Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt became president after the the former president, William McKinley was shot. During his presidency, Roosevelt made many accomplishments.

President Theodore Roosevelt became president on Saturday September 14, 1901, in Buffalo, New York, at 3:32pm. Book Source. "The oath of office was administered by Judge John R. Hazel, of the United States District Court." (Book Source). When Roosevelt was sworn in, he vowed to keep the former president, McKinley's policies. Book source.

During his presidency, Roosevelt began the construction of the Panama Canal. The canal was originally going to be built in Nicaragua or Panama. Although President Roosevelt supported the plan to built the canal in Panama Congress debated the plan and it appeared that the canal would be built in Nicaragua. However, the plan changed when a volcano became active in Nicaragua, it was decided that the canal would be built in Panama.

He was also known as the trust buster for supporting the break down of the trust businesses that would cheat people by putting higher prices on things and refusing them trade.

Theodore Roosevelt also won the Nobel Peace Prize for putting an end to the Russo-Japanese War. " Lasting from February 1904 until the signing of a peace treaty in early September 1905, was arguably the first modern war." (Source). In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt was the first American president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

President Theodore Roosevelt was a remarkable president. during his time in office he began the construction of the Panama Canal and became the first president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Spanish-American War

The Spanish American War took place in 1898. The war was fought between America and Spain and was over Cuba's independence Book Source.

Cuba was under the control of the Spanish and fought for independence in the Ten Years' War from 1868 to 1878. They received support from many Americans who sent them money and weapons. The Ten Years' War ended when the Spanish guaranteed better living conditions to the Cubans. However, the Spanish only increased persecution by arresting, killing and even exiling the Cuban people for their ideas. The Cubans who were exiled rallied together to create the Cuban Revolutionary Party. The war between Spain and Cuba became a problem for the U.S. because of Cuba's close proximity to the U.S. There were also U.S. citizens living in Cuba. Book Source.

The Spanish-American War was lit by the destruction of of the battleship Maine on February 15, 1898. Although there was an investigation no one knew for sure who or what caused the explosion. The media, however, blamed the Spanish. The American people were soon convinced that the Maine should be avenged. "Soon a rallying cry could be heard everywhere -- in the papers, on the streets, and in the halls of Congress: "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain." (Source).

America went to war with Spain in 1898. The war between the two nations only lasted for four months. President McKinley believed that "Cuba ought to be free and independent, and the government should be turned over to the Cuban people."source. In 1897 Theodore Roosevelt, who served in the navy during the war, said, "I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one." Source. The war ended on February 6, 1899.

The Spanish American War took place in 1898. This war was fought between America and Spain for the Cuba's independence. The war only lasted for four months and ended on February 6, 1899.

Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt was America's youngest president. Roosevelt had three siblings, and was the son of a rich banker.

Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858 in New York. His mother was Martha Bullock Roosevelt and his father was Theodore Roosevelt Sr., who was a rich banker. At a young age Theodore suffered from asthma and was nearsighted. He was schooled at home. Even though he had bad eyesight he loved to read. He also enjoyed camping and hunting.


In 1876, Theodore Roosevelt went to Harvard. After he graduated from Harvard he entered into Columbia Law School. A year later, Theodore left the school and started his political career.


In 1889 President Harrison made Roosevelt a member of the Civil Service Commission. Roosevelt joined President McKinley's administration in 1897 as the assistant secretary of the Navy. In 1898, Roosevelt became Lieutenant-Colonel of the first US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. After serving in the Spanish American War, he ran for governor of New York in 1898, and later became president when the conservative republicans voted him to be vice president in 1900. President McKinley was assassinated a year later when Leon Czolgosz shot him twice book source. Roosevelt then became the United States' twenty sixth president on Saturday September 14, 1901 at 3:32pm Book source.


Despite the fact that Theodore Roosevelt had asthma and poor eye site from a young age, he went on to serve in politics and serve in the cavalry in the Spanish American War. He finally became the president of America in 1901.

Transcontinental Railroad

The Transcontinental Railroad stretched from Missouri to California. The railroad was built by two companies, the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific. It took them three years to finish the Transcontinental Railroad. Book source.

The idea of building a transcontinental railroad was first proposed by the transcontinental Railroad was built by the Cental Pacific and Union companies. The Transcontinental Railroad began to undergo construction in Omaha, Nebraska (Book source) and, when finished, ran from Missouri to California. The railroad was finished at Promontory, Utah, on May 10, 1869.

Many of the people who worked on the railroad were Chinese. Book Source. "The first Chinese were hired in 1865 at approximately $28 per month to do the very dangerous work of blasting and laying ties over the Sierras." Source. By 1868, a year before the railroads were finished, two thirds of the workers hired were Chinese.

The Transcontinental Railroads aided people in transportation across America. This would normally take somebody around six months to accomplish. However, the Chinese-Americans would still have to face hardships, even though they had worked willingly for lower pay. The railroads also, "created the skeletal structure of the Western transportation system." Source.


The Transcontinental Railroad ran from Missouri to California. The railroads were finished on May 10, 1869. A great effort was put into this project by the Chinese, although they were discriminated against while working on the railroad and after it was finished.

1893 World's Faire and the Guilded Age

During the Gilded Age, industry was at its peak. During the World's Fair in 1893, over half a billion dollars was spent to build a magnificent white city that covered six hundred eighty six acres.

During the Gilded Age industry skyrocketed. "Between 1872 and1880, for example, the Singer Sewing Machine Company increased production from 220,000 to 500,000 units annually." (Book Source). The transportation in this age improved do to the increase of the production of iron and steel.

The World's Fair took place in Chicago in 1893, and was called the White City. The buildings of this fair was amazing. The World's Fair was a very grand example of the Gilded Age because the Gilded Age was a time of industrial greatness, and the World's Fair was a time of great architecture.


The World's Fair in Chicago was called the White City because of the buildings' color, not by the purity of the people in it. There is some irony to the White City, because of all the crime that took place during its time. (Book source). I think this idea of rabid crime within this city is important for people to see so that they may grasp the idea that when people inhabit cities in large numbers it is more likely for people to get killed because it's so easy to hide in a big city.


The World fair is such a grand example of the Gilded Age, which was a time of great industry, because of the amazing buildings that were built and the architecture of that time. However, there was a massive amount of crime during the World Fair, and in the White City, which is somewhat ironic. (Book source).

Radical Reconstruction

The Radical Reconstruction plan was made by president Andrew Johnson. The Radical Reconstruction was Johnson's attempt to carry on and finish what the former President Lincoln had started.


President Andrew Johnson's Radical Reconstruction plan was meant to excuse those who took the oath of loyalty. If a wealthy Southerner or an important Confederate official wanted a pardon, they would have to personally request it from the president. If a state wanted to reenter the Union they would have to give their consent to the thirteenth amendment and then deny their war debts. However, not everybody agreed to Johnson's Radical Reconstruction plan. The Radical Republicans and a few Northerners strongly disagreed with Johnson's plan.

It is not surprising that the Radical Republicans didn't want the Confederate states to be able to be so easily pardoned. It makes sense that they would want some sort of punishment to be brought upon the Confederates because most of them, if not all, supported the Confederate troops, who were killing the soldiers belonging to the Union side, during the war. There is also the feeling that justice needed to be served when another person does wrong to you, that the Radical Republicans most likely felt. The Radical Republicans were very much against slavery.
(to be continued)

The most Important Thing I've Learned this Year

I have learned many things this year. However, the most important thing that I have learned about this year would have to be Martin Luther.


When studying Luther I learned that he was practicing law before he became a monk and that he was struck by lightning before becoming a monk. He struggled with the fact that he had to buy his way into heaven and new there was something more. He went to school at Whittenburg and became a professor there. He read the Bible and discovered that into was only through grace that we are saved, and not through the selling of indulgences.

I also learned that Luther began the Protestant reformation, and revealed to people that you couldn't buy your way into heaven. He revealed to the scriptures to the common man and the peasants by writing a translation of the Bible in the German language so that they could read the Bible and find the truth out for themselves. Luther stood up for the truth even though it put a price on his head and cost him his reputation.


Martin Luther was the most important person I have learned about this year because he was very influential. His life's story showed me that God changes the course of history through unlikely individuals, who are willing to pursue and teach the truth no matter what it may cost them. Luther's life also shows what an impact one person can have on the world.


Luther was the most important person I have learned about this year because he was such an influential person. He taught the truth even though doing so put a price on his head, and changed the course of history.