History of North America

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

In America's 300-year history, the popularity with Theodore Roosevel is sure to be among the top five.

In fact, Theodore Roosevelt is generally a high-ranking regular in the popularity polls of successive American presidents by Americans who like rankings.

Let's take a look at the 26th President of the United States, who was the source of the "teddy bear" and who was also the "club diplomacy" and faced the ever-growing industrial capitalist head-on for the first time.

Theodore Roosevelt until becoming president

Theodore Roosevelt was born in 1858 in New York City, New York.

His ancestors dated to Dutch Jews, who emigrated to the United States in the mid-17th century, when his surname became Roosevelt. Eventually the house was divided into two large houses, one of which was Theodore Roosevelt and the other of which was Franklin Roosevelt. Franklin Roosevelt's wife Eleanor Roosevelt was originally from the Roosevelt family, though it's a little confusing, and this is Theodore Roosevelt's niece (younger brother's child).

Theodore's father was a strong unionist, a Union supporter, and his mother was a Union supporter because he was from the southern ruling class.

Contrary to his later image, Roosevelt was extremely ill when he was little, and he was particularly troubled by his chronic asthma. He actively engaged in boxing and the outdoors to overcome such a constitution, and Roosevelt himself was enthusiastic about researching insects.

Eventually, Theodore graduated from Harvard University and entered Columbia University's Law School, but he was the youngest member of the state legislature to become a member. He also published a book on the War of 1812 during this period to confirm his fame.

Although Theodore's career seemed to go well, he spent several years quietly in the tragedy of losing his wife and mother on the same day in 1884.

However, when he was recalled to New York State's official duties by President Benjamin Harris in 1886, he denounced the corruption of the New York City Police Department, and in 1895 became Chairman of the Public Safety Commission of New York City.

After that, he worked on reforms within the Navy as Under Secretary of the Navy, but when the Spanish-American War began, Theodore served in this and engaged in combat in Cuba as an Army officer.

After the Spanish-American War, Theodore ran for mayor of New York City and was brilliantly elected, during which time he was appointed Vice President of President McKinley.

The 26th President of the United States

In 1901, when President McKinley was assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt moved up to become the 26th President of the United States.

Theodore was only 42 years old at the time, the birth of the youngest president of the United States in history.

The young president has embarked on reforms of what can be called a sanctuary, and will show a positive attitude of interference both domestically and internationally.

VS Industrial Capitalist! Shaman antitrust law

After the Civil War, the Republicans continued their relationship with industrial capitalists. With the exception of Presidents Johnson and Cleveland after the assassination of Lincoln, Republican presidents have continued, and they have, without exception, politicized in favor of industrial capitalists.

However, Theodore surprised the United States by adapting the Sherman antitrust law, which had become a mere corpse after becoming president, to the railroad king Morgan, a large conglomerate.

Until then, the attitude of the United States was that it was not good to intervene in the private economy because the market adhered to the principle of "laissez-faire", which is left to the market, and this policy of Theodore Roosevelt is still controversial. Is the target of.

As with his nephew Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, state intervention in the economy is still sometimes accused of being socialist.

In fact, it is undeniable that the development of the United States is due to industrial capitalists, so this area is difficult.

The era before the inauguration of Theodore was called the "Gilded Age", and it is certain that it was in an extremely money-worshiping state. , Enacted the Food Law, etc., and set out to counteract and curb industrial capitalists.

Club diplomacy

"Speak softly and carry a big stick" was Theodore's basic foreign policy. Perhaps he spoke gently when translated into Japanese and said he would bring a big club. Theodore's foreign policy is translated as "club diplomacy" in Japan.

This attitude was especially seen in the Caribbean countries, which can be called the backyards of the United States, such as the Platt Amendment, which allowed Cuba's independence but made it a de facto protected country in the United States, and the construction of the Panama Canal. It was used as a foothold for American imperialism.

He also embarked on the situation in the Far East, and when the Russo-Japanese War broke out between Japan and Russia, he arbitrated the peace and held the Portsmouth Peace Conference, which won the Nobel Peace Prize for his achievements.

This was the first American to win the Nobel Prize, but like any other Peace Prize, there are considerable doubts about it.

After all, dissatisfaction remains in both Japan and Russia about this peace, and the Hibiya burning incident occurs in Japan, and a revolution will occur in Russia in the next 10 years or so. Furthermore, it can be said that Japan and Russia only worsened the relationship between the United States and the two countries because they were disturbed by the declaration of opening the door issued during the McKinley era, which was the predecessor of Theodore, just before China was trying to divide and rule China. ..

In addition, Theodore was famous for supporting the extermination policy against Indians, and the prejudice against not only Indians but also the Yellow race was quite strong, such as opening the beginning of the exclusion immigration law.

Theodore Roosevelt after that

Theodore, who retired from the president, ran for his second term, the 1912 presidential election, angry that his successor, William Howard Taft, did not follow him. Since they were both Republicans, the votes were split, and as a result, the Democratic Party of Woodrow Wilson was elected.

Perhaps he was tired after his presidential election, he went on a big trip to the Amazon, where he seemed to enjoy his favorite fieldwork to the fullest.

When World War I began, he supported the Allies, continued to attack Wilson, a pacifist at heart, and insisted on the active participation of the United States in the battle.

And in January 1919 during World War I, Theodore Roosevelt died. He is said to have had a heart attack.

Personal evaluation of Theodore Roosevelt

I think he is the most American president.

Powerful, dogmatic, active, and forceful.

The statues of the four famous presidents on Mount Rushmore were created in honor of the greatness of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln.

Thomas Jefferson was almost the only person to ask the US Constitution for slavery, and Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation. Washington used a number of black slaves, and Theodore supported the extinction of Indians.

Theodore Roosevelt was a strong and strong president, but again, it wouldn't be as good as Jefferson or Lincoln.

Nevertheless, I think it is certain that Theodore Roosevelt was one of the top five Americans in history. From this era, the United States began to compete with the European powers in earnest.