Unit 5b: Theodore Roosevelt

1858-1919

Life Span of Theodore Roosevelt

Cool

What slang word developed in the 1950's to describe a type of jazz?

Awesome

What slang word developed in the 1980s by surfers in Southern California?

Bully

What was Theodore Roosevelt's favorite slang word?

When he's having a good time

When does Roosevelt use the word "Bully?"

Intentionally seeking out challenges, and struggling in honor

What was Roosevelt's perspective of a happy life?

"The Strenuous life"

What did Theodore Roosevelt call his way of life?

Theodore's way of living, where he saw honor in struggle and challenges

Summarize "The Strenuous Life"

He did not want to be like the people who "neither know victory nor defeat"

Why does Roosevelt choose to live "The Strenuous Life?"

His childhood brought him up to be someone who liked to prove himself with challenges

How did Roosevelt come to embrace "The Strenuous Life?"

Grew up wealthy in Manhattan, NYC, but very sickly

Summarize Roosevelt's conditions of living in his childhood.

He was very weak and sickly, with asthma and bad eyes

What problems did Roosevelt have as a child?

His dad, because he comforted him and taught him how to fight his body's sicknesses

Who was a role model for Roosevelt? Why?

He was given weights, because he couldn't go through life with a strong mind but a weak body, so his mind must make his body

What gift did Roosevelt's dad give him as a child? Why?

When he was younger, he would box strong guys and lose. He would always come back from the joy of the challenge

What is the first example of Roosevelt's development of "The Strenuous Life"

He loved nature, and spent hours in it identifying and dissecting animals

What did thing did Roosevelt find solace in as a child?

He gave him a list of priorities

As Roosevelt went to Harvard, what did his dad do to make sure his son was successful?

1. First, be a good and moral person

2. Second, be healthy

3. After those two, be a good student

What were the 3 things (in order) that Roosevelt's dad put into the list of priorities?

His dad, Theodore Roosevelt Sr.

Who was the greatest man that Roosevelt ever knew?

He would not shut up

What was an annoying quality of Roosevelt?

One of the greatest philosophers of American History, and the father of American Psychology

Who was William James?

William James

Who did Roosevelt study philosophy under?

Philosophy, because he was amazed by William James

What was one of the few classes in Harvard that Roosevelt was quiet in? Why?

Naval Warfare

What subject did Theodore Roosevelt become interested in at Harvard?

The Naval War of 1812

What did Roosevelt do his senior thesis on at Harvard?

He identified principles of tactics that work

What did Roosevelt do in his Harvard senior thesis that made it so significant?

The Naval War of 1812

What was Theodore Roosevelt's first book?

The essay was so well written it became a book that is read and studied by naval commanders

What happened to Roosevelt's Harvard senior thesis?

He waited in the common area for the most beautiful woman

How did Roosevelt fall in love at Harvard?

He wooed all of the men in her family

How was Roosevelt able to marry Alice Lee?

Alice Lee

Who was Roosevelt's first wife?

Sagamore Hill, in Long Island NY

What home did Roosevelt build for Alice Lee?

In Manhattan with his family. Since he was always gone, she didn't want to be lonely.

Despite the home Roosevelt built for her, where did Alice Lee spend most of her time? Why?

Politics

After Roosevelt graduated from Harvard, what profession did he go into?

Elected as the youngest congressman in NY history

What was Roosevelt's first political job after graduating Harvard?

Albany, NY

As a congressman, where did Roosevelt spend a lot of time?

His wife was dying of labor complications, and his mother was dying of an illness

While in Albany, what message did Roosevelt get that made him rush home?

February 14th, 1884

What was the date of both Roosevelt's wife and mother's death?

He gave her away to be raised by his sister

After losing both his wife and mom, what did Roosevelt do with his daughter Alice?

She became a rebel by being unladylike and smoking cigaretrs

How did Alice Jr. grow up after her dad was too controlling?

He goes to the Dakotas to become a rancher and live in nature

After the death of his wife and mom, how does Roosevelt deal with his grief?

They wanted to beat him after seeing his high voice and privilege

What did cowboys think of Roosevelt when he showed up in South Dakota?

He surprised them by spending time in nature and having fun in horrible conditions

How did Roosevelt changed the cowboy's minds?

Seth Bullock

Which sheriff of Deadwood, South Dakota was impressed by Roosevelt's vigor?

2 years

How long did Roosevelt living the Dakotas with the cowboys?

He wrote books about his experience in the Wild West

After returning to NYC from the Dakotas, what did Roosevelt do?

35

How many books did Roosevelt write throughout his lifetime?

He romanticized the Wild West, and his books came from a perspective of white supremacy

Why do historians today critique Roosevelt's books on the Wild West?

George Armstrong Custer and Buffalo Bill

Which two people's experience and perspective of the West was similar to Roosevelt's?

He also wanted to hunt and kill animals, and develop the West by taking Native American land and spreading white culture

Why is Roosevelt's perspective of the West similar to Custer's and Buffalo Bill's?

Edith Carow, his ex girlfriend from high school

Who approached Roosevelt after his return from the Dakotas?

She was quiet, smart, and tough

Why was Edith Carow a perfect wife for Roosevelt?

She was only pretty, not smart

Why wasn't Alice Lee a perfect wife for Roosevelt?

Edmund Morris

Which historian says that Alice Lee was not a great partner for Roosevelt?

Edith Carow

Who was Roosevelt's second wife?

He re-starts his political career by becoming a police commissioner of NYC

After marrying Edith Carow, what job does Roosevelt take on?

1890s

When did Roosevelt become a police commissioner?

He wanted to clean up NYC

As a police commissioner, what does Roosevelt make it his duty to do?

A law that made it illegal to sell alcohol on Sundays

In the 1890s, what law did Roosevelt enforce as a police commissioner in Manhattan?

They broke it and bribed police officers

What did bar owners do about not being able to sell alcohol on Sundays?

he went around shutting down bars and firing corrupt police officers

What did Roosevelt do to make sure the law of no alcohol on Sundays was enforced?

He believed the law is the law, and unless it is changed, it should be enforced

What did Roosevelt believe about the law?

Gangs

What did Roosevelt want to take care of in the lower east side Manhattan?

They bribed police officers

In Manhattan, what would gangs do to assure their illegal activity will be covered?

He decided to hire someone that is familiar with Manhattan gangs and comfortable with the police

What was Roosevelt's solution to gangs in Manhattan?

Jacob Riis

Who did Roosevelt hire to be his guide through gang-ridden territory in Manhattan?

1896

When was McKinley elected president?

Assistant Secretary of the US Navy

As president, what job did McKinley give Roosevelt?

"The Influence of Sea Power Upon History"

What book heavily influenced Theodore Roosevelt?

Go on vacation in Florida

In order to gain more power as assistant secretary, what does Roosevelt advise his boss to do?

The explosion of the U.S.S Maine

What devastation of the US in 1898 made Roosevelt want to go to war with Spain?

he thinks going into battle is the highest aspiration one can achieve

What does Roosevelt believe about going into war?

He says that Spain blew it up, and US should declare war on Spain

After the explosion of the U.S.S Maine, what does Roosevelt advocate in DC?

He sent a message to Hong Kong to attack the Philippines once war is declared

What did Roosevelt do in preparation for war on Spain?

Spain would not see that coming, as they were expecting a war in Cuba

Why did Roosevelt tell the officer in Hong Kong to attack the Philippines?

The U.S.S. Olympia and 5 others

Which ships from Hong Kong capture the Philippines?

He quit his job to fight in battle

What did Roosevelt do after war was declared on Spain?

Most politicians ask for war but don't fight themselves

Why was it so exceptional for Roosevelt to quit his job as a politician and fight Spain?

He was a Civil War veteran and understood the destruction of war

Why didn't McKinley want war on Spain?

Congress

Who ultimately declares war on Spain

The first cavalry, which is made up of all volunteers

After quitting his job, what does Roosevelt form in order to fight Spain?

He wanted to put together the most diverse, all-American cavalry in American History

What was Roosevelt's goal for his volunteer cavalry?

Santiago Bay, Cuba

Where did the Rough Riders invade?

Cowboys, Native Americans, ex-convicts, Ivy League athletes

What type of people did Roosevelt invite for his volunteer cavalry?

They were all very diverse, but they were united by wanting to prove their manhood in battle

What was the idea of the Rough Riders?

The Rough Riders

What was Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry called?

It depended on its people's willingness to fight in battle

What did Roosevelt believe the prestige of America depended on?

July 1st, 1898

What was the date of the Battle of San Juan Hill?

They had to go through the woods, taking out Spanish sharp shooters in the trees

What was the first challenge the Rough Riders faced at the Battle of San Juan Hill?

They had to charge up a hill, with no horses

What was the second challenge the Rough Riders faced at the Battle of San Juan Hill?

Charging at the Spanish at the battle of San Juan Hill

What was the most exciting moment of Roosevelt's life?

"Isn't it glorious old man?"

What does Roosevelt say to a dying man at the Battle of San Juan Hill?

20%

How many Americans died at the Battle of San Juan Hill?

His victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill

What event made Roosevelt a national celebrity?

Governor of New York (Republican)

After the Battle of San Juan Hill, what job does Roosevelt take up?

He believed strongly in the regulation of businesses, unlike most Republicans who worked alongside big companies

As governor of NY, what sets Roosevelt apart from other Republicans?

"The rich man should be held in the same accountability as the poor man"

What quote by Roosevelt describes his view on company regulation?

The leaders of the Republican party

Who does Roosevelt draw negative attention from as a progressive governor?

They have a symbiotic relationship with big companies, and he's is trying to regulate them

Why don't the leaders of the Republican Party like Governor Roosevelt?

He is appointed as the running mate of McKinley in the 1900 election, so he could be Vice President

How does the Republican Party decide to control Roosevelt?