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Theodore Roosevelt is born
Future President Theodore Roosevelt is born in New York City to a wealthy family. Being home-schooled, Roosevelt later graduated at Harvard University in 1880 and later serving the New York state legislature from 1881-1884. Roosevelt served as U.S. Civil Service commissioner from 1885 to 1889 in Washington, D.C., and then as New York City’s police commissioner from 1895 to 1897. Later becoming the vice president under McKinley and later taking the Presidency role after the assassination. -
Named President when McKinley is assassinated.
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated. If situations like this happen, usually the vice president (who was Roosevelt at the time) takes an oath and becomes the President. -
Elkins Act Passed
The Act authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission to impose heavy fines on railroads that offered rebates, and upon the shippers that accepted these rebates. -
Pelican Island, Florida named first national wildlife refuge
On March 14, 2003, the National Wildlife Refuge System will celebrate 100 years since President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge at Pelican Island, Florida. Today, the National Wildlife Refuge System is the only network of federal lands dedicated specifically to wildlife conservation. -
Wins first full term as President
Republican Theodore Roosevelt defeats the Democratic nominee, Alton B. Parker. Roosevelt's victory of Parker made him the first president to win a term in his own right after having ascended to the presidency upon the death of his predecessor, William McKinley. -
Devil's Tower
Established in northeastern Wyoming, near the Belle Fourche River. Ancient people have lived near the tower for thousands of years: their descendants still hold a connection with the tower on a physical and spiritual level. Perspectives of this tower continue to evolve. -
Passage of Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce and laid a foundation for the nation's first consumer protection agency. -
Yosemite under Federal Control
Theodore Roosevelt signed the American Antiquities Act of 1906 that transferred the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove back under federal protection and control. A decade later, when the National Park Service formed in 1916, Yosemite had its own agency to protect it, thanks to Roosevelt's efforts. -
Roosevelt leaves presidency and visits Africa
In 1908, Theodore Roosevelt declined to run again for the presidency. Roosevelt anointed William Howard Taft (his close friend). Taft won the election with ease and after the election, Roosevelt left to Africa to hunt big game and collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. This decision was based on his desire to leave the political stage and focus on his natural need for action. -
Runs for presidency, unsuccessfully for Bull-Moose Party
A group of Republicans dissatisfied with the renomination of President William Taft, the Bull-Moose party (aka the Progressive Party) called for the direct election of U.S. senators, women suffrage, and many social reforms. Unfortunately for them, Theodore Roosevelt was elected after the assassination. -
Energy Crisis
Throughout the 1970s, the need of American oil in the form of gasoline was rising. Americans worried about oil prices rising rapidly because of how much oil was being used in the time period.
