was Teddy Roosevelt know better as an Imperialist or a Progressive?

Progressive.

Well, before we answer the question, it is important to define the terms. An 'Imperialist' is a person who wants to extend a nation’s authority and power by acquiring land/territory. A 'Progressive' is a person who actively works for progress and better conditions for all people in a society or government.

In my opinion, President Roosevelt was definitely an Imperialist. Many other historians and political scientists support this claim, as he has drawn many criticisms for his imperialistic tendencies. These include the dealings of the United States with Panama, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, as well as, several other instances. Much of this criticism is due to his imperialist and interventionist approach to foreign policy. It is widely known that he considered many of these countries 'uncivilized'.

This opinion is mine and of several academicians. This is a very tricky question because political motives are open to numerous interpretations. I have my PhD in political science and I would try not to steer you wrong, but if your research yields different results, be sure to express your own. However, he WAS an Imperialist.

Imperialist, he used military to control people, the coal strike of 1902 not an exact quote but he said "to hell with the constitution americans need coal", he said this after threatening to take the coal mines with the military. Unfortunately now a days Imperialistic ideas are progressive so in a way he is both.

The Bull-Moose Progressive Party, in which he was active for a time, was pro-free-enterprise capitalist (check out the Sherman Anti-Trust act: very anti-monopoly, unlike state capitalism). It had absolutely nothing in common with the current socialist movement of the same name.

Nor was he an Imperialist in the European sense: he just felt that the US was coming of age on the world stage and should demonstrate that it was strong enough to look out for its own interests.

He should be better known as an exceptional American president, not as an imperialist or a progressive. He's definitely worth a study.

He was a self proclaimed progressive. He ran against Taft and Wilson as the Progressive party candidate.

Progressive.

Progressive

Progressive, but mos def an imperialist at times.

Bull Moose

Imperialist.

FDR is known better as a progressive.