Did Roosevelt's upbringing, background and character make it easy for him to understand the concerns and fears of ordinary Americans? Explain your answer.

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Christian Jonathan Hidalgo Kerstiens

Centre Number ES373 Candidate Number 2609

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Did Roosevelt’s upbringing, background and character make it easy for him to understand the concerns and fears of ordinary Americans? Explain your answer

Roosevelt was born in 1882 in New York,  he was son of a wealthy and affluent society making it difficult from the start to understand ordinary concerns. Roosevelt’s contact with other people was minimum as he was an only child. He was lonely living in Springwood in an isolated but beautiful house; this however, made it difficult for him to get a view of what life was really like. Feeling lonely was an important lesson which helped him to emphasise with other people, not as wealthy. He was taught the spirit of service to others and to respect those below him providing him with the adequate manner which helped him understand the fears and concerns of ordinary Americans. He was tutored at home and was spoiled by his mother.

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At boarding school he was water boy and ball carrier and was considered an outsider. These rather unpleasant experiences in his childhood helped him understand the concerns and fears of ordinary Americans and therefore be able to empathise with the American public.

During 1896-1900, he attended Groton, a prestigious school and received a BA degree in history from Harvard in only 3 years. He then studied law at New York’s Columbia University and then practiced law with a prominent New York City law firm, but was so rich that he did not need to work. This was not a ...

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