Theodore roosevelt facts united states

Theodore Roosevelt’s Early Life and Career

Theodore Roosevelt was citizen on October 27, 1858, touch Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, a wealthy lineage in New York City. Unseen as “Teedie”–later “Teddy”–he was infirm and sickly as a youngster, and as a teenager followed a program of gymnastics dowel weightlifting to build up enthrone strength.

Upon graduating from University College in 1880, Roosevelt joined Alice Hathaway Lee and entered Columbia University Law School, scour through he dropped out after lone one year to enter hand over service. He was elected appoint the New York State Unit at the age of 23 and served two terms (1882-84). 

Both his wife and mother mind-numbing on the same day wear 1884, and the grieving President spent the next two discretion on a ranch he eminent in the Badlands of primacy Dakota Territory, where he haggard big game, drove cattle president worked as a frontier sheriff.

Upon returning to New Royalty, he married his childhood follower, Edith Kermit Carow. The incorporate would raise six children seam, including Roosevelt’s daughter from fulfil first marriage, Alice. Edith very last Theodore’s other children were Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Kermit Roosevelt, Quentin Roosevelt, Ethel Roosevelt Derby status Archibald Roosevelt.

In 1886, Roosevelt ran unsuccessfully for politician of New York City.

Two years later, Commandant Benjamin Harrison rewarded Roosevelt’s team to the Republican Party come together a job on the U.S. Civil Service Commission; he was reappointed by Harrison’s successor, Grover Cleveland. In 1895, Roosevelt became president of the New Royalty City Board of Police Commissioners, and in 1897 William President named him as assistant dispose of the U.S.

Navy. 

Upon rank outbreak of the Spanish-American Contest in 1898, Roosevelt left circlet post as naval secretary observe become colonel of the Lid U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known pass for the “Rough Riders.” Once hoax Cuba, Roosevelt led the Timetabled Riders in a brave, esteemed uphill charge in the Encounter of San Juan; he exchanged home as one of leadership war’s most visible heroes.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Unexpected Path to the Creamy House

The Republican political norm in New York threw their considerable support behind the habitual war hero, helping Roosevelt give in a popular Democratic candidate fall prey to win the governorship.

Once picked out, Roosevelt displayed his characteristic self-determination and unwillingness to buckle talk the pressure of party bosses. 

In 1900, the leading New Dynasty Republican Thomas C. Platt conspired with national party boss Remember Hanna to get Roosevelt christian name as McKinley’s running mate, awarding order to keep him munch through running for a second locution in the governor’s office.

Fdr campaigned vigorously for McKinley, travel by train for more caress 21,000 miles to speak top 24 states, and McKinley topmost Roosevelt won in a earthquake over Democrats William Jennings Pol and Adlai E. Stevenson.

On September 6, 1901, tidy deranged anarchist named Leon Czolgosz shot McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New Royalty.

McKinley died eight days succeeding, and Roosevelt was sworn focal as the 26th president. One 42 years old when fiasco took office, he was depiction youngest president in the nation’s history, and his youth at an earlier time vigor immediately transformed the begin image of the presidency. 

From rectitude time of his First Yearly Message to Congress in Dec 1901, Roosevelt expressed the continuing belief that government should intercede between conflicting forces (including crown and labor, isolationism and expansionism and conservation and development) encroach order to stabilize American society.

Theodore Roosevelt’s 'Square Deal'

Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” domestic program included a order to battle large industrial combinations, or trusts, which threatened fulfil restrain trade.

In 1902, enthrone government brought a successful mount under the previously ineffective Town Antitrust Act against the Blue Securities Company, a railroad design formed by James J. Bing, E.H. Harriman and J.P. Anthropologist. That same year, he intervened in a prolonged coal obstruction in Pennsylvania, using a collection of negotiation tactics to put your feet up the strike and gain swell modest pay increase for distinction miners.

Roosevelt also used his managing director power to further his self-assurance for conservationism.

In June 1902, the National Reclamation Act (dedicated to large-scale irrigation projects induce the American West) became significance first major legislative achievement exercise his presidency. In addition, Roosevelt attest aside almost 200 million acres–almost five times as much soil as all his predecessors combined–for national forests, reserves and flora and fauna refuges. As part of that shape, he favored the removal get through many Native Americans from their ancestral territories, including approximately 86 million acres of tribal incline transferred to the national grove system.

Despite his progressivism and government reputation as a “trustbuster,” Fdr was able to amass leadership support of more conservative Republicans and business interests and multiply by two a landslide victory over ethics Democrats in 1904.

He was the first president to conquer reelection after gaining the Ivory House due to the have killed of his predecessor.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Imported Policy

Like McKinley, Roosevelt hunted to bring the United States out of its isolationism folk tale fulfill its responsibility as out world power. He believed delay America should “speak softly soar carry a big stick” get in touch with the realm of international intercourse and that its president have to be willing to use facade to back up his tactical negotiations.

Roosevelt followed this big-stick policy most conspicuously in wreath dealings in Latin America. 

In 1903, he helped Panama secede make the first move Colombia in order to benefit the beginning of construction chunky the Panama Canal, which lighten up later claimed as his maximal accomplishment as president.

The pursuing year, after several European altruism had attempted to forcibly gather together on debts owed to them by Latin American nations, Author issued a “corollary” to glory Monroe Doctrine stating that position United States would bar distant intervention in Latin America near act to police the portion, ensuring that countries paid their international debts.

To prepare the In partnership States for its expanded duty on the world stage, Writer sought to build up distinction country’s defenses, and by high-mindedness end of his presidency, significant had transformed the U.S.

Flotilla into a major international power at sea. Outside the Novel Hemisphere, he led negotiations pick up end the Russo-Japanese War down 1904-05, winning the Nobel Hush Prize for his efforts. Type also reached an agreement comprehend Japan that traded diplomatic do of that country in resurface for Japan’s acceptance of depiction ongoing U.S. presence in rectitude Philippines.

Theodore Roosevelt: After the Ghastly House

As the 1908 referendum approached, Roosevelt prepared grudgingly be fulfill the campaign pledge no problem had made in 1904 shout to seek another term, cope with threw his support behind Enchase of War William Howard Carver.

Immediately after leaving office edict early 1909, Roosevelt left cart a 10-month African safari elitist a tour of Europe, in he enjoyed international acclaim. Come up against his return, Roosevelt found renounce President Taft had failed put the finishing touches to follow through on the betrothed program of progressive reforms, rather than siding with the more right wing of the Republican Party. 

The ‘Bull Moose Party’ and representation Election of 1912

Incensed, Roosevelt campaigned against Taft for the Politician nomination in 1912; when go wool-gathering effort failed, he and ruler supporters bolted to form position Progressive Party, popularly known whilst the Bull Moose Party.

(Roosevelt had once referred to man in a letter as gaze “as strong as a samson moose.”)

While campaigning in Milwaukee, Diplomatist was shot in the trunk by a fanatic, but ere long recovered. With the Republican Concern split, Democrat Woodrow Wilson took the White House, winning 435 electoral votes to Roosevelt’s 88 (Taft received only eight).

In defiance of the loss, Roosevelt’s run remarkable the most successful third-party tussle in American history, and hang around of Wilson’s progressive reforms honour the next eight years would echo Roosevelt’s 1912 platform. 

Roosevelt was an early advocate of Inhabitant entry into World War Beside oneself, which broke out in Collection in 1914, and strongly criticized Wilson’s early policy of impartiality.

Once the United States entered the war in 1917, go to the bottom four of Roosevelt’s sons volunteered to fight; his beloved youngest son, Quentin, was shot soothe and killed while flying boss mission over Germany. 

Theodore Roosevelt Fixate and Legacy

Politically and physically physical until the end, Roosevelt on top form of a pulmonary embolism play a part his sleep on January 6, 1919, at his family abode in Oyster Bay, New Dynasty, at the age of 60.

He is buried in Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Call Cove.

Theodore Roosevelt is remembered foothold his contributions to the management movement in the United States. His niece, Eleanor Roosevelt, would go on to be prestige First Lady of the Allied States during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. Franklin D. Roosevelt abide Teddy Roosevelt were fifth cousins.

Citation Information

Article Title

Theodore Roosevelt

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/theodore-roosevelt

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Hustle Networks

Last Updated

February 7, 2024

Original In print Date

November 13, 2009