Spanish-Amerincan War Essay, Research Paper

U.S. HistorySpanish-Amerincan WarWith the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt,not quite 43, became the youngest President in the Nation’s history. Hebrought new excitement and power to the Presidency, as he vigorously ledCongress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a strongforeign policy.He took the view that the President as a “steward of the people”should take whatever action necessary for the public good unless expresslyforbidden by law or the Constitution.” I did not usurp power,” he wrote,”but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power.”Teddy’s years as a child were not all gasping for breath. Teddywas a very curious child. He loved to go outside into the woods and watchand study birds and the surrounding wildlife. He liked to record dataabout the animals, and enjoyed experimenting. When he grew up, he wrotebooks about nature, and went on trips to the mountains of New York often. Teddy and his father believed Teddy could overcome his sickness. Mr. Roosevelt set up a gym in the Roosevelt’s house. Teddy worked out moreand more, and after a while began to get stronger. But none of thishappened overnight. When Teddy went to Harvard for college, he and afriend published a book called “Summer Birds of The Adirondacks.” Duringcollege, Teddy also was deeply saddened when his father died on February9, 1877. On October 27, 1880, Theodore Roosevelt walked down the aisle. Hegot married to Alice Lee. Theodore also went to Columbia University LawSchool. He also wrote a book called “The Naval War of 1812.” He went toballs and opera’s. And was a very busy man. In 1883, Theodore went Westfor a year. When came back from the trip, a new baby girl was born. Unfortunately, soon after the baby was born, on February 14, in the earlymorning, Teddy’s beloved mother died. If that were not enough, Alice diedof Kidney Disease that afternoon. Teddy, still grieving from the loss of Alice and his mother, wentto the Dakota Territories for several years. He later said that hewouldn’t have been the same if it wasn’t for the years he spent in theDakota Territories.” When he got back from the Dakota’s he married EdithCarow. In the Spanish-American war in 1898, Theodore was the commander ofa cavalry known as “The Rough Riders.” His work there helped him becomeelected as the Governor of New York the same year. During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonelof the Rough Rider Regiment, which he led on a charge at the battle of SanJuan. He was one of the most conspicuous heroes of the war.Boss Tom Platt, needing a hero to draw attention away fromscandals in New York State, accepted Roosevelt as the Republican candidatefor Governor in 1898. Roosevelt won and served with distinction.As President, Roosevelt held the ideal that the Government shouldbe the great arbiter of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation,

especially between capital and labor, guaranteeing justice to each anddispensing favors to none.Roosevelt emerged spectacularly as a “trust buster” by forcing thedissolution of a great railroad combination in the Northwest. Otherantitrust suits under the Sherman Act followed.Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into worldpolitics. He liked to quote a favorite proverb, “Speak softly and carry abig stick. . . . “Aware of the strategic need for a shortcut between the Atlanticand Pacific, Roosevelt ensured the construction of the Panama Canal. Hiscorollary to the Monroe Doctrine prevented the establishment of foreignbases in the Caribbean and arrogated the sole right of intervention inLatin America to the United States.He won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War,he also reached a Gentleman’s Agreement on immigration with Japan, and hesent the Great White Fleet on a goodwill tour of the world.Some of Theodore Roosevelt’s most effective achievements were inconservation. He added enormously to the national forests in the West,reserved lands for public use, and fostered great irrigation projects.He crusaded endlessly on matters big and small, exciting audienceswith his high-pitched voice, jutting jaw, and pounding fist. “The life ofstrenuous endeavor” was a must for those around him, as he romped with hisfive younger children and led ambassadors on hikes through Rock Creek Parkin Washington, D.C.Leaving the Presidency in 1909, Roosevelt went on an Africansafari, then jumped back into politics. In 1912 he ran for President on aProgressive ticket. To reporters he once remarked that he felt as fit as abull moose, the name of his new party.While campaigning in Milwaukee, he was shot in the chest by afanatic. Roosevelt soon recovered, but his words at that time would havebeen applicable at the time of his death in 1919: “No man has had ahappier life than I have led; a happier life in every way.”Vocab. List:Monroe Doctrine: a U.S. foreign policy that opposes European interventionin the political affairs of the Western hemisphere. It was first laid downby President James Monroe in 1823, who stated that “the Americancontinents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumedand maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for futurecolonization by any European powers. . . . We should consider any attempton their part to extend their system to any part of this hemisphere asdangerous to our peace and safety.” In return, the U.S agreed not tointerfere in the internal affairs of Europe. The Monroe Doctrine was atthe center of debate regarding U.S. involvement in World War I and WorldWar II, and was also invoked during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, whenthe Soviet Union installed nuclear missiles in Cuba-a violation of theMonroe Doctrine. However, analysts claim that theMonroe Doctrine is now declining in importance.Assassination: The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherousviolence01/29/97

332