates were published by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Hepburn Act strengthened the powers of the ICC and the federal regulation of railroads. Basically, it was a stronger version of the Elkins Act. The ICC was able to use lawful force and set a maximum rate, it forbade giving free passes with exceptions to employees. Annual railroad accounts became mandatory and were examined by professionals.
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was also made before but important for Roosevelt. It enabled government departments and indivduals to use the court system to break up trusts and monopolies if they harmed trade.
The Northern Securities Case was the first of Roosevelt's anti-trust legislation to fight the monopolies, the monopoly this time was a company controlling railroads from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest.
The Elkins Act was made by the Pennsylvania Railroad to end rebating. Rebates give money back to the businesses who carry large amounts of products on the railroads. A lot of railroad companies disliked it because the companies could threaten to use another railroad if not given the rebate. The Elkins Act gave federal courts the ability to end rebates, the rates were published by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Hepburn Act strengthened the powers of the ICC and the federal regulation of railroads. Basically, it was a stronger version of the Elkins Act. The ICC was able to use lawful force and set a maximum rate, it forbade giving free passes with exceptions to employees. Annual railroad accounts became mandatory and were examined by professionals.
Citations
- "Theodore Roosevelt | The White House." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/theodoreroosevelt>.
- "The Trust Buster [ushistory.org]." ushistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/43b.asp>.
- "History: Theodore Roosevelt: Presidential Accomplishments." U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nps.gov/history/logcabin/html/tr3.html>.
- "Roosevelt: The Trust Buster! | AP United States History." AP United States History | United we stand… Divided we fall!. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://kapush.wordpress.com/2008/03/09/roosevelt-the-trust-buster/>.
- " TR Center - The Northern Securities Case." TR Center - Theodore Roosevelt Center Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/Themes/Capitalism-and-Labor/The-Northern-Securities-Case.aspx>.
- " TR Center - Capitalism and Labor." TR Center - Theodore Roosevelt Center Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/Themes/Capitalism-and-Labor.aspx>.
- " TR Center - The Elkins Act." TR Center - Theodore Roosevelt Center Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/Themes/Capitalism-and-Labor/The-Elkins-Act.aspx>.
- " TR Center - The Hepburn Act." TR Center - Theodore Roosevelt Center Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/Themes/Capitalism-and-Labor/The-Hepburn-Act.aspx>.