Final answer:
The Square Deal was President Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program, which aimed at control over corporations, consumer protections, and conservation. It marked a shift towards greater federal intervention in the economy and set a precedent for future reforms like the New Deal and Fair Deal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Square Deal refers to President Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program during his presidency, which emphasized three main pillars: control over corporations, consumer protections, and conservation. Roosevelt believed that the federal government should act as a steward protecting the public's interests, opposing monopolies, and ensuring that the common people were treated fairly. He backed significant legislation like the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which aimed at ensuring the quality and safety of food and drugs. These progressive reforms demonstrated Roosevelt's approach to expanding the role of the federal government to secure economic fairness and public well-being.
As illustrated by these reforms, Roosevelt's Square Deal epitomized a shift in public policy, indicating a greater willingness of the federal government to intervene in the economy and to regulate industries for the benefit of the general public. Moreover, this vision contrasted with the more conservative stance of the Democratic candidate Alton Parker, who believed that the states should retain the power to protect workers and consumers.
Subsequent presidents, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman with their New Deal and Fair Deal respectively, would build upon and expand the programs and government interventions initiated by Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal in their efforts to address economic challenges and social inequalities.