Information About Theodore Roosevelt

When trying to find information about Teddy Roosevelt, it’s important to decide what topic of information you are looking for. Because there is such an abundance of information about Theodore Roosevelt, it’s wise to narrow down the choices before starting a search, to avoid having more than necessary. There are hundreds of biographies, essays, studies, articles, and research papers written about Teddy. These writings are presented in a wide range of styles, from children’s books with pictures and activities, to academic dissertations and psychological studies. Although no one format or style is ‘better’, per se, than the other, their usefulness is directly related to the desired outcome.

If choosing a topic for a paper is on the agenda, some basic info on Theodore Roosevelt might help start the process. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, Jr. was born at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, 1858 at 28 East 20th Street, in New York City, New York. His parents were Theodore “Thee” Roosevelt, Sr. and Martha “Mittie” Bulloch. He descended from Dutch colonists who settled the area in mid-1600s (paternal) and Southern slave owners who supported the Confederacy (maternal). As a young boy, he was afflicted with severe asthma, which kept him confined to bed for several years, but he soon began a vigorous exercise program which helped build his body (and lungs) for the primarily-outdoors life he would lead in the years to come. He graduated from Harvard, dropped out of Columbia Law, and became a politician at the age of 23. His first wife died in 1884, two days after giving birth to their daughter (Alice); his mother died the same day, in the same house. His second wife (Edith Kermit Carow) bore him five children, many of which served in the military and politics.

Some specific info on Teddy Roosevelt can also lead to a better understanding of him as president. While he was Vice President, McKinley was assassinated (1901) and Teddy was sworn into office on September 14, 1901. He was elected to a second term in 1904, and served as president of the United States until March 3, 1909. During his time in the White House, he was responsible for some sweeping changes. Theodore was the first to turn the focus of the people to the president, asking them to entrust him with their needs and safety, promising them he would fix the rampant government corruption of the time. With the help of his bipartisan colleagues, he was able to ensure the Progressive Era would lead to revolutionary change for Americans, including vital social programs and reformation of the sciences. He enacted important legislation that would protect the country’s natural resources, as well as give those who would come after him the power to enforce and expand it. His Big Stick Policy helped establish America as a global leader, and paved the way for its foreign affairs policy still in place a century after he left the White House.