The Spanish American War and Theodore Roosevelt's Leadership

The Spanish American War had a huge impact on American history because of the strength Theodore Roosevelt led with. America was slowly changing from isolationism to imperialism and expansionism. Before his presidency he was a war hero and after his career, he was known for his fairness and intelligent thinking. During President Roosevelt’s career he was beneficial before and after his presidency because of his leadership skills because he stood up for his beliefs. One of the ways Theodore Roosevelt impacted America positively was through his patriotic demeanor. People frequently criticized him for being war hungry calling him “A man who loves war” (1). He created the Big Stick Policy, a doctrine built on heroism. The Big Stick Policy showed that he loved his country and that he wanted to help his country grow in everyway. Roosevelt felt he should build the navy to keep the Western Hemisphere safe from European intervention; this would be beneficial because it shows that America is strong enough to be independent. Theodore Roosevelt volunteered his time to serve his country in the New York National Guard, Rough Riders, raised a regiment to fight against Mexico and Word War I (2). Roosevelt did not have to help his country but he did it because he wanted to better his country. Being a nationalist meant everything to him and this was exemplary because he helped his country win and prosper in every war they were in. Overall, Roosevelt wanted to develop ground by making America stand on its own. He wanted to convey how America had been through enough to have its own country and proclaim that they stand firm in what their country believes. Another reason how Theodore Roosevelt impacted the nation positively was with leadership through conservation and the economy. Roosevelt had always been a man who loved the outdoors and wanted future generations to reap from the natural resources, so he thought, “The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental