Eleanor Finch
The Big Stick ideology and Dollar Diplomacy are two foreign policies that were implemented by the United States during the early 20th century. The Big Stick policy, popularized by President Theodore Roosevelt, advocated for a strong military capability to support diplomatic objectives and enforce the Monroe Doctrine, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. On the other hand, Dollar Diplomacy, associated with President William Howard Taft and Secretary of State Philander C. Knox, aimed to promote American commercial and financial interests abroad, especially in the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia. While Big Stick diplomacy emphasized the use of military power, Dollar Diplomacy focused on using economic and financial tools to exert American influence and create stability in foreign regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Big Stick Policy | The use of military muscle to complement diplomatic policies. |
| Negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong. | |
| The threat of force to achieve foreign policy goals. | |
| Roosevelt's foreign policy philosophy. | |
| Dollar Diplomacy | The use of economic power to push for favorable foreign policies. |
| Substituting dollars for bullets. | |
| Using foreign policy to secure markets and opportunities for American businessmen. | |
| Resolving diplomatic issues with trade, rather than with conflict. | |
| Failed to maintain the existing balance of power. |
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What You'll Learn
- Roosevelt's Big Stick policy was based on the idea of speak softly and carry a big stick
- The big stick was used during Canal Diplomacy in Nicaragua and Panama
- Roosevelt's foreign policy was based on a balance of power in Asia
- Taft's Dollar Diplomacy aimed to substitute dollars for bullets
- Dollar Diplomacy failed to relieve Central American countries of their debt
Roosevelt's Big Stick policy was based on the idea of speak softly and carry a big stick
The Big Stick policy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The policy was derived from the proverb, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb, although there is little evidence to support this. The saying implies that one should be subtle and tactful in their actions (speaking softly) but also be prepared to act with force (carrying a big stick) if necessary.
Roosevelt's interpretation of the proverb was that one should not only speak softly but also remember to carry a big stick. He believed that if one relied solely on subtle tactics, they would be taken advantage of by others. Similarly, if one only carried a big stick and did not speak softly, they would likely encounter greater resistance from others. Roosevelt applied this philosophy to his foreign policy, believing that the United States had the right and obligation to act as the "policeman of the hemisphere".
One example of Roosevelt's Big Stick policy in action was his support for Japan during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. Roosevelt initially supported Japan's position, angered by the massing of Russian troops along the Manchurian border. However, as Japan quickly achieved victory after victory, Roosevelt grew concerned about the growth of Japanese influence in the region and the continued threat it posed. This led Roosevelt to adopt a policy of maintaining a balance of power among the nations in the Pacific. He attempted to bolster China's ability to withstand Japanese interference, working with the Chinese government to develop the country's railroad industry through international financing.
Another instance of the Big Stick policy was Roosevelt's intervention in the Dominican Republic. He struck a deal with President Carlos Morales, helping the country out of a debt crisis in exchange for temporary control of its customs house. This stabilised the Dominican Republic's economy and demonstrated Roosevelt's use of both subtle diplomacy and the threat of force ("speaking softly and carrying a big stick") to achieve his foreign policy goals.
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The big stick was used during Canal Diplomacy in Nicaragua and Panama
The "big stick" policy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term is derived from an African proverb that Roosevelt often repeated: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". Roosevelt believed that it was unnecessary to use force to achieve foreign policy goals, as long as the military could threaten to use force.
The big stick was indeed used during Canal Diplomacy in Nicaragua and Panama. In 1901, Roosevelt sent Secretary of State John Hay to pressure the Nicaraguan government into approving a canal. Nicaragua would receive $1.5 million in ratification, $100,000 annually, and the U.S. would "provide sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity". However, Nicaragua returned the contract draft with a change: they wished to receive $6 million in ratification instead of an annual $100,000. The U.S. accepted the deal, but after Congress approved the contract, a problem of court jurisdiction arose. The U.S. did not have legal jurisdiction in the land of the future canal.
With the U.S.'s solidified interests in Panama (then a small portion of Colombia), both Colombia and the French company that was to provide the construction materials raised their prices. The U.S., refusing to pay the higher-than-expected fees, "engineered a revolution" in Colombia. On November 3, 1903, Panama (with the support of the United States Navy) revolted against Colombia. Roosevelt immediately recognized the independent country of Panama, which became an American protectorate until 1939. Panama accepted the terms that had been previously offered to Colombia. Construction on the canal began in May 1904. Roosevelt wanted to send a message to the rest of the world, especially European leaders, that the colonization of the Western Hemisphere had ended.
Roosevelt also established protectorates over Cuba and Panama and directed the United States to manage the Dominican Republic’s custom service revenues. This intervention often strained relations between Central America and the United States.
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Roosevelt's foreign policy was based on a balance of power in Asia
Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy was driven by his belief in the expansion of US power and influence, particularly in Asia. Roosevelt's philosophy, known as the "Big Stick" policy, was characterised by his famous quote, "speak softly and carry a big stick". This approach guided his actions in Asia, where he sought to maintain a balance of power and protect US interests.
Roosevelt's administration inherited the governance of the Philippines, an island nation in Asia, and he also played a role in resolving a crisis in East Asia. When fighting broke out between Russia and Japan in 1904, Roosevelt initially supported Japan, but as their influence in the region grew, he became concerned and worked to bolster China's ability to withstand Japanese interference. Roosevelt sought to maintain a balance of power in the region by supporting the Open Door policy in China, which aimed to keep the country open to trade with all nations. To reinforce this policy, he sent the Great White Fleet to the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force and a message to the Japanese government. Roosevelt's actions in Asia were also influenced by his belief in the preservation of the balance of world power, which was a guiding principle of his foreign policy.
Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, took office in 1909 and shifted the focus of US foreign policy to economic power, a strategy known as "Dollar Diplomacy". Taft sought to use America's economic might as a tool in foreign affairs, relying less on military force or the threat of it. Dollar Diplomacy aimed to secure markets and opportunities for American businesses by resolving international conflicts through trade and economic agreements. However, this approach ultimately failed, especially in Asia, where it sowed seeds of mistrust and was unable to maintain the balance of power.
In conclusion, Roosevelt's foreign policy in Asia was driven by his desire to expand US influence and maintain a balance of power. He employed a combination of military strength and diplomacy to achieve his goals, and his actions had significant implications for the region. While his successor, Taft, shifted towards an economic-focused foreign policy, it was Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy that set the tone for this era of US engagement in Asia.
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Taft's Dollar Diplomacy aimed to substitute dollars for bullets
When William Howard Taft became president in 1909, he adapted Roosevelt's "big stick" foreign policy philosophy to one that reflected American economic power at the time. Taft's "dollar diplomacy" aimed to "substitute dollars for bullets" by using foreign policy to secure markets and opportunities for American businessmen.
Taft's policy was a response to modern ideas of commercial intercourse. It was characterized by the use of America's economic power to resolve diplomatic issues with trade, rather than with conflict. Taft's goal was to ensure stability and maintain order abroad, which would also promote American commercial interests. He relied less on military action, or the threat of such action, than McKinley or Roosevelt before him. Instead, he used the threat of America's economic clout to coerce countries into agreements that benefited the United States.
Taft's administration focused on two key zones: Central America and Asia. In Central America, several countries owed steep debts to European countries. Taft's policy did little to relieve these countries of their debt and, at best, reassigned that debt to the United States. It also spurred several nationalist movements among those who were resentful of the interference, leading to more conflict and "Banana Wars." In Asia, dollar diplomacy sowed the seeds of mistrust. Pre-Soviet Russia and Japan were suspicious of U.S. actions in China, seeing them as little more than an imperialist foray into Asia. Dollar diplomacy also failed to maintain the existing balance of power, as Imperial Japan responded by expanding its reach throughout Southeast Asia.
Overall, while Taft's "dollar diplomacy" aimed to substitute dollars for bullets, it ultimately failed to achieve its goals and created difficulties for the United States, both at the time and in the future.
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Dollar Diplomacy failed to relieve Central American countries of their debt
Dollar Diplomacy was a foreign policy approach created by US President William Howard Taft and his Secretary of State, Philander C. Knox. It aimed to ensure the financial stability of a region while advancing US commercial and financial interests. The policy was a shift from Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy, which relied on military force or the threat of it, to a strategy that used economic power to coerce countries into agreements that benefited the US.
Dollar Diplomacy, as implemented by Taft, failed to relieve Central American countries of their debt. Instead, it reassigned their debt to the United States, which spurred nationalist movements and resentment towards American interference. In 1909, Taft attempted to gain control over Honduras by buying up its debt to British bankers, but he was unsuccessful. Similarly, the State Department persuaded four US banks to refinance Haiti's national debt, which set the stage for further intervention.
Rather than reducing debt, Dollar Diplomacy was designed to make both foreign countries and American investors prosper. It encouraged and protected trade within Latin America and Asia, with the goal of promoting American commercial interests. However, in Central America, it failed to address economic instability and the tide of revolution in countries like Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.
The policy's failure in Central America seems inevitable in retrospect. It relied on using US economic might as leverage in foreign policy, which created difficulties for the United States and led to more conflict in the region, including the "Banana Wars" and US-backed coups d'états during the Cold War.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Stick Policy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term is derived from the proverb "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb. The policy was used to describe Roosevelt's foreign policy positions, which involved negotiating peacefully but also having the strength of the military in case things went wrong.
Dollar Diplomacy was the foreign policy approach taken by William Howard Taft, Roosevelt's successor. Taft adapted Roosevelt's foreign policy philosophy to one that reflected American economic power at the time. He chose to "substitute dollars for bullets" and use foreign policy to secure markets and opportunities for American businessmen.
Roosevelt's Big Stick Policy was more focused on the use of military power, or the threat of it, to achieve foreign policy goals. On the other hand, Taft's Dollar Diplomacy relied more on the use of economic power and coercion to influence foreign affairs.
