A young Theodore Roosevelt photographed in 1885. Roosevelt was a wilderness warrior, saving wild places for future generations. He also is one of history's great people.
Theodore Roosevelt was a great man whose actions altered the landscape of the United States. A new book on Roosevelt by historian Douglas Brinkley explores Roosevelt’s career from the perspective of his interactions with and choices regarding the natural world.
STAND FOR LESS recommends Brinkley’s book, The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America.
The most obvious reason to study history is to learn from our mistakes so we can make better choices today and have a better life tomorrow. There are different theories when it comes to studying our collective past. One of these is the “great man” theory of history. The name predates our times—we now recognize that women have been pulling their weight too over the centuries.
The great man theory emphasizes influential individuals. These are the heroes and villains of history that changed the destinies of others. There are examples of many great individuals whose personalities, gifts and flaws altered the world. Critics of this view of history point out that it’s overly simplistic and that it fails to explain the complexities of the past. All the same, there have been great men and women who have had a substantial impact during their day and beyond. Without question Theodore Roosevelt is one such individual.
Brinkley’s new book is an outstanding and engaging analysis of Roosevelt. It’s been just over one hundred years since Roosevelt was president and we’re all better for the seven and a half years he spent in the White House.
Brinkley begins the book by reviewing Roosevelt’s childhood and his obsession with the natural world. As a boy and then a young man, T.R. was an adventurer with a purpose. He wanted to understand nature, its flora and fauna and endless diversity.
Early in his presidency Roosevelt had a problem. Exotic feathers were wildly popular fashion items in women’s hats. Millions of birds were being killed each year to satisfy the demand for feathers. Roosevelt was appalled by this situation but was initially unsure what he could do about it. Since the Civil War, Americans were massacring wildlife “for profit and sport” (Brinkley) at dizzying rates.
These slaughters upset Roosevelt. Passenger pigeons were in their final phases of dying out during his presidency. The buffalo barely survived the 19th century. Now rare and exotic birds faced extinction in the name of fashion. To stop it Roosevelt took a novel approach. He created the first national wildlife refuge to protect birds in Florida simply by declaring it so.
Roosevelt’s declaration held and by the end of his presidency he created fifty-one similar bird reservations. These were the beginning of the large federal wildlife refuge system that today covers more than 95 million acres. For Roosevelt this was just a start. His policies protected more land than any president that preceded him and set the stage for those who followed.
If you are interested in the natural world you will enjoy The Wilderness Warrior and you will enjoy learning more about America’s colorful and important 26th president. Roosevelt left office in March of 1909. He is undeniably one of history’s greats.
Tags: Douglas Brinkley, President Roosevelt, STAND FOR LESS, The Wilderness Warrior, Theodore Roosevelt