Discussing Theodore Roosevelt's views of American Nationalism and Imperialism - Research Paper Example

By the nineteenth century, it was almost impossible to interchange the concepts of nationalism and racism. Enlightenment ideals heightened on nationalism and imperialism regardless of the emphasis on the equality and liberty of men as well as the cosmopolitan aspirations. Following the French Revolution, the republican government tries to unify all the French-speaking nations making them a single rule. This led to an aggressive campaign by the military in the Low Nations. Italian liberals on the other hand hoped to have a unified nation that would be under the Italians only and not a jumbled combination of foreign and domestic monarchs.

Come the nineteenth century, there was no accord that the different species of mankind shared a common origin and that there worth was not equal. Most nations and leaders believed on the biological superiority of what was referred to as the Caucasian race and this was common with the Germanic peoples who seemed to be justified by the global colonial empires rise headed by the European countries. It is in the wake of this situation that this paper looks at the position taken by Theodore Roosevelt on imperialism and nationalism.

Theodore Roosevelt’s came to power at a time when most of nations had adopted nationalistic and imperialistic modes as they tried to gain more territories and come up with the best military. This situation strengthened the desire of Theodore Roosevelt to construct the American race so that it becomes one that is full of ambitious, brave and hardworking men. To come up with such a race, Theodore Roosevelt’s remained open to mixing races as he believed that by mixing different races, he will be able to have men who had superior qualities than those men who were pure.

Despite this position, Theodore Roosevelt also believed that there were some groups of people who he viewed as better representations of this race. He was in favor of people from the European descent as he excluded the Asians and African American considering them as being inferior. Some of his actions and speeches contrasted this position on race. He strongly believed and promised that people from different races were welcome and that they had the same rights as the rest of the American citizens.

Early life Experience Theodore Roosevelt came from a tradition that revered the Protestant ethic, the middle class Americans. In his early childhood, he learned the ethic of the Bible and was introduced to social consciousness now that his father happened to be an avid philanthropy practitioner as well as a social worker who believed in putting in action what the Bible preached. His concern with regards to the poor was that the legislative form in pursuing to lessen the distress resulting from a new industrial and urban society.

This take is evident in his progressive stance while he was serving as a New York’s Governor as well as the President. This showed that Theodore Roosevelt attitude was reverent and he pursued the highest Christian virtue ideals and opted to implement his own faith in assisting others and helping to come up with a better world. Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement in religion in his early life was that of works. His early Christianity life was behind his means to live a good life and this led to his ruling to emphasize on moral and good life.

This remained to be an overriding passion in the faith of Theodore