Which of the following was a central aim of Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal?

• A. Tariff reduction
• B. Control of corporations
• C. Food safety reform
• D. Military expansion

Answer: (B)

The main idea behind the Square Deal is to rein in the power of big business and trusts, using government regulation to prevent abuses while allowing honest enterprise to operate. Roosevelt framed reform as fair treatment for workers, consumers, and the public, but the driving force was controlling corporations—breaking up harmful combines, enforcing antitrust measures, and enforcing rules that curb monopolistic practices. This is seen in actions like trust-busting against powerful firms and new regulations that sought to curb corporate power, not in tariff shifts or on expanding military power. Consumer protection and conservation were important parts of the program, but the central aim tied to corporate power and the use of government to ensure fair competition.