Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City. As a child, he faced health challenges like asthma, which often kept him from going to school. Instead, he learned at home and became very interested in nature. He loved studying animals, insects, and even practiced taxidermy, which is preserving animals.
To help Theodore get stronger, his dad built a gym for him at home. There, he practiced weightlifting and boxing. By the time he was a teenager, he was strong and athletic. He went to Harvard University in 1876 and married Alice Hathaway Lee in 1880.
Theodore started his political career in 1881 when he was elected to the New York State Assembly. In 1884, he had a daughter, but sadly, his wife and mother died on the same day. Heartbroken, he left politics and moved to the Badlands of Dakota. There, he lived a tough life, learning to ride horses, rope cattle, and hunt. He even worked as a deputy sheriff.
In 1886, Theodore returned to New York City, got married again, and ran for mayor, but he didn’t win. Later, he became a police commissioner and then assistant secretary of the navy in 1897. During the Spanish-American War, he formed a group called the Rough Riders. They were very brave in the Battle of San Juan Hill, and Theodore received the Medal of Honor, making him the only U.S. president to get this award.
After the war, Theodore became the governor of New York and then Vice President of the United States in 1901. When President William McKinley was assassinated, Theodore became president at the age of 42, making him the youngest president ever.
Theodore had a famous saying: “Speak softly, and carry a big stick.” He helped make America a powerful country. He was important in building the Panama Canal and helped make peace between Russia and Japan, winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
At home, he worked on the “Square Deal,” which aimed to give everyone fair opportunities. He loved nature and created five national parks, 18 national monuments, and 150 national forests, protecting over 230 million acres of land. On a hunting trip in 1902, he refused to shoot a tied-up bear, which led to the creation of the “Teddy bear.”
By 1909, after serving two terms, Theodore decided not to run for president again. He went on a safari in Africa, collecting specimens for museums. When he returned, he was unhappy with the new president, William Howard Taft, and ran for president again. He formed the “Bull Moose Party” but didn’t win. During his campaign, he was shot but still gave a speech, saying, “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose.”
Theodore was the first president to fly in an airplane, travel in a submarine, own a car, and have a telephone at home. He wrote at least 35 books and was involved with the Boy Scouts of America.
Theodore Roosevelt passed away in his sleep on January 6, 1919, at the age of 60. People said, “Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight.”
Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as one of the most amazing figures in American history. He was a hunter, fighter, activist, and conservationist. His legacy lives on, and he is honored on Mount Rushmore with other great presidents like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
Explore Nature Like Theodore: Theodore Roosevelt loved nature and even practiced taxidermy. Go on a nature walk with your family or friends. Take a notebook and draw or write about the different animals, plants, or insects you see. Try to learn one new fact about each thing you observe. Discuss with your classmates or family why you think Theodore was so interested in nature and how it influenced his life and work.
Create Your Own “Square Deal”: Theodore Roosevelt worked on the “Square Deal” to ensure fair opportunities for everyone. Think about what you would include in your own “Square Deal” to make your school or community a better place. Write down three things you would change or improve and why. Share your ideas with your class and see if you can come up with a class “Square Deal” that everyone agrees on.
Role Play a Day in Theodore’s Life: Choose a partner and act out a day in the life of Theodore Roosevelt. You can pretend to be him during his time as a Rough Rider, a president, or even during his nature explorations. Use props like hats, toy animals, or pretend binoculars to make it fun. After your role play, discuss with your partner what you learned about Theodore’s character and how he handled challenges.
