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Theodore Roosevelt is Born
On October 27, 1858, future President Theodore Roosevelt is born in New York City to a wealthy family. Roosevelt was home-schooled and then attended Harvard University, graduating in 1880. He served in the New York state legislature from 1881 to 1884. He served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He also served as the 25th vice president from March to September 1901 as well as the 33rd governor of New York from 1899 to 1900. -
Named President When McKinley Was Assassinated
On 6 September 1901 President William McKinley, Jr. was shot by Leon Czolgosz. Though he initially seemed to be healing well, President McKinley eventually died eight days from gangrene. That same day, Teddy Roosevelt was inaugurated for his first term as the twenty-sixth president of the United States. But before the inauguration took place, the vice-president went through various phases of hope and fear. Roosevelt feared Czolgosz would not get a fair enough punishment for his crime. -
Energy Crisis
The Anthracite Coal Strike took place in 1902 after the railroad companies which owned the mines refused to meet with representatives of the union. Workers’ requests for better wages, a shorter workweek, and recognition of their union had been denied. Coal prices doubled as production dropped. Roosevelt feared that Americans would soon experience hardships. Roosevelt championed a new approach by negotiating with organized labor, which is often cited as an example of his square deal. -
Elkins Act Passed
The Elkins Act gave federal courts the power to end rate discrimination. Widely supported by larger railroad companies, the Elkins Act upheld the rates published by the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Act outlawed rebates and made the railroad company itself liable for punishment along with the entity receiving the refund. Railroad directors informed President Theodore Roosevelt of their desire to cease the practice of rebates and he supported the bill in private correspondence. -
Pelican Island, Florida Named First National Wildlife Refuge
President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order on March 14, 1903, that permanently set aside the three-acre island as a wildlife sanctuary; and made Pelican Island the first National Wildlife Refuge. By the end of his presidency, Roosevelt named 9 more reservations in Florida and a total of 55 bird reservations and national game preserves, the forerunner to the National Wildlife Refuge System. -
Theodore Roosevelt Wins First Full Term As President
The United States presidential election of 1904 was held on November 8, 1904. The Republican Party unanimously nominated incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt for president at their 1904 national convention. Roosevelt had succeeded to the Presidency upon William McKinley's assassination. Theodore Roosevelt easily won a term of his own, thus becoming the first "accidental" president to do so. Roosevelt won the election by more than 2 1/2 million popular votes. -
Federal Control over Yosemite
In 1890, an act of Congress creates Yosemite National Park, home of natural wonders such as Half Dome. John Muir and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by Benjamin Harrison. In 1889, Muir discovered that the vast meadows surrounding Yosemite Valley were being overrun and destroyed by domestic sheep grazing. In 1906, the state-controlled Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove came under federal jurisdiction with the rest of the park. -
Passage of Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in 1906. Along with it was the companion bill, the Meat Inspection Act. The Pure Food and Drug Act prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce and laid a foundation for the nation's first consumer protection agency, the FDA. The Federal Meat Inspection Act makes it a crime to misbrand meat products being sold as food, and ensures meat products are slaughtered and processed under sanitary conditions. -
Devil's Tower, Wyoming, named first national monument
Devil's Tower in Wyoming was a sacred monument for quite a few Indian tribes. For example, a band of Cheyenne's went on one of their visits to Na Kovehe to worship the great spirit, along with many other tribes. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt brought national attention to Devils Tower by authorizing the Antiquities Act, giving the president the power to set aside national monuments. Devils Tower became the first national monument, established that same year. -
Leaves Presidency and Visits Africa
Theodore Roosevelt declined to run again for the presidency in 1908. He anointed William Howard Taft, his close friend and secretary of war as his successor. In 1909, Roosevelt set out for Africa to hunt big game and collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. His decision was based on his desire to leave the political stage to his successor and on his natural need for action. The expedition collected 1,100 specimens, including 500 big game. -
Runs for Presidency, Unsuccessfully for Bull-Moose Party
Theodore Roosevelt is nominated for the presidency by the Progressive Party, a group of Republicans dissatisfied with the renomination of President William Howard Taft. Also known as the Bull Moose Party, the Progressive platform called for the direct election of U.S. senators, woman suffrage, reduction of the tariff, and many social reforms. However, Roosevelt was defeated by Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson, who benefited from the divided Republican Party.
