After the assassination of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt unexpectedly rose to power as US president in 1901. At the age of 42 Roosevelt was the youngest president in American history, which was greatly reflected in his hands on approach and active nature throughout his presidency. After great success, the democrat was elected for a second term in 1904 making him the first president to be re-elected after gaining the position due to the death of his predecessor.
When it comes to domestic policy Roosevelt was well known for being an environmental trailblazer. He expressed his keen conservatism by setting aside almost 200 million acres of reserves, wildlife refugees and natural forestry. As well as this, in 1902 the National Reclamation Act was legislated – this concerned large-scale irrigation projects in the American West.
Not only was Theodore Roosevelt eager to conserve nature, but also he defended business and trade, which he demonstrated with his “Square Deal” domestic programme. In this he promised to fight against large industrial combinations or trusts which appeared to be a threat to trade. In addition, he ended a prolonged coal strike in Pennsylvania and increased the pay for miners with a series of negotiations.
Along with great success with his domestic policy, he also excelled in the area of foreign policy. Whilst attempting to fulfil America’s responsibility of being a world power, Roosevelt continued his pursuit of bringing the country out of isolationism. One of Roosevelt’s most famous quotes is, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” This was said in relation to his handling of international affairs to express his belief that in times of diplomatic negotiations, a president should have the courage to use force. This mind set came in handy in 1903 when he helped Panama secede from Columbia. This lead to what is thought to be Roosevelt’s greatest achievement – the construction on the Panama Canal.
Shortly after, a number of European nations came together to collect debts they were owed by Latin American nations. The president ensured that the countries paid their international debts by introducing a “corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine barring foreign intervention in Latin America.
The United States of America continued to grow as a world power during Roosevelt’s two terms and so he decided the strengthen the country’s defences. He managed to transform the US navy into a major international force at sea. Furthermore, he managed to win a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the Russo-Japanese war in 1904-1905.
Overall, Theodore Roosevelt was a very successful President over his two terms. This is particularly impressive, as he was never meant to be in office in the first place. He is now often listed in the top 10 US presidents of all time.
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