T R Roosevelt

While Roosevelt tried to help his own citizens he often used and pushed around other countries because he felt it was his right. He himself called America, "the police man of the world." He changed American imperialism from being a practice of acquiring more to states to a way of having more power, money through the acquisition colonies. Many of the imperialist polices he used at the turn of the century are still used today as our reasons for being involved in foreign affairs have changed very little since the early then.
             Teddy Roosevelt was born as a very sickly child in October of 1858 in New York City. His parents were very rich glass merchants from New York. His father who devoted most of his time to philanthropic causes instilled charitable ideals into his children's education. Because Roosevelt was a very sick child, he had to be home schooled by different prestigious teachers. He was encouraged by his father to gain strength so he joined Wood's Gym and became a very good boxer, later to become the second best light weight boxer at Harvard remembered for his skill and good sportsmanship. He developed a great interest in animals at the age of seven when he saw a dead seal being sold. He said of the seal, "That seal, filled me with every possible feeling of romance and adventure." At the age of nine he wrote a very expertly written factual paper called, "The Natural History of Insects," using his own observations. He also loved bird watching and being outdoors. At a young age he would go out and explore the wilderness giving him a fondness for the environment. .
             At Harvard he followed politics very closely and during his spare time he would often help the campaigns of republican candidates. He spent two months on Rutherford Hayes" tour of America campaign. His first real political job was as a New York State assemblyman, 1882-1884. He was the youngest assemblyman to date at the age of 22.