The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

When he was growing up with asthma, the nature and outdoors represented health to Teddy Roosevelt. He grew up normally, went to school, graduated from college, and married.

Unfortunately, on the same day, both his mother and his wife died. This left him alone and heartbroken. Roosevelt moved out west to live life as a rancher. During the Spanish-American War, he led his Rough Riders in the famed charge up San Juan Hill with the African American infantry.

In the election of 1900, William McKinley won against Democratic William Bryan. Roosevelt was his vice president. Unfortunately, less than a year into his second term, McKinley was assassinated. Roosevelt became president. He was only 42, the youngest president in the history of America. He wanted both reform at home and abroad.

Roosevelt's square deal changed things at home. When coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike, Roosevelt forced the owners of the mine to make a compromise with his workers. Called the "Trustbuster", Teddy went on to control big businesses, busting companies such as Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. He created the Department of Commerce and Labor to deal with business.

Roosevelt added over 150 million acres to America's forests. He created the first Federal Bird Reserve. Congress passed laws to allow the building of dams, irrigation, and national parks. Congress also passed the Meat Inspection Act and the Food and Drugs Act.