Carry a Big Stick:
The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt
Reading Notes
Read through the definitions before reading the
chapter. Each chapter opens with a quote
from Theodore Roosevelt; use the quote for that day’s Copywork.
Part I: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt
A Bull Moose
Emcee--a person in charge of the proceedings at an event or
entertainment
Intoxicating--capable of making somebody intensely excited
or overjoyed, often so much so that the person becomes irrational
Charisma-- the ability to inspire enthusiasm, interest, or
affection in others by means of personal charm or influence
A Slow Start
Burgher-the-scion-- a citizen, especially a prosperous or
conservative member of the middle class
Mercantilism-- an early modern European economic theory and
system that actively supported the establishment of colonies that would supply
materials and markets and relieve home nations of dependence on other nations
Agrarianism-- a political movement or philosophy that
promotes the interests of the farmer, especially the redistribution of land
owned by the rich or government
Sophistication-- a combination of worldly wisdom,
self-confidence, and refinement in a person
Clandestine-- needing to be concealed, usually because it is
illegal or unauthorized
Contraband-- goods that are illegally imported or exported,
e.g. goods that evade duty or are prohibited by law from being taken into or
out of a country
Precipitous-- very high and steep
Tenacity-- tending to stick firmly to any decision, plan, or
opinion without changing or doubting it
Piazza—in this context, a veranda or porch
Precocious Youth
Asthma-- a disease of the respiratory system, sometimes
caused by allergies, with symptoms including coughing, sudden difficulty in
breathing, and a tight feeling in the chest
Sagacious-- having or based on a profound knowledge and
understanding of the world combined with intelligence and good judgment
Prodigious-- great in amount, size, or extent
Insatiable-- always needing more and impossible to satisfy
Humanitarian-- committed to improving the lives of other
people
Philanthropic-- showing kindness, charitable concern, and
generosity toward other people
Integrated-- bringing together processes or functions that
are normally separate
Cohesive-- sticking, holding, or working together as a
united whole
The Harvard Dandy
Prestigious—important, impressive, esteemed
Sage—wise
Extra-curricular—more than usual, over and above the usual
amount of schoolwork
Intramural--occurring within, or involving members of, a
single school, college, or institution
Raconteur--somebody who tells stories or anecdotes in an
interesting or entertaining way
Dandy--characteristic of a man who is excessively concerned
with his elegant appearance
Paragon--somebody or something that is the very best example
of something
Vim--exuberant vitality and energy
Peritonitis--inflammation of the membrane that lines the
abdomen
Crenelations-- decorative features resembling battlements
Fairy Tale Love
Verbose—using too many words
A Reformer’s Zeal
Harbinger--somebody or something that foreshadows or
anticipates a future event
Scintillating--possessing or displaying a dazzlingly
impressive liveliness, cleverness, or wit
Scrutiny--close, careful, and thorough examination or
inspection
Wheeling and dealing—behaving in an aggressive, flamboyant
way, as in arranging business or political deals
Mugwump—a Republican who refused to support the party ideas
and plans
Progressive—one who favors political reform
Pundit—expert
Prognosticator—someone who predicts the future
Idealistic—unrealistic and impractical
Quixotic—foolishly idealistic
Credo—beliefs, doctrine
Tragedy
Renal—of or near the kidneys
Go West Young Man
Astute—shrewd, smart
Liability—problem
Stigma—something that detracts from the reputation of a
person
Effeminacy—being effeminate, like a woman, unmanly, timid or
weak
Destiny Fulfilled
Anemic-- pale and not looking well, pale and not looking
well
Whilom—formerly
A Political Quest
Demagogue-- a political leader who gains power by appealing
to people's emotions, instincts, and prejudices in a way that is considered
manipulative and dangerous
Indolence-- lethargic and not showing any interest or making
any effort
Fiefdom-- something, e.g. territory or a sphere of activity,
that is controlled or dominated by a particular person or group
Prostitution-- the act of engaging in sexual intercourse or
performing other sex acts in exchange for money, or of offering another person
for such purposes
Forensics—having to do with the application of scientific,
especially medical, knowledge to legal matters, as in the investigation of
crime
Rap sheet-- a list of somebody's past arrests and the
disposition of charges
Rough Rider
Munitions-- military supplies, e.g. weapons and ammunition
Detachment—(here) a military unit separated from its normal,
larger unit for special duties
A Political Accident
Gubernatorial-- relating to, involving, or associated with a
governor
Bureaucratic-- relating to the way administrative systems
are organized
Anarchist-- somebody who believes that governments should be
abolished as unnecessary, and who tries to overthrow a government or behaves in
a lawless way
TR: Rex
Brouhaha-- a noisy commotion or uproar, public outcry of criticism
or protest
A Restless Heart
Pandemic-- a disease or condition that is found in a large
part of a population
1912
Finagling-- to trick, cheat, or manipulate somebody in order
to obtain or achieve something
Years of Exile
Rheumatism-- a painful condition of the joints or muscles in
which neither infection nor injury is a contributing cause
Gout-- a metabolic disorder mainly affecting men in which
excess uric acid is produced and deposited in the joints, causing painful
swelling, especially in the toes and feet
Vindication
Pauper-- a very poor person
Pedestrian—ordinary
Bard-- a poet, especially one of national importance
Socialism-- a political theory or system in which the means
of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated
according to equity and fairness rather than market principles
Part II: The
Character of Theodore Roosevelt
His Family
Victorian-- relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of
the reign of the British Queen Victoria
Menagerie-- a collection of wild animals kept in captivity
for the curiosity and entertainment of the public, sometimes as part of a
traveling show
Albeit—even though
His Father
Tangible-- able to be touched or perceived through the sense
of touch
Progenitor-- the originator of or original model for
something
The Strenuous Life
Manifestation-- the condition of being shown or being
perceptible
The Great Outdoors
Disabuse-- to tell somebody or make somebody realize that an
idea is not true
Incumbent-- necessary as a result of a duty, responsibility,
or obligation
Environmentalism-- the movement, especially in politics and
consumer affairs, that works toward protecting the natural world from harmful
human activities
An Appetite for
Learning
Subtle-- slight and not obvious
Rhetoric-- speech or writing that communicates its point
persuasively
Logic-- philosophy the branch of philosophy that deals with
the theory of deductive and inductive arguments and aims to distinguish good
from bad reasoning
Musings—thoughts
Sociology-- the study of the origin, development, and
structure of human societies and the behavior of individual people and groups
in society
Ornithologist—a person who studies birds
Story-Teller
Elephantine—enormous
Monologue—a long speech by one actor or person
Good Deeds
Fanatical-- excessively enthusiastic about a particular
belief, cause, or activity
Fringe—(here) members of a group or organization who hold
views not representative of the group and usually more extreme
Ivory tower-- a state or situation in which somebody is
sheltered from the practicalities or difficulties of ordinary life
Reformer
Clarion call—an urgent call to action (a clarion was a
medieval trumpet with a clear high-pitched tone)
Pugilist—someone who practices boxing
Aplomb-- confidence, skill, and poise, especially in
difficult or challenging circumstances
Eugenics-- the proposed improvement of the human species by
encouraging or permitting reproduction of only those people with genetic
characteristics judged desirable. It has been regarded with disfavor since the
Nazi period.
Segregation-- the practice of keeping ethnic, racial,
religious, or gender groups separate, especially by enforcing the use of
separate schools, transportation, housing, and other facilities, and usually
discriminating against a minority group
Socialism
Monopoly--a situation in which one company controls an
industry or is the only provider of a product or service
Secularism--the belief that God should have no part in
political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially
schools
Cult--a system of religious beliefs regarded as misguided, unorthodox,
extremist, or false, often directed by a charismatic, authoritarian leader who
does not allow a person to freely or easily leave the group if they decide they
no longer believe what is taught
Fascism--any movement, ideology, or attitude that favors
dictatorial government, centralized control of private enterprise, repression
of all opposition, and extreme nationalism
Coerce--to make somebody do something against his or her
will by using force or threats
Capitalism--an economic system based on the private
ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterized
by a free competitive market and motivation by profit
Proliferation—reproduce greatly and rapidly
Messianic--relating or belonging to an inspirational leader,
especially one claiming to be or regarded as a savior or liberator. (From
“Messiah”, which is Hebrew for “Savior”)
Efficacy—effectiveness
Bully Pulpit
Grassroots--the ordinary people in a community or the
ordinary members of an organization, as opposed to the leadership
Gridlock--a situation in which no progress can be made
Herculean—phenomenal, extra special
The Common Man
Flora—plant life
Fauna—animal life
Humility
Sycophant--a servile or obsequious person who flatters
somebody powerful for personal gain
Prodigy--somebody who shows an exceptional talent at an
early age
Savant--a wise or scholarly person
War and Peace
Paradox--a statement or proposition that contradicts itself
Science
Protozoan--a single-celled organism that can move and feeds
on organic compounds of nitrogen and carbon, e.g. an amoeba.
Accouterments--an accessory or piece of equipment associated
with a specific object, task, or role
Ethos--the fundamental and distinctive character of a group,
social context, or period of time, typically expressed in attitudes, habits,
and beliefs
The South
Reconstruction--the period of U.S.
history from 1865 through 1877, during which the states that had seceded during
the Civil War were reorganized under federal control and later restored to the Union
Secession--the withdrawal from the Union of 11 Southern
States in 1860-1861 that led to the formation of the Confederacy and the
beginning of the Civil War
Humor
Jocularity—fond of joking
Yellow journalism--a style of journalism that makes
unscrupulous use of scandalous, lurid, or sensationalized stories to attract
readers.
Courage
Zeppelin--a rigid cylindrical airship consisting of a
covered frame and a suspended compartment for engines and passengers
Infinitesimal—tiny
Dais—a raised platform at the end of a hall or large room
Failure
Harangue--to criticize or question somebody, or try to
persuade somebody to do something in a forceful angry way
Recrimination—an accusation made against somebody who has
brought a previous accusation
Friendship
Button-holed--to be compelled byl somebody to listen to them
with no avenue of escape
A Pro-Life Stalwart
Hierarchy--ranks of power and seniority
Prenatal--existing or happening during pregnancy but before
childbirth
Infanticide--the act of killing an infant
Enervation--to weaken somebody's physical, mental, or moral
vitality
Invective--abusive or violent language used to attack,
blame, or denounce somebody
Sentimental—appealing to tender feelings
Debauch--to persuade somebody to behave in an immoral way
Blight--something that spoils or damages things severely
Progressive
Urbanization--to make an area of countryside or a village
into a town or part of one or to make a country person move to the city
Industrialization--to adapt a country or group to industrial
methods of production and manufacturing, with all the accompanying social
changes, or to be adapted in this way
Dire—very bad
Disparate—very different
Motley--consisting of people or things that are very
different from one another and do not seem to belong together
Aggregation--collected together from different sources and
considered as a whole
Prejudice
Jingo--an extreme patriot, especially somebody who advocates
hostility toward other countries
Elitist--the belief that some people or things are
inherently superior to others and deserve preeminence, preferential treatment,
or higher rewards because of their superiority
Equanimity--evenness of temper even under stress
Anti-Semite—A person who dislikes and discriminates against
Jews
Nigger—a highly offensive term for a black person
Melancholy—sadness
Heroes
Decorum--dignity or good taste that is appropriate to a
specific occasion
Bull Feathers
Profanity--language or behavior that shows disrespect for
God
Nomenclature--a system of names assigned to objects or items
in a particular science or art
Ribald--humorous but rude and vulgar
Expletive—a swearword
Faith
Immutable—not able to be changed
The Bible
Sniggering--to laugh disrespectfully in a covert way
Heterodox--at variance with established or accepted beliefs
or theories, especially in the field of religion
The Church
Corporate--relating to or involving a group as a whole
Bastion--a fortified place
TR and FDR
Polio--a severe infectious viral disease, usually affecting
children or young adults, that inflames the brainstem and spinal cord,
sometimes leading to loss of voluntary movement and muscular wasting
Fundamental--relating to or affecting the underlying
principles or structure of something
Presuppositional--to make something necessary if a
particular thing is to be shown to be true or false. The sentence "Fred
loves his daughter" presupposes that Fred has a daughter
Sagamore Hill
Mecca--a
place that is an important center for a particular activity or that is visited
by a great many people
Convalesce—recuperate, to spend time recovering from an
illness
American Spirit
Primordial--essential or basic to something
Workaholism—having a need to work all the time
Ebullience--full of cheerful excitement or enthusiasm
Part III: The Legacy
of Theodore Roosevelt
The Micah Mandate
After you’ve read the chapter, memorize Micah 6:8
Justice
Inextricably-- impossible to disentangle or undo
Parameter—limitation or boundary, a fact or circumstance
that restricts how something is done or what can be done
Predilection—a special liking or preference for something
After you’ve read the chapter, read the following verses and
choose one of them to memorize: Proverbs 6:16-19; 10:27-32; 16:8; 21:21; 21:3
Mercy
Silk-stocking idealism—the ideas or philosophy of the wealthy,
who are so removed from the problems of real life that they don’t realize their
ideas are impractical and could not be accomplished in real life
Philanthropy-- a desire to improve the material, social, and
spiritual welfare of humanity, especially through charitable activities
After you’ve read the chapter, read the following verses and
choose one of them to memorize: Proverbs 22:22-23; 24:11-2; 28:27; 29:7; 31:8-9
Humility
Epistemology-- the branch of philosophy that studies the
nature of knowledge, in particular its foundations, scope, and validity
Soteriology-- the doctrine of salvation, especially the
Christian doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ
After you’ve read the chapter, read the following verses and
choose one of them to memorize: Proverbs 3:5,6; 9:10-12; 11:2; 21:30; 22:4;
26:12
Our Need
Executant-- a skilled performer
Armageddon-- in the Bible, the battle between the forces of
good and evil that is predicted to mark the end of the world and precede the
Day of Judgment
Before you read the chapter:
Read 2Kings 6:8-23
Read Revelation 16:12-16; 19:11-21
Study and narrate the last quote from TR. For an extra challenge, memorize it.
Review Micah 6:8 and the three Bible sections/verses you memorized
in the previous chapters
