Teddy Roosevelt and the Spanish-American War
Introduction
Three years before Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States, then Colonel Theodore Roosevelt assembled a volunteer cavalry known as the “Rough Riders,” formally known as the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry. The Rough Riders were one of just three volunteer cavalries assembled for the war and were the only one of the three to see combat. Roosevelt, the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, pushed for American involvement in the events leading to this 10-week war, where he once again proved himself an asset to the United States military before beginning to emerge as a leader on the national political stage.
Background: The USS Maine and the Events Leading …show more content…
President McKinley called on volunteer soldiers to assist in the war effort. This was to ensure that America’s interests in Cuba and the greater Caribbean would be met. The formation of the volunteer cavalry was prompt. The volunteers were primarily able bodied young men with horseback riding experience from the southwestern part of the United States. This was because the climate was similar to that of Cuba, where the men would be fighting. Following relatively standard training, the men embarked on a journey to Tampa, Florida, on May 29th, 1898. The men were to embark to Cuba from Tampa, though the journey proved to be disheartening for the company, as only eight of the twelve companies were dispatched to Cuba. Approximately one fourth of the men who received training were either left behind or died from malaria or yellow fever, significantly weakening morale. Roosevelt expresses a first-hand account of the journey, stating that he experienced deep, heartfelt sorrow for the men left
Introduction
Three years before Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States, then Colonel Theodore Roosevelt assembled a volunteer cavalry known as the “Rough Riders,” formally known as the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry. The Rough Riders were one of just three volunteer cavalries assembled for the war and were the only one of the three to see combat. Roosevelt, the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, pushed for American involvement in the events leading to this 10-week war, where he once again proved himself an asset to the United States military before beginning to emerge as a leader on the national political stage.
Background: The USS Maine and the Events Leading …show more content…
President McKinley called on volunteer soldiers to assist in the war effort. This was to ensure that America’s interests in Cuba and the greater Caribbean would be met. The formation of the volunteer cavalry was prompt. The volunteers were primarily able bodied young men with horseback riding experience from the southwestern part of the United States. This was because the climate was similar to that of Cuba, where the men would be fighting. Following relatively standard training, the men embarked on a journey to Tampa, Florida, on May 29th, 1898. The men were to embark to Cuba from Tampa, though the journey proved to be disheartening for the company, as only eight of the twelve companies were dispatched to Cuba. Approximately one fourth of the men who received training were either left behind or died from malaria or yellow fever, significantly weakening morale. Roosevelt expresses a first-hand account of the journey, stating that he experienced deep, heartfelt sorrow for the men left