Monopolies During The Progressive Era

During the Progressive Era in the early 20th century, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson were striving to be the most progressive among other muckrakers/reformers to resolve issues among industrialization and urbanization. They each fought for reform by targeting colossal businesses, attacking substantial trusts and monopolies, drawing attention to the abuse of the working class and bringing awareness about environmental destruction. While all of the presidents worked to correct these problems during the Progressive Era, Theodore Roosevelt was the most progressive president because he helped regulate businesses, fought for the working class, and prevented environmental destruction. President Theodore …show more content…
Roosevelt initiated legal proceedings against the company. Eventually, the Supreme Court ordered that the company should be dissolved. Roosevelt’s radical actions angered big businesses, thus earning him the reputation of a “trust buster” (even though Taft and Wilson dissolved more trusts). Roosevelt also indicted 44 companies which means those companies were caught doing serious crimes that could potentially harm other businesses. Though Roosevelt angered the larger businesses, this was needed because it balances out the playing field for the smaller businesses and the large businesses aren’t dominating all of the industries. In 1903, Roosevelt urged congress to create the Department of Commerce and Labor. It was designed to monitor corporations and to ensure that they are engaged in fair business practices. Under the Department of Commerce and labor, they created the Bureau of Corporations to benefit the consumers by monitoring the interstate commerce, help dissolve monopolies, and to promote fair competition between companies. Eventually, in 1913, the Department of Commerce and Labor was split into 2 separate departments, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Labor both playing a crucial role in