Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was the 26th president of the United States. He served from 1901 to 1909. He became president after the death of William McKinley, the president he served as vice president under. At 42 years old, Roosevelt was the youngest person to ever be president.

As a child, Roosevelt had asthma. He stayed healthy by exercising a lot, which he called "the strenuous life". He was homeschooled and later went to Harvard University. Before becoming president, he worked as the assistant secretary of the Navy and led soldiers called the Rough Riders during a war in Cuba.

As president, Roosevelt worked to treat everyone fairly. He broke up big businesses called trusts. He protected nature by creating national parks, forests, and monuments. He helped build the Panama Canal and helped end a war between Russia and Japan. For this, he won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt cared deeply about conservation and wanted the United States to become more powerful.

He was elected to a full term in 1904 and supported William Howard Taft to be the next president. When Roosevelt could not get his party to nominate him in 1912, he started a new party called the Bull Moose Party and ran for president again. He did not win, but his actions changed politics. Roosevelt faced health problems later in life and died in 1919. Many people today think he was one of the greatest presidents in American history.

Early life and education

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born on October 27, 1858, in Manhattan. His parents were Martha Stewart Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt Sr.. He grew up with an older sister named Bamie, a younger brother Elliott, and a younger sister Corinne.

Roosevelt had health problems as a child, but he stayed active. He loved animals and started a small museum when he was young. His family traveled to places like Europe and Egypt, which helped him see the world. Roosevelt was taught at home and later went to Harvard University, where he studied science. After his father passed away, he inherited money that allowed him to live comfortably. He later went to Columbia Law School but left to work in politics.

New York State Assemblyman (1881–1884)

Theodore Roosevelt was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1881, representing the 21st district in New York City. He worked to stop unfair actions by rich people who tried to avoid paying taxes. He spoke up about problems and helped bring attention to important issues.

Roosevelt was re-elected with strong support. He became a leader in the assembly and helped pass laws to make government jobs fairer for everyone. He worked on many ideas to help cities during his time in office.

Military service (1882–1886; 1898)

Theodore Roosevelt began his military journey in 1882 when he joined the New York Army National Guard while also serving in the New York State Assembly. He spent four years there and left as a Captain.

When the Spanish–American War started in 1898, Roosevelt left his job. With Army Colonel Leonard Wood, he formed a special group called the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, famously known as the "Rough Riders." Many different kinds of people joined this group. They trained in San Antonio, Texas before traveling to fight in Cuba.

The Rough Riders took part in important battles, including the Battle of Las Guasimas and the charges up Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill. Though the battles were tough, Roosevelt and his men helped win these battles. After the war, Roosevelt was often called “The Colonel” instead of his first name, though many people still liked to call him “Teddy.”

Cattle rancher in Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt first visited the Dakota Territory in 1883 to hunt bison. He loved the western lifestyle and decided to become a cattle rancher. He spent time between his home in New York and his ranch in Dakota.

After the 1884 United States presidential election, Roosevelt built Elkhorn Ranch near the town of Medora, North Dakota. He learned to ride horses and hunt. He wrote about life on the ranch for magazines and books. Roosevelt helped ranchers work together to solve problems. He also started a club to protect wildlife. In 1886, he even served as a deputy sheriff in Billings County, North Dakota. A very cold winter wiped out most of his cattle, so he stopped ranching and went back to New York.

Reentering public life

After returning to New York, Theodore Roosevelt was asked to run for mayor in the 1886 election. He agreed but came in third place. After this, he wrote a successful book about American history.

Roosevelt later served on an important government board that helped make sure jobs were given based on skill, not friendship. He worked hard to change how things were done and sometimes clashed with other leaders.

He also became a leader of the New York City police, making many improvements. He made sure officers were well-trained and worked to improve conditions for everyone in the city. Roosevelt often walked with police officers at night to ensure they were doing their jobs properly.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1897–1898)

In the 1896 presidential election, Roosevelt helped William McKinley win. McKinley became president. Roosevelt then became the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897. The main navy leader, John D. Long, was often sick, so Roosevelt handled many jobs.

Roosevelt wanted the U.S. Navy to be stronger, especially with more battleships. He also cared about helping Cuba when it had problems. On February 15, 1898, a ship named the USS Maine exploded in Havana, Cuba. Many people thought Spain caused it, but President McKinley tried to avoid war. Roosevelt got the navy ready just in case. His work helped the U.S. win the Battle of Manila Bay led by George Dewey. Later, McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain, beginning the Spanish–American War.

Governor of New York (1899–1900)

After his travels, Theodore Roosevelt was asked to be governor of New York in 1898. He agreed and won the election by a very small margin. As governor, Roosevelt learned about important issues and political skills that helped him later as president. He worked for fair treatment for everyone, honest government, and caring for natural resources.

Roosevelt met with reporters often to stay connected with people. He also pushed for new laws to make sure big companies paid their fair share. Even though some powerful people didn’t like his ideas, Roosevelt made many important appointments and helped pass laws to improve government services. During his time as governor, Roosevelt began forming ideas that would guide his presidency, like making sure big companies acted responsibly and protecting the environment.

Vice presidency (1901)

Main article: 1900 United States presidential election

In 1899, the Vice President Garret Hobart died, so the job was open for the 1900 election. Even though Roosevelt said he didn’t want the job, others wanted him to be the next Vice President. He finally agreed to take the job if it was offered.

Roosevelt worked hard during the campaign. He traveled to many places and spoke to crowds. He was Vice President for six months but found the job boring because he didn’t have much to do. He became famous for saying, “Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.”

Presidential elections

Presidential election of 1884

See also: 1884 United States presidential election

Theodore Roosevelt supported Senator George F. Edmunds for president. The Republican Party chose another leader, Chester Arthur. Roosevelt worked hard to help his party.

Presidential election of 1904

Main article: 1904 United States presidential election

Roosevelt became very popular and easily won the nomination. He chose George B. Cortelyou to help him. Roosevelt won the election with most of the votes. He promised to treat everyone fairly.

Presidential election of 1908

Main article: 1908 United States presidential election

Roosevelt decided not to run again. He supported his friend William Howard Taft, who became the next president. Taft had good ideas but was not as good at talking to people as Roosevelt.

Presidential election of 1912

Main article: 1912 United States presidential election

Republican primaries and convention

In 1912, Roosevelt wanted to run again. He won many early votes but lost the Republican Party nomination to William Howard Taft. Roosevelt thought it was unfair.

Progressive Party

See also: New Nationalism (Theodore Roosevelt) and Bull Moose Party

Roosevelt then started a new party called the Progressive Party. He chose Hiram Johnson to help him. His new party wanted the government to protect people from unfair businesses.

Attempted assassination

Main article: Attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt

While campaigning in Milwaukee, Roosevelt was shot by a man named John Schrank. The bullet did not hurt him badly, and he kept speaking for a long time before getting help. The bullet stayed in his body for the rest of his life.

Democratic victory

After the Democrats chose Governor Woodrow Wilson, Roosevelt knew he probably couldn’t win. He still worked hard, but Wilson won the election. Roosevelt got more votes than any other third-party candidate before him.

Presidency (1901–1909)

Main article: Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt

In 1901, President McKinley was hurt by a man named Leon Czolgosz while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Roosevelt, who was on vacation, went to Buffalo to see McKinley in the hospital. When McKinley’s health got worse, Roosevelt became the 26th president.

Roosevelt worked hard to show he was a strong leader and got ready for the 1904 election. His time as president mixed traditional ideas with new reforms to help everyday people.

Domestic policies: The Square Deal

Further information: Square Deal

Main article: Political positions of Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt wanted to help both businesses and the public. He believed the government should help control businesses and protect people. His “Square Deal” plan had three goals: protecting nature, controlling big businesses, and treating workers and customers fairly.

Trust busting and regulation

Roosevelt took action against big businesses that he thought were unfair. He used laws to challenge these companies and help fair competition. He also worked to make new government groups to help control businesses and protect workers.

Coal strike

Main article: Coal strike of 1902

In 1902, coal miners stopped working, which could have hurt the country’s energy supply. Roosevelt helped end the strike so workers got better pay and shorter work hours, even though the companies did not recognize the workers’ union.

Prosecuted misconduct

Roosevelt worked against corruption in government. He took action against officials who cheated Native American tribes from their land and others who committed land fraud. He also addressed corruption in the postal service.

Railroads

Main article: Hepburn Act

Roosevelt worked to make sure railroad companies charged fair prices. He helped pass a law that let a government group set fair prices for railroads, balancing the needs of both the companies and the public.

Pure food and drugs

Roosevelt supported laws to make sure food and drugs were safe and properly labeled. These laws helped protect people from harmful products.

Conservation

Main article: Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt § Conservation

Roosevelt was proud of protecting America’s natural areas. He set aside land for national parks, forests, and wildlife reserves for public use and protection.

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign policy of the Theodore Roosevelt administration

Roosevelt believed the United States should be strong and active in the world. He worked to build up the U.S. Navy and supported building the Panama Canal, which helped ships move between oceans.

Roosevelt also worked to keep good relationships with other countries, like Japan and Britain. He helped solve conflicts and promoted the idea that the United States could help keep peace in the world.

Media

Roosevelt made the White House a regular place for news reports. He created the first official press briefing room, giving reporters regular information about the president and the government.

Second term

In his second term, Roosevelt pushed for reforms to help workers and limit the power of big businesses. He spoke out against unfair business practices and called for more government oversight to protect people.

Roosevelt and racial issues

Further information: Booker T. Washington dinner at the White House, Brownsville affair, and Political positions of Theodore Roosevelt § Race relations

Roosevelt supported some African American leaders and included African American soldiers in his military unit. However, he also made statements and took actions that affected African American communities in negative ways.

Post-presidency (1909–1919)

The Great Rapprochement with Great Britain

The Great Rapprochement was a time when the United States and Great Britain started working better together. This happened in areas like diplomacy, politics, the military, and the economy between 1895 and 1915. Roosevelt helped by talking with British leaders and working on issues like the Panama Canal. The British liked Roosevelt. They showed this by handling the Alaska boundary dispute fairly. British diplomats agreed with Roosevelt’s team not to support Canada’s claim to a port near gold mines, which made Canadians unhappy because Britain controlled Canada’s foreign policy.

From 1915 to 1917, Roosevelt wanted the United States to join the war on the side of Great Britain. In October 1916, he criticized President Woodrow Wilson strongly while trying to help the Republican Party win that year’s election.

Republican Party schism

Roosevelt tried to help President Taft act more like him, but Taft started making his own decisions. Roosevelt felt ignored when Taft didn’t talk to him about important matters. Roosevelt and others were unhappy with Taft’s policies on nature protection and taxes. Roosevelt wanted progressive leaders to take control of the Republican Party to avoid splitting it and giving the presidency to the Democrats in 1912. He felt better about Taft after meeting him in June 1910.

Dispute over court power

Roosevelt gave speeches criticizing the country’s judiciary, especially the Supreme Court’s decision in Lochner v. New York. He talked about letting the public remove judges from office. This upset Taft and many others in the legal community.

Roosevelt's "New Nationalism"

In August 1910, Roosevelt gave a big speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, where he shared his ideas for a “New Nationalism.” He said labor was very important and that big businesses needed more rules. He also talked about stopping businesses from giving money to political campaigns. Roosevelt tried to take control of the Republican Party in New York but was angry when Taft didn’t support him. Roosevelt helped the Republicans in the 1910 elections, but the Democrats won control of the House for the first time since 1892. One of the new Democrats was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said he agreed with his cousin’s ideas.

The Republican progressives thought the election losses showed they needed to reorganize the party in 1911. Senator Robert M. La Follette joined others to create the National Progressive Republican League to fight against political bosses and replace Taft. Roosevelt supported progressive ideas but didn’t want to run in 1912. He kept criticizing Taft, especially after a lawsuit against US Steel in September 1911. Roosevelt still didn’t want to run against Taft in 1912 but hoped to run in 1916.

Battling Taft over arbitration treaties

Taft worked on treaties with Britain and France to solve problems through arbitration. But many Republicans didn’t like Taft, and the Senate changed the treaties in ways Taft couldn’t accept, so the treaties failed.

Africa and Europe (1909–1910)

In March 1909, Roosevelt left for an expedition in Africa. His group traveled to the Belgian Congo and followed the Nile River to Khartoum in Sudan. They collected many animals for museums. After the trip, Roosevelt visited Europe, meeting leaders like Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary and King George V of Great Britain. He also gave a speech in Oslo about peace and delivered the Romanes Lecture at Oxford. Roosevelt returned to the U.S. in June 1910. Later that year, he became the first U.S. president to fly in a plane.

South American expedition (1913–1914)

In 1913, Roosevelt joined an expedition to South America, co-named after Brazilian Cândido Rondon. They aimed to find and follow the headwaters of a river later renamed the Roosevelt River to the Amazon River. Roosevelt got very sick during the trip but kept going with help from his son and the team’s doctor.

Writer

Roosevelt wrote many books on topics like foreign policy and national parks. He also wrote about the importance of preserving nature and criticized writers who made up stories about animals.

Final years

Roosevelt returned to the U.S. in May 1914. He was upset about how the U.S. got the Panama Canal Zone but liked some new reforms. He supported candidates for the Progressives but their party didn’t do well in the 1914 elections. Roosevelt wanted to run for president again in 1920 but his health got worse. He kept speaking out on political issues but was often sick.

World War I

When World War I started in 1914, Roosevelt supported the Allies and criticized President Wilson’s foreign policy. In 1916, he campaigned for Charles Evans Hughes but Wilson won the election. Roosevelt’s youngest son, Quentin, was killed in the war in 1918.

League of Nations

Roosevelt supported the idea of a global group to keep peace. He talked about a “League of Peace” in 1910 and later proposed a “World League for the Peace of Righteousness.” He wanted the United States to be part of it. But President Wilson created a different League of Nations, and the U.S. didn’t join it.

Final political activities

Roosevelt spoke out against Wilson’s ideas and supported the Republicans winning Congress in 1918. He talked about ideas like pensions for older people and help for farmers but his health kept getting worse.

Death

Theodore Roosevelt died in his sleep on January 6, 1919, at his home called Sagamore Hill. He was 60 years old. He had felt unwell the night before, but got better with care. His last words were a quiet request to his family servant to turn out a light.

After he died, there was a small funeral service at Christ Episcopal Church in Oyster Bay. He was buried in a cemetery overlooking the area. Many important people came to honor him.

Legacy

Theodore Roosevelt is remembered for changing how the president works. He talked about important issues and values. He took action against unfair business practices and protected natural lands. Many people admire him for caring about the future and the environment.

People like Roosevelt for his strong beliefs in doing what is right and for supporting the country. Some think he was too involved in other countries. Most historians think he was one of the best presidents ever.

Roosevelt is known for his lively personality and strong beliefs. He believed in staying active and strong. He supported sports and groups like the Boy Scouts to help young people grow. He is famous for his saying, "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick," and for the teddy bear, which was named after him. Many places and things are named after him, including ships, stamps, and a national park. He has been shown in movies and games too.

Personal life

In 1880, Theodore Roosevelt married a woman named Alice Hathaway Lee, and they had a daughter named Alice Lee Roosevelt. Sadly, Alice Lee passed away just two days after their daughter was born, and at the same time, Roosevelt’s mother also passed away. This was very hard for him, and he left for a time to grieve. Later, he married Edith Kermit Carow, and they had five children together.

Roosevelt loved being active and tried many different sports, like boxing and hiking. He also believed in staying strong and healthy. Even though he faced many challenges, he remained dedicated to his work and his family.