His story Roose velt's He wrote histories, books on hunting, essays on American life and ideals, and lives of famous men. of his own life is well known. In his book, "The Strenuous Life," he tries to rouse other people to as active and books fearless a life as he himself lived. He wrote always in vigorous, stirring language. Nearly every one agrees that Roosevelt's books alone would have made him famous. 191. President Taft, an Advocate of Peace. Roosevelt was President nearly two whole terms. He refused another term, and worked for the nomination of his Secretary of War, William Howard Taft. Taft was well fitted for his new tasks as President. He had held many public offices. He had made a very wise and successful governor of the Philippines. President Taft was deeply interested in the need of world peace. He submitted to the Senate wide-reaching treaties to uphold peace with France and Great Britain, and also a reciprocity treaty with Canada. Under this last agreement the two countries were to treat each other's trade alike, and some things were to be free of duty. The outcome was disappointing. Canada failed to accept the WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT reciprocity treaty, and the Senate passed the British and French peace treaties only after changing them greatly. New laws passed Taft professor at Yale Explores river The passage of a new tariff bill caused a sharp division among the Republicans. The tariff was much criticized; but President Taft defended it. This was one reason why, in the second half of his term, the lower house of Congress became Democratic. A divided Congress could not easily agree on any needed laws. Yet many good laws were passed during Taft's presidency. One was a Parcel Post measure. Two others proposed constitutional amendments for the taxation of incomes, and the election of United States senators directly by the people. Two new states, New Mexico and Arizona, were admitted to the Union. The growing differences between the two wings of the Republicans in 1912 led to the nomination of both Taft and Roosevelt. Both were defeated by Woodrow Wilson. After he left the presidency, Mr. Taft became professor of law at Yale. But he now worked more earnestly than ever in behalf of world peace. His sincere and generous efforts in this cause won him increased influence and respect throughout the nation. 192. Roosevelt's Active Life as Ex-President. Roosevelt, after his defeat in 1912, started out to explore a Brazilian river. Four years before he had also made a hunting trip through the tropical wildernesses of Africa. Now Roosevelt and his party went into a jungle where no white man had been before. They were faced with tremendous hardships of all kinds. The trip was longer than they expected, and there was little food in the jungle. They ate palm cabbages, and were glad to find a bit of wild honey or shoot a monkey. Most of the party became ill with fever. But they scarcely dared halt. With their few provisions they were A hazzardous in danger of starving. Roosevelt begged the party to leave him behind, but no one would hear of it. So with his party Rosoevelt pushed on to civilization, at grave voyage risk to his life. The Brazilian government renamed the six-hundred-mile river he explored Rio Roosevelt. In the great World War, Roosevelt stood for the Allies from the first. He opposed our neutrality and our failure to get ready for the war which he saw coming. In the World When America declared war he begged to take an War army to Europe. Although for some reason he was not sent, he did send four sons. Two of them, Theodore and Archie, were wounded, and Quentin gave his life flying and fighting inside the German lines. In January, 1919, Theodore Roosevelt died. No other man carried the love and admiration of the boys and girls as did Roosevelt. The friendly name "Teddy" was the children's name for this great man. SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL The Leading Facts. 1. Though the son of a rich man, Roosevelt even as a boy was most democratic. 2. In the Roosevelt home idleness, selfishness, and cowardice were unknown. 3. In college Roosevelt was a good student and a genuine sportsman. 4. In spite of the jeers of his rich friends Roosevelt started on a political career by joining the 21st District Republican Association of New York City. 5. Roosevelt was elected three times to the New York Assembly. 6. In 1886 he was nominated for mayor of New York City, but he lost. 7. In 1895 he was appointed police commissioner for New York City. 8. Under President McKinley he was chosen Assistant Secretary of the Navy. 9. During the SpanishAmerican War he organized the Rough Riders and led them to victory. 10. On his return from war he was elected governor of New York. II. In 1900 he was elected Vice-President and on the death of President McKinley six months later became President. 12. In 1904 he was reëlected. 13. After he retired from the presidency he traveled in Africa, Europe, and South America. 14. Although nominated for President in the campaign of 1912, he was defeated by Woodrow Wilson. 15. At the beginning of the World War, Roosevelt opposed neutrality and advocated preparedness. 16. Four of his sons took an active part in the war. 17. In January, 1919, Roosevelt died. 18. Taft had been governor of the Philippines before becoming President. 19. Both during his administration and afterward he was an earnest advocate of peace. Study Questions. 1. Describe Roosevelt's boyhood. 2. What influence did his family life have on his character? 3. Show how Roosevelt's character was revealed by the boxing bout. 4. What sort of a young man was he during his college days? 5. What was his first political experience and what did he learn from it? 6. What did Roosevelt accomplish as head of the Police Board? as Assistant Secretary of the Navy? 7. Explain his connection with the Rough Riders. 8. Tell how Roosevelt came to be President and what he accomplished in that office. 9. What was Roosevelt's political nickname and why was it given to him? 10. Relate his activities from the time he retired from the presidency to 1914. II. Tell what was his attitude toward the World War and the part he played in it. 12. What become of the treaties Taft supported? 13. Tell of some good laws passed while he was President. 14. What did Taft do at the close of his administration? Suggested Readings. ROOSEVELT: Hagedorn, Boys' Life of Theodore Roosevelt; Morgan, Theodore Roosevelt, the Boy and the Man; Hale, A Week in the White House with Theodore Roosevelt; Riis, Theodore Roosevelt, the Citizen. WESTWARD EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT OF POPULATION AND THE 193. The New West. We have seen how the discovery of gold in the sand near the American River over The gold one hundred miles from San Francisco started the tre seeker mendous rush to the Pacific coast. The gold seekers Three coast went by three routes: by ship all the way around the Horn, the longest and stormiest way; by ship to Panama routes and beyond, a way beset by danger from fever in crossing to the the isthmus; and by long overland trails on which travelers Pacific suffered untold hardships from losing their way on the sandy plains or among the mountains. Many hundreds perished from sickness and hunger. In 1858, ten years later, gold was discovered near Pike's Peak; in 1859, silver was found in what is now southern Nevada. People streamed westward in ever-increasing numbers. Long lines of covered wagons, called "prairie schooners," filled with fortune seekers toiled over the plains and mountain trails. "Way stations" sprang up along the routes of travel, to supply the needs of immigrants. These supply stations soon grew into towns. Then came the discovery New disof gold in what is now Idaho and Montana, and in the coveries Black Hills of the Dakotas. The westward tide of popu- of gold lation broadened. It filled the bounds of the United States from the Dakotas to Texas; but it was the lure of gold and silver that caused all this early development. 194. A Faster Means of Travel. The demand for means of rapid communication with the new West became strong. It was necessary to bind the new country firmly with the old. The "pony express" and the overland stage were too risky and too slow. mitted as The number of people in California was increasing steadily. In 1850, two years after the discovery of gold, CaliforCalifornia with about one hundred thousand inhabitants nia adwas admitted as a state. The Homestead Law of 1862, by which settlers could easily obtain land, brought great numbers of farmers to the western plains. The first railway engine in the United States was built a state |