Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York City. His family was rich. Roosevelt had asthma. He was often sick. So he was taught at home. He loved to study about animals. Roosevelt did a lot of exercise to become stronger and healthier.

After college, Theodore married Alice. He became a lawyer. Roosevelt went into politics. Sadly, Roosevelt’s mother and wife died on the same day in 1884. Theodore was very unhappy. He left New York. For two years, he lived on a cattle ranch.

In 1886, Roosevelt returned to New York. He married Edith. When the Spanish-American War started, Roosevelt joined the army. He led soldiers called the Rough Riders. He was a war hero.

In 1900, William McKinley was elected president for a second term. Theodore Roosevelt was elected as vice-president. In September 1901, McKinley was shot and killed. Theodore Roosevelt then became president. He was the youngest man ever to be president.

Roosevelt did many things for the country. The Panama Canal was built while he was president. The canal connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The canal made shipping goods easier and quicker.

Roosevelt liked nature. He added five national parks. He added many national forests and monuments. In all, Theodore Roosevelt protected more than 200,000,000 (two hundred million) acres of land.

Roosevelt started the Square Deal program to protect factory workers. He wanted men and women to be treated equally.

After Roosevelt left the office of president, he wrote more than 25 books.