HIST-310: The Accidental Presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and the Great War

[Matt]

Fenn University, Department of History

HIST-310 – Fall 2015

The Accidental Presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt
and the Great War

Prof. Terrance Bollea
​

Our class meets three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:00-4:00 PM
My office hours in Room 105 Dimora Tower are:
Wednesday 5:00-6:30 PM & Friday 4:30-5:30 PM

Or by appointment via campus electromail: Prof.T.Bollea@fenn.uni

BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course will provide understanding in historical, political and socio-economic standpoints on one of the most celebrated and controversial figures of the early 20th century: Theodore Roosevelt. We will assess his career starting from his catapulting onto the national stage at San Juan Hill; to his ascension to the presidency the first time following the death of McKinley's first Vice-President at the end of the 19th century, Garret Hobat, and subsequent assassination of William McKinley only a scant couple of years later; to his failed retirement in 1909-1910 and increasing turn to progressive politics; adroit maneuvering for control of the RNC following the tragedy surrounding the death of his hand-picked successor to the presidency, William Howard Taft, in 1910 and subsequent death -- by kidney disease -- of President James Sherman; his nomination and election in 1912 and subsequent radical transformation of American society leading up to the Great War; and last, but not least, his impact during the Great War and how President Roosevelt prepared Americans for the titanic struggle against Germany and the Central Powers. We will also assess how his legacy continues to effect people both at home and abroad to the present day. We will also evaluate his terms in office, concentrating on his third and fourth terms(1913-1921).

Particular attention will be paid to the following:

1. The Rise of Roosevelt to national prominence(1890-1900) and his first two terms(1901-1909)
2. How Roosevelt was able to use the chaos and disarray in Republican ranks to return to the presidency, thus becoming the second person to serve non-consecutive terms and to have only one of two people to serve four terms in total
3. Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” and later “New Nationalism” and their effects on American society.
4. The Mexican Revolution and Roosevelt’s response to it.
5. Roosevelt’s increasing distrust of the Central Powers, especially Germany under the then Kaiser, drawing closer to the nations of the Triple Entente.
6. Why America under Roosevelt entered the Great War on the Entente side after the belligerent u-boat campaigns of 1915.
7. Ideological clashes between the progressive, internationalist, and isolationist, pacifist, pro-business wings of the Republican Party; and Roosevelt’s almost disastrous confrontation with pro-peace/anti-war Democratic presidential candidate, Woodrow Wilson, during the wartime 1916 elections.
8. Roosevelt’s legacy and America’s role in the world post-1921


The course begins with a summary of Roosevelt’s world in 1898 on the eve of the Spanish-American War and ends with us taking stock of what he wrought upon the country, and the world, after his own death in 1921 in the midst of his second retirement after his unprecedented, non-consecutive, four terms in office. Themes and issues we’ll be discussing include the following: Was Roosevelt’s progressivism good or bad overall for the country? Were his actions the trigger for the eventual dissolution of the Republican Party almost forty years later? Was it bound to happen, as it does with almost all political parties in America? Did the internationalist line he followed during his latter administrations directly contribute to the increasingly entangled alliance systems America finds itself in the modern day, and in the process, betray Washington’s vision of an America free of alliances, as some even in his own party claiming at the end of the Great War? Were his harsh terms against the fallen German Empire justified? Were they the impetus for the far more destructive Second Great War or was that conflict doomed to happen as soon as America’s martial prowess and industrial might began to tip the scales in favor of the Allies and irrevocably against Germany and forced her, albeit temporarily for the time, “onto the scrap heap of history”? Students will also develop an ability to critically assess the importance of Roosevelt’s actions in the White House and how they affect history on both a macro and micro scale.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
· Assignments
i) Book reviews – 5 pages Students taking this course will write a review of 2500 words upon a book from a list approved by the professor detailing any facet the Roosevelt presidencies or relating to the themes of the course.
a. Book reviews will consist of:
i. A brief summary of the book you are reviewing
ii. A assessment of the qualities of the book as a good source or not
iii. Would you recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about Theodore Roosevelt or the world he dealt with? What audience would appreciate it, if there is an audience for it?

ii) ONE term paper c. 6000 words(14 pages) on a topic of your choice dealing with a theme or issue pertaining to the course. You may cover what was done in your book review, but only if it meets the professor’s approval first.
A more detailed writing guide will be provided later on during the semester.

Final Exam
The final exam will ask any and all questions pertaining to topics, themes, and issues covered during class. Further information will be given out over the remainder of the semester.

Please be advised you will also be graded on attendance and participation in class.



Grading
· Attendance and Participation: 10%
· Reading Summaries: 10%
· Book Review: 20%
· Term paper: 30%
· Final Exam: 30%


Deadlines
· Book review: Friday, September 11th
· Term paper outline and thesis statement: Friday, October 16th
· Completed term paper: Wednesday, December 2nd
· Final exam: will be held sometime between December 7th-11th

Reading Requirements
Students taking this course are required, on average, to read up to 50-70 pages per week from a list of sources, books and articles provided by the professor, and write summaries of each selected reading to be turned in at the end of each week. These count for 10% of your grade.

A list of the approved sources, books and articles will be provided on day two in class and on my on my website: www.profbollealinks.uni

Main Textbooks
The main textbooks we will be using is Holden and Valentin’s The First Roosevelt Era: 1896-1921(Sekerak Publishing, 2011) and select chapters relevant to the course from Guevara's A People’s History of America’s Presidents (Irons, 2001)

I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you on this extremely fascinating topic in the weeks and months ahead.

 

[Matt]

An excerpt from chapter 25 of Mirabile Dictu: a collection of humorous history essays by university students; compiled and edited by Professor Terry Bollea; Barrow Books, 2007.

The Early 20th Century
The First Rosavlatt Era: Theodore Rosavlatt Returns to Politics?!

A century ago, there lived a man: Theodore "Timmy" Rosavlatt, the three-time progressive president who had left the imperial office of president in 1904. Bored of winning at everything in life, he decided it was high time to get out while the going was good.

To accomplish this he picked a successor, his fat Vice-President, William McKinley Taft, to succeed him and continue winning. He won the election of 1907 against the hated Democrat, Byran William Jenning. All he was known for was not winning in his ten tries at being president and wanting to crucify his opponents on a cross of gold.

With Byran Jenning Williams out of the way, Vice-President Taft became President Taft. He kept to his promise of being Rosevelt's number one fan - until he stopped.

But before we get into silly details like that, it was during this period Timmy Roosevelt was bored. I mean really bored. The guy, who liked winning, suddenly found himself at home. Not winning. It was horrible. It was said by respected authors Valentin and Holden "he was bored and wanted something to do, so his wife said "why not run for politics again, dearest? You liked that!""

Agreeing, he decided then and there in 1910 to get back on his horse and win another battle at San Jan Mountain in 1912. Before he could do so, we have to get back to the silly details I previously mentioned.

What happened was his handpicked successor was killed when his automobile crashed into a hungry bus. He looked like hamburger meat, or so I've been told. I wasn't there. If you were to ask me, President McKinley probably had the appearance of roadkill.

Devastated by the death of his second love after his wife, Timmy Roosevalt dedicated his newfound career to his fallen comrade. When new President James Sherman heard about TR's return he's to have screamed "THEODORE ROSAVLATT RETURNS TO POLITICS?!" Upon hearing that, Roosevelt was very upset and began a systematic campaign of slandering and abusing President Sherman with the intended goal of making him expire. The first step? Saying to anyone who would listen how spineless Shermin was. Step two? Mocking him behind his back at GOP functions. Step three? Winning newflangled primaries. Step four? Living a healthy lifestyle, a factor James Sherman never considered for himself.

Add them all up together, and it's easy to see Roosevelt's master plan, also known as "The Four Point Plan"



With the plan complete, Roosevelt was able to ride on his mighty warhorse all the way from New York to Chicago in time for the convention in 1912. It took a lot of ballots, blue balls, cajoling, trickery, and God himself, but Timmy Roosevelt was able to once again become the Republican candidate for President.

The general campaign was close, with Roosevelt and Chump Clark and Eguene Debbies and old Williams Byran Jenning all going out and asking for your vote.

Timmy Roosevalt won because the Democrats were divided into 45 parts, no one liked a socialist namby pamby like Debbies who's campaign slogan was "share the welts". They also loved his message of "New Old Nationalism", a message which was secret but people still thought it was grand.



It's amazing that after his retirement he came out of retirement to do what he does best: win. America likes a winner. Especially one with a winning smile.

America's love of a winner in TR proved to be the correct choice when in 1914, Archdupe France Ferdinand was asprined to death, plunging the world into war.