Erik+Ra.+-+TR+-+SP13

Theodore Roosevelt October 27, 1858 in New York City, New York – January 6, 1919 in Oyster Bay, New York Political Party: Republican/ Bull Moose Terms: September 14, 1901 – March 3, 1909 Vice President: Charles Warren Fairbanks in 1905-1909 The American Identity took massive steps toward progress under the Roosevelt administration, both foreign and domestic. Theodore Roosevelt rose to power with his charisma and forceful manner; these attributes continued to shine throughout his presidency. Roosevelt’s big stick diplomacy marked a new era in United States foreign diplomacy. Through big stick diplomacy and his famed Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt revolutionized the American Identity abroad. The United States now had a responsibility to itself, and to the entire Western Hemisphere, to stand guard against European intervention, while also intervening anywhere in Latin America to maintain stability. With little hesitation Roosevelt flexed the United States’ political muscle in Panama where he oversaw the Panama Canal negotiations to advocate for U.S. interests while also intervening in Venezuela and Santo Domingo to preserve stability. America was no longer just a watchful protector; it was a big brother that would do anything to protect its siblings, even at the risk of their own liberties. The American Identity also saw shifts in its economic policies. To this point, the country’s multiple business trusts were given carte blanche to accomplish their goals, mostly at the expense of the worker. Teddy made the first real dent in these corrupt enterprises with his push for antitrust policy. Roosevelt wanted to strike a balance between the free enterprise that dominated the nation’s economy and corporate responsibility. With his policies Roosevelt changed the domestic identity of America from one controlled by business to one regulated by the government. This also marked the shift from conservative policies of yesteryear, to the progressive reforms that would become a staple in 20th century politics. Finally, Roosevelt changed the Identity of the President. He added charisma to the presidential equation and transitioned political power from Congress to the White House. TR was truly the first modern American president. Theodore Roosevelt transformed the office of President. He was the first President whose election was based more on the individual than the political party. When people voted Republican in 1904, they were generally casting their vote for Roosevelt the man instead of for him as the standard-bearer of the Republican Party. The most popular President up to his time, Roosevelt used his enthusiasm to win votes, to shape issues, and to mold opinions. Roosevelt backed up his talk with big stick diplomacy and incredible political zeal. Lending White House prestige to such progressive causes as welfare and women’s suffrage, Roosevelt not only ushered in the modern president but also the ideologies that would define the modern era. For his efforts Theodore Roosevelt and his administration receive a grade of A. Theodore Roosevelt put great importance on convincing the public to support his progressive and righteous agenda. In his 1905 inaugural address, Roosevelt attempted to convince the nation of its innate responsibility to the maintenance of international peace and justice. “We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither. We have become a great nation, forced by the fact of its greatness into relations with the other nations of the earth, and we must behave as beseems a people with such responsibilities.” Roosevelt continued to harp upon the need for corporate control through government regulation. He did not aim to prohibit as much as to regulate. Roosevelt was extremely successful in achieving his goals. His Corollary on the Monroe Doctrine expanded the United States’ role in the Western hemisphere and established precedents in US foreign diplomacy. Unfortunately Roosevelt wasn’t able to take lasting action against the corporate trusts but his approval of progressive reforms allowed for action to be taken in the years following his presidency. Roosevelt’s ability to achieve the goals he set for the country supports his grade of an A. Teddy Roosevelt had a somewhat strained relationship with congress. This is partly because Roosevelt did not subscribe to the theory of the president serving Congress rather than serving the people. Roosevelt was the first Progressive president, bent on improving the United States with all his might. He refused to let his vigorous courses of action be delayed by Congress' debate. This is apparent in how he dealt with the coal mine strikes. For the first time a president used his influence to negotiate a settlement by threatening to take control and operate the mines with government troops. Roosevelt greatly expanded the role of the president, in doing so he ruffled the collective feathers of the conservative congressman. Prompted by Upton Sinclair’s //The Jungle,// which exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, TR passed the Meat Inspection Act in 1906. This act provided government inspection of meat and barred “adultered or misbranded,” from interstate commerce. Unlike previous laws ordering meat inspections, which were enforced to assure European nations from banning pork trade, this law was strongly motivated to protect the American diet. These progressive acts that looked out for the general welfare of the country were a staple in TR’s administration and support his grade of A. Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency was marked with great successes and incredible leaps forward. The apparent failures of TR were eventually transformed into successes by the shear will of the man. This being said the greatest failure of the Roosevelt administration would be its inaction toward some of the progressive movements that spawned during this time. The Roosevelt administration should be commended for supporting such reforms but should also be condemned for not further pursuing these causes chief among them women’s suffrage. TR’s disdain for blacks also leaves a stain on his presidency. Teddy did little to preserve black suffrage in the south as Jim Crow laws were allowed to run rapant. For this reason Theodore Roosevelt received a grade of A instead of A+. Roosevelt was the nation's first conservationist President. Roosevelt’s conservationist patterns led him to champion the preservation of forests and the nature’s wilderness regions. TR felt as though these wooded areas reminded the nation of its frontier roots and provided valuable refuge from the growing debauchery of city life. Roosevelt used his presidential authority to issue executive orders to create 150 new national forests, increasing the amount of protected land from 42 million acres to 172 million acres. The President also created five national parks, eighteen national monuments, and 51 wildlife refuges. TR’s land conservation also helped arrigate the arid west which promoted prosperity in the far reaches of the nation. Without Theodore Roosevelt much of the nation’s pristine land, land that added to the country’s moral fiber, would not have been preserved or fully appreciated. Theodore Roosevelt was the bolt of energy that the country needed as it headed into the next century. His charismatic and sometimes overbearing style of leading could only be matched by his determination (and perhaps the size of his teeth). Teddy was among the most progressive presidents in history simply because he was the first to do it. Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency marks a pivotal shift in American politics in almost every facet. His fearlessness and overall verocity in the political arena warranted his future praise and the grade of A. DeGregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. New York: Gramercy, 2005. Print. "Miller Center." //American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Impact and Legacy//. University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. Roosevelt, National Parks and Monuments Established by Theodore. //National Parks Service//. National Parks Service, 25 Apr. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2013 Theodore Roosevelt: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1905. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, //The American Presidency Project//. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25829
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 * Relationship with Congress **
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 * Influential Decision **
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