Theodore Roosevelt's Role In World War I

Teddy Roosevelt: The Founder of the American Superpower In a letter to John Hay, the American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Teddy Roosevelt said, “Is America a weakling, to shrink from the work of the great world powers? No,” (“Teddy Roosevelt”). In the year of 1901, Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States after an assassin shot William Mckinley (“Teddy Roosevelt Legacy”).

When comparing Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson’s stance on foreign and domestic policies, there are similarities and differences. One iconic phrase we associate with Roosevelt, “speak softly and carry a big stick,” justly depicts his stance on foreign policy. Roosevelt sought after prestige for America, desiring to stand out among the nations in power and strength. At times, Roosevelt’s foreign pursuit was aggressive and resulted in conflict such as the Spanish-American War, and resistance to Roosevelt’s Corollary. But it did lead to advances of the construction of the Panama Canal, and the absorption of power over the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba and Hawaii. Roosevelt also made a great impact on domestic policy with the introduction

President Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901 after William McKinley. Roosevelt was vice-president but took the presidential position when McKinley was assassinated. He was the youngest president in United States History, but brought new excitement and power to the presidency as he led Congress and the American public towards progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy. Teddy Roosevelt had a prodigious impact on the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1908, changing the landscape of the U.S. politically, economically, and socially. With all of his accomplishments while he was in office, consisting of the Square Deal, preserving lands, and many more, he improved the U.S overall.

Theodore Roosevelt is one of the American presidents who are remembered for the changes that they brought or made in this nation. He was the 26th president of the United States and he is remembered for his transformations and important quotes which are useful today. Theodore Roosevelt was the most youthful president in the historical background of America amid that opportunity to be in office. He had not yet turned forty three years, the required age, when he got to be a president. He played a major role in transforming the federal government and the transformations made are still in effect today (viewpoint article; Beale). He was able to end one of the major wars and as a result of this success he was able to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1901, after the assassination of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt became the United State’s youngest president and he viewed his presidency as a way to “increase the influence and prestige of the United States on the world stage and make the country a global power” (Milkis 1). His accomplishments were made using American influence rather than force. Previously, presidents had used the American armies to ensure that America was seen as a capable leader. Roosevelt thought ahead and saw that helping other countries emblematically during times of war would benefit the United States. He realized that the US did not have to necessarily place boots on the soil in order to make advances whereas his predecessors did not.

Why did the US get involved in World War I? The U.S. declared war on April 6th, 1917, while President Wilson had been attempting to create peace between Germany and Britain; the country had desperately tried to stay neutral with the problems accruing with these two. After the continuous attacks against American ships, and propaganda by German U-boats, Germany kept attempting to get Mexico to declare war on the U.S. and stop American supplies from getting to Britain. For this reason the U.S saw itself being pushed to get involved.

Roosevelt did everything he could to engage the USA in the war but he could not declare

War is raging on all fronts. The United States is holding true to its neutrality in World War I. As the war continues, growing suspicions creep into the households of everyday American people. The pressures of Germany are a growing problem for the United States. Germany ultimately forced the U.S. to declare war on them. Germany’s broken policies and the decoded Zimmerman note were the major causes of Woodrow Wilson’s declaration of war.

The best way to describe Theodore Roosevelt is an “Original”, a man like no other helping shape and influence American history for the better. Mostly known for serving two terms as president and being one of the youngest president’s to serve in history, but he was more than that. What made Theodore Roosevelt special was that he believed in peace but just because he wanted peace did not mean he would be a coward and be bullied by others. He has even won a noble peace prize for helping end the Russo-Japanese war. Being one of the few faces found on Mount Rushmore he has earned his right to be remembered throughout history. He was a man that would not back down for anything. He stood up for what he believed in and what he thought the American people wanted.

This unknown fact of American being neutral or not, ultimately lead to the United States needing to enter World War I. Although the United States President at the time, Woodrow Wilson, explained the reasoning for the U.S. entering WWI was because of Germany’s submarine warfare, the violence toll that Germany took on America relates back to the concealed matter of the nation of the United States actually being neutral throughout the time before war

2. Theodore Roosevelt was considered to be the “First Modern President because he had a strong- firm personality, and showed aggressive actions towards others. Roosevelt believed that the President had the right to use all power unless they were denied to him. Also, that he has a responsibility to the people, and so challenged himself to avoid notions of limited government and individualism; the government he controlled should maintain as an agent who should give the people what they want. Roosevelt’s presidency opened up creativity of progressive movement, lending the prestige of the White House to welfare legislation, government regulation, and the conservation movement.

Wilson viewed America as a nation of peace and he wanted to preserve this view. However, as time went on, the little things the U.S did while claiming its neutrality started to matter. Germans retaliated to the U.S trade with the Allies. One thing led to another and the U.S joined the war under the Allies’

George Washington encouraged the United States to take a neutral approach, to avoid wars with nations in the future. Woodrow Wilson wanted to continue the policy of neutrality. He eventually asked Congress to declare war on Germany. The Government failed to sign the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations. Many thought that joining the League of Nations would lead to war.

World War I was one of the very first wars that had a global effect on the whole world. According to the book about WWI, The Guns of August, A shocking 32 countries took part in it. In the very first stages of WWI, the U.S stayed neutral, and had good reasons for doing so, too. However, the U.S eventually became entangled in the conflict anyway. Three leading causes forced the U.S to join WWI.

In September 1901 Theodore Roosevelt became president when William McKinley was assassinated. He thought that the presidency was basically a “bully pulpit”. Roosevelt was “a steward of the people bound actively and affirmatively to all he could for the people” (Divine 2013, p. 546). Roosevelt tried to bridge the gap between the African Americans and the whites but most southerners believed that what he was trying to do was a crime that was equal to treason. Eventually Roosevelt backed down. In 1903, Roosevelt wanted Congress to create a Department of Commerce and Labor to investigate corporations engaged in interstate commerce. When Congress did not want to do it, he took measures to ensure that they would pass it and they did in the end. Through these things in the reading along with the other things he did we see that Roosevelt while progressive went about it differently than Wilson did. While Roosevelt was able to get