The Strenuous Life: Essays and Addresses · 'True Americanism'
Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt's address during a time of American expansion urges a balance between economic growth and moral responsibility. The burgeoning industrial power of the U.S. in the early 20th century came with a risk of overlooking the nation's broader duties. This echoes the notion from the Progressive Era that strength isn't only in wealth, but in ethical leadership and global engagement—a message that resonated as America began asserting itself on the international stage.