For this discussion board assignment, students are required to read a short excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1900 speech entitled “The Strenuous Life.”
According to Roosevelt, what does the United States have a duty to advance in the world and how is the United States supposed to advance it? How does he describe the relationship between a nation’s people and its character? Use evidence from the speech to back up your assertions.
In what ways does Roosevelt’s speech justify American imperialism in the late 19th-century? Use evidence from the speech to support your assertions.
Are the ideas expressed by Roosevelt (that the U.S. must continuously advance its ideals and principles) still popular in American culture today? Do Americans continue to strive for or believe in these ideals? Explain.
Classmate 1: Nicole
In his speech, Roosevelt argues that the United States “must see that there is civic honesty, civic cleanliness, civic good sense in our home administration of city, State, and nation” but he expresses that just “because we set our own household in order, we are not thereby excused from playing our part in the great affairs of the world.” He believes that the United States has a duty to these other nations to protect them, as in the case with Puerto Rico which he explains “is not large enough to stand alone.” Or alternately in Cuba, provide them assistance until they are stable enough to settle themselves. He declares that “until order and stable liberty are secured, we must remain in the island to insure them, and infinite tact, judgment, moderation, and courage must be shown by our military and civil representatives in keeping the island pacified.” Here he again references his tactic for advancing their duty, the military. He begins the piece stating that “The army and the navy are the sword and the shield which this nation must carry if she is to do her duty among the nations of the earth.” Roosevelt also argues that while this is a difficult task, if they are to become a true national great, it is their duty. Explaining “if not by us, then by some stronger and more manful race.” The nations character is also in jeopardy now.
Roosevelt justifies American imperialism in the late 19th century by not only illustrating how the US is aiding other nations in their safety and by declaring it necessary to prove the countries greatness, but also by explaining the benefits to be seen by all. He uses England’s rule in India and Egypt as an example, explaining that it was “of great benefit to England, for it has trained up generations of men accustomed to look at the larger and loftier side of public life.” He also mentions the great benefit to India and Egypt themselves, all while continuing to advance the cause of civilization. Roosevelt then appeals to the roots of the American people, by stating that those arguing for “consent of the governed” to be awarded to these nations would also “condemn your forefathers and mine for ever having settled in these United States.”
I think the US still operates similarly in the sense of certain ideas like “America being the greatest nation on earth” or “the land of freedom and opportunity” and that may lead to the belief that we must advance our ideals and principles, but I don’t know if it’s used in the same sense as it was in Roosevelt’s speech. I think at this time, he was trying to achieve the title of the greatest nation and he used this rhetoric to convince the American people that his methods were not only correct but necessary. I think today if a political official were to deliver something similar, it would more so be aimed at preserving the nation rather than achieving such a goal. I do think that many Americans still believe in the importance and strength of the military though, and still pride themselves on the success of the country.
Classmate 2 (Emma)
According to Roosevelt, if we do not do our duty to advance in the world it shows that we are weak and have not control over anything. We will fall behind the other countries and look “foolish”. He states that “It merely forfeits the right to struggle”, in the first paragraph. To advance as a country we need to gain other territories, because if we don’t then other countries will and then we will have less power. We need to gain access to territories that are weak, so that we can make them stronger (which will in return make us stronger). It is easier to get a territory that has nothing, rather than one that is already built up. He said that gaining Puerto Rico would be a good territory because they can’t “stand on their own”. He uses the Philippines as an example, because their people are of all different religions and they can’t run a government, if we don’t take over the Philippines then us taking out the Spanish was useless, because they will just destroy their country themselves. We need to help govern them with “patience”.
He justifies it by saying that, if we continue to grow, we will not be overthrown by the countries who are not scared to gain territories themselves, but if we sit back and let it happen, we will not be dominant of the world and we will be too weak to defend ourselves from others. We need to help others and get them on our side.
In some ways yes, we try to make America a place where someone can become free and flee the hardships of their country, because let’s be honest, we have it very good here in a lot of ways. I don’t think Americans really strive for the way he believed though. American people would rather stay where we are and try to avoid as much conflict as possible though. Some may, but with the generation now, we like the way we have things now and would rather not be in a situation like how Russia and Ukraine are right now, with trying to gain territory.
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