Theodore Roosevelt as an American historian

This dissertation seeks to uncover how Theodore Roosevelt's understanding of history shaped his writing of it and, in turn, influenced his developing political and social ideas about the past and his own time. Roosevelt's historical narratives, while frequently biased in fact and judgment, revealed his personal ideological convictions as well as broader currents of thought about the individual, government, and society in nineteenth century America.; I have researched and examined four major works about American history written by Roosevelt, supplemented by letters and other relevant documents which together illuminate Roosevelt's view of American history at the turn of the century. The four works and their publication dates are Thomas Hart Benton (1887), Gouverneur Morris (1988), the multi-volume The Winning of the West (1889, 1894, 1896), and Oliver Cromwell (1900).; Theodore Roosevelt was an extreme chauvinist and never thought America could do much wrong. This view permeates his writing. Nevertheless, he did not lavish much praise on those who preceded him as Presidents of the United States. This dissertation also emphasizes Roosevelt's views on race and racial differences. Roosevelt was a racist but broadened the term "race" to include "nationality" and sometimes such things as "people of a common language" which makes it difficult to determine what he did mean by the word "race." In the latter definition, for instance, he included in the term the "English Speaking Race" and the "Teutonic Race."; Roosevelt did not achieve great fame as an historian because most of his work was superseded by information that was not available to him and by more critical and sophisticated treatment of the subjects about which he wrote. His accomplishments as an historian should, however, not be minimized. Roosevelt was not a professional historian but there were very few professional historians writing American history in his day. He and his friend Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (Rep. Mass.), were part of a coterie of amateur historians who, nevertheless, made substantial contributions to the field. Viewed from the standpoint of literature rather than history, Roosevelt's writing is outstanding. His sentences are cogent and their meaning is clear and well expressed. His description of the battles between the American Indians and the frontiersmen as well as between Cromwell's "roundheads" and Charles I's "cavaliers" are easy to follow and understand. His first Chapter of The Winning of the West is entitled The Spread of the English Speaking People and is a majestic work.; Theodore Roosevelt was a prolific author, I argue that Roosevelt's literary work foreshadowed, in multiple ways, his philosophy about politics and culture in the United States as he advanced to a major position in American national affairs. Roosevelt tended to focus on individuals as agents of change and progress in his writing, but his work also reflected the tension existing between the individual claims to leadership and the legitimate needs of the larger community. This was a characteristic Roosevelt also exhibited himself as President and which was also evident in much of Progressive ideology and the movement, of which he was a prominent and influential activist.