Theodore Roosevelt, the Spanish-American War, and the emergence of the United States as a great power

Subject(s): Diplomacy, Hay, John, 1838-1905, Hendrix, Henry J., Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Spanish-American War (1898), United States. Navy. Atlantic Fleet. Battleship Force

William N. Tilchin argues that the Spanish-American War did lead to the United States becoming a global power, but he asserts that the most consequential result of the war was the elevation of Theodore Roosevelt as a war hero, a status that made his rapid rise to the presidency possible. Tilchin argues that the Spanish-American War provided the potential for the United States to become a world power, but that it took Roosevelt’s presidency and his actions, most notably enlarging the navy and creating a close working relationship with Great Britain, to realize America’s potential as a great power. Tilchin highlights some of the major accomplishments and episodes of Roosevelt’s presidency in the international arena such as the acquisition of the Panama Canal zone and diplomatic overtures to Japan. 

Photographs of Tilchin, Roosevelt, Secretary of State John Hay, and the Great White Fleet supplement the text.

 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2009-10-24

Creator(s)

Tilchin, William N., 1950-

Language

English

Period

Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)

Page Count

5

Production Method

Printed

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Speech

Rights

No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.


Citation

Cite this Record

Chicago:

Theodore Roosevelt, the Spanish-American War, and the emergence of the United States as a great power. [October 24, 2009]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308366. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Tilchin, William N., 1950-. Theodore Roosevelt, the Spanish-American War, and the emergence of the United States as a great power. [24 Oct. 2009]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308366.

APA:

Tilchin, William N., 1950-., [2009, October 24]. Theodore Roosevelt, the Spanish-American War, and the emergence of the United States as a great power.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308366.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.

APA:

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.