Maximilien Sully vs Theodore Roosevelt

Sully was appointed Superintendent of Finances by Henry IV. He implemented reforms to reduce corruption, increase revenue, and pay off the royal debt, restoring France's financial stability after the Wars of Religion.

Sully introduced the Paulette, an annual tax that allowed officeholders to bequeath their positions. This stabilized royal finances and created a hereditary bureaucracy, but also entrenched venality of office.

Sully oversaw the construction of the Canal de Briare, linking the Loire and Seine rivers. This canal facilitated trade and transport, boosting the French economy and serving as a model for future canal projects.

Sully published his memoirs, the Royal Economies, detailing his financial reforms and service under Henry IV. The work became a key source for understanding French state-building in the early 17th century.

Roosevelt led the Rough Riders, a volunteer cavalry unit, in the Battle of San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War. The victory made him a national hero and boosted his political career.

Roosevelt's administration sued the Northern Securities Company, a railroad monopoly, under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Supreme Court ordered its dissolution, establishing Roosevelt's reputation as a trust-buster.

Roosevelt supported and oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, which connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The US supported Panama's independence from Colombia to secure the canal zone, and the canal opened in 1914.

Roosevelt announced the Roosevelt Corollary, asserting the US right to intervene in Latin American nations to stabilize their economies and prevent European intervention. This expanded US influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Roosevelt established the US Forest Service and designated 150 million acres of national forests. He also created five national parks and 18 national monuments, significantly expanding federal land conservation.