Biographies of the New World Power

Biographies of the New World Power — page 3
INTRODUCTION he era explored in this collection of biographies the late 19th and early 20th centuries represents the matural tion of the United States into a world power Moving on from the divisions that plagued the nation during the Civil War and Reconstruction the United States transformed itself politically economi cally culturally and socially Many of these changes are embodied in the lives of the fig ures profiled here Marking the beginning of this era was the decision by President Rutherford B Hayes to remove the last federal troops from the South in 1877 ending the bitter Reconstruction period Under the leader shipofthe 25thpresident William McKinley the United States extended its influence overseas by making territorial acquisi tions following the Spanish American War in 1898 Following McKinley President Theodore Roosevelt continued the momentum of American internationalism by using what he called the bully pulpit of the presidency to promote the nation's role and responsibilities in politics beyond 8