Question
Read the excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 "New Nationalism” speech.
It has become entirely clear that we must have government supervision of . . . all corporations doing interstate business. . . . The effort at prohibiting [monopolies] has failed. [We must increase the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission]. . . . The Hepburn Act, and the amendment . . . finally passed Congress at the last session, represent a long step in advance, and we must go yet further.
What can you infer about Roosevelt’s perspective on monopolies? Select three options.
He was against government regulation of private businesses.
He thought the government should never affect businesses’ profits.
He hoped that congress would strengthen the laws against monopolies.
He was upset that laws preventing the formation of monopolies had failed.
He believed the government should control businesses operating across state lines.
It has become entirely clear that we must have government supervision of . . . all corporations doing interstate business. . . . The effort at prohibiting [monopolies] has failed. [We must increase the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission]. . . . The Hepburn Act, and the amendment . . . finally passed Congress at the last session, represent a long step in advance, and we must go yet further.
What can you infer about Roosevelt’s perspective on monopolies? Select three options.
He was against government regulation of private businesses.
He thought the government should never affect businesses’ profits.
He hoped that congress would strengthen the laws against monopolies.
He was upset that laws preventing the formation of monopolies had failed.
He believed the government should control businesses operating across state lines.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
From the excerpt, we can infer the following about Roosevelt’s perspective on monopolies:
1. **He hoped that Congress would strengthen the laws against monopolies.** - He mentions the Hepburn Act and calls for further action, indicating his desire for stronger regulations.
2. **He was upset that laws preventing the formation of monopolies had failed.** - He notes the failure of efforts to prohibit monopolies, suggesting he was dissatisfied with the current state of legislation.
3. **He believed the government should control businesses operating across state lines.** - He states the need for government supervision of corporations doing interstate business, indicating his belief in government control in this area.
The other options, regarding being against government regulation and believing the government should never affect businesses’ profits, are not supported by the text.
1. **He hoped that Congress would strengthen the laws against monopolies.** - He mentions the Hepburn Act and calls for further action, indicating his desire for stronger regulations.
2. **He was upset that laws preventing the formation of monopolies had failed.** - He notes the failure of efforts to prohibit monopolies, suggesting he was dissatisfied with the current state of legislation.
3. **He believed the government should control businesses operating across state lines.** - He states the need for government supervision of corporations doing interstate business, indicating his belief in government control in this area.
The other options, regarding being against government regulation and believing the government should never affect businesses’ profits, are not supported by the text.