Skip to content

Questions about Theodore Roosevelt

Short answers, pulled from the story.

How old was Theodore Roosevelt when he became president?

Theodore Roosevelt was 42 years old when he was first inaugurated as president, making him the youngest person ever to hold the office. He became the 26th president on the 14th of September 1901, following the assassination of William McKinley.

What is the Square Deal and what did it do?

The Square Deal was Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program, built around three main goals: conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection. It produced landmark legislation including the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and the Hepburn Act regulating railroad rates. Roosevelt described the program as calling for fairness for all citizens, breaking bad trusts, and regulating railroads.

Why is Theodore Roosevelt called the Trust Buster?

Roosevelt earned the nickname "Trust Buster" for his aggressive use of the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act. He brought 44 antitrust suits during his presidency, breaking up the Northern Securities Company, the largest railroad monopoly, and regulating Standard Oil. His three predecessors combined had prosecuted only 18 antitrust violations.

What did Theodore Roosevelt do for conservation?

Roosevelt established the United States Forest Service, signed five National Parks into existence, and proclaimed 18 new National Monuments under the 1906 Antiquities Act. He also created the first 51 bird reserves, four game preserves, and 150 National Forests, placing approximately 230 million acres under public protection. He issued 1,081 executive orders to accomplish much of this, more than any previous president except Grover Cleveland.

How did Theodore Roosevelt win the Nobel Peace Prize?

Roosevelt won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for mediating an end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. He organized a peace conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, after both Japan and Russia asked him to mediate. He was the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize.

What happened when Theodore Roosevelt was shot during the 1912 campaign?

Saloonkeeper John Schrank shot Roosevelt on the 14th of October 1912, in Milwaukee. The bullet passed through Roosevelt's eyeglass case and a folded 50-page copy of his speech before lodging in his chest muscle. Roosevelt concluded he was not coughing blood and therefore the bullet had not reached his lung, declined immediate hospital care, and delivered a 90-minute speech with blood seeping into his shirt. Doctors later decided the bullet was safer left in place, and Roosevelt carried it for the rest of his life.