What Is The Theme Of The Big Scrum

Theodore Roosevelt was a remarkable president who fought for modernizing and expanding the nation's national identity. Ranging from being a hunter, adventurer, boxer, and the president of the United States, Roosevelt is definitely one of the most interesting and prominent figureheads in American history. The Big Scrum is a book detailing the endeavors of Roosevelt's efforts to preserve and develop one of our nation's greatest pastimes, football. Miller provides an insight of how Roosevelt’s athletic journey led him to be one of the biggest proponents of football. Miller argues that Roosevelt felt that physical exercise and the competition of sport was essential to American society because they stood for self improvement. Miller reinforces

He references this because it was said to be one of Roosevelt’s favorite novels. The story in its simplest form is about overcoming obstacles through physical activity and sport. Naturally, Roosevelt was likely able to have a strong connection with this story as it draws the same parallel of him overcoming his asthma and physical drawbacks through exercise. This novel likely played a very important part in showcasing the importance of sports. Another piece of crucial source material that Miller uses is the ideology of Muscular Christianity. The concept of Muscular Christianity is that masculine men should have a duty to sustain their health and athleticism. Miller references Clifford Putney, the author of Muscular Christianity, Manhood And Sports In Protestant America 1880-1920. This strongly supports Miller’s thesis by restating the concept that physical activity and sport should be present in society because it ultimately improves your body and

Both books tell an accurate representation of events in American history. A huge difference in them is that The American Promise tells a more informational perspective while The Big Scrum is more personal. Miller states in the Introduction that he feels a strong attachment in being a spectator in football as it is where he met his wife. The American Promise details events ranging from depression, war, economy, and many other things. The American Promise has to fulfill the purpose of explaining multiple events throughout over the course of 100 years whereas The Big Scrum is mostly focused on telling the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement in