Jonah Patel
Theodore Roosevelt's big stick foreign policy was based on a favourite proverb, speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. This approach, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, was used to police small debtor nations in Latin America and the Caribbean with unstable governments. Roosevelt believed that the United States had the right and obligation to be the policeman of the hemisphere, and that military strength was not always necessary to achieve foreign policy goals, so long as the military could threaten force. This belief shaped much of Roosevelt's foreign policy, including his approach to the Russo-Japanese War, the construction of the Panama Canal, and his dealings with Japan over American business interests in Manchuria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | Roosevelt termed his philosophy as the "strenuous life" |
| Foreign Policy Approach | The "big stick" policy was based on a threat of force rather than its outright use |
| Military Strength | Roosevelt believed that it was unnecessary to use force to achieve foreign policy goals, so long as the military could threaten force |
| Policeman of the Hemisphere | Roosevelt believed that the United States had the right and the obligation to be the policeman of the hemisphere |
| Balance of Power | Roosevelt adopted a policy of maintaining a balance of power among the nations |
| Negotiations | Roosevelt used negotiations to reinforce the Open Door policy throughout China and the rest of Asia |
| Latin America | Roosevelt enforced the Monroe Doctrine throughout multiple interventions in Latin America |
| Canal Diplomacy | Roosevelt was determined to construct a canal across Central America |
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What You'll Learn
Roosevelt's belief in the US as the 'policeman' of the hemisphere
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" foreign policy was based on a favourite proverb of his, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This proverb was allegedly of West African origin, although there is little evidence to support this claim. Roosevelt's foreign policy was predicated on the idea that the United States had the right and obligation to be the policeman of the hemisphere. This belief was shaped by his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would not accept European intervention in the Americas. Roosevelt formulated what became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would intervene in any Latin American country that manifested serious economic problems, such as the inability to repay foreign debt, to prevent them from becoming targets of European invention. This policy was influenced by Roosevelt's personal beliefs and his connections to foreign bondholders.
Roosevelt's belief in the United States as the policeman of the hemisphere was also influenced by his desire to protect American business interests abroad. For example, when Japan forced American businesses out of Manchuria in 1906–1907, Roosevelt invoked his "big stick" policy by sending the US Great White Fleet on manoeuvres in the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force. This action successfully protected American interests in Asia. Roosevelt also supported Japan's defence against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904, but when Japan's victories put American interests at risk, he stepped in and offered his services as a mediator. For his role in negotiating peace, Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize, the first US President to do so.
Roosevelt's belief in the United States as the policeman of the hemisphere was also reflected in his approach to Latin America and the Caribbean, where he enacted the Big Stick policy to police the small debtor nations that had unstable governments. For example, in 1902, when Germany and Britain sent ships to blockade Venezuela's coastline due to its refusal to repay loans, Roosevelt demanded that they agree to arbitration to resolve the dispute. Similarly, when Santo Domingo (now the Dominican Republic) encountered problems with European countries over debt, Roosevelt ordered an American collector to assume control of the customs houses and collect duties to avoid possible European military action.
Overall, Roosevelt's belief in the United States as the policeman of the hemisphere shaped his foreign policy decisions and interventions in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. He used the "big stick" of military strength and economic coercion to threaten force and protect American interests, while also speaking softly through peaceful negotiations and arbitration to resolve conflicts.
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The threat of military force
Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" policy was a political approach that emphasised the threat of military force as a means to achieve foreign policy goals without actually having to engage in military conflict. This approach was based on Roosevelt's interpretation of a West African proverb: "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".
Roosevelt believed that the United States had the right and obligation to be the "policeman" of the Western Hemisphere, ensuring that other nations fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate American rights or invite foreign aggression. This belief shaped his foreign policy decisions, including his approach to Latin America and the Caribbean, where he intervened in countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic to protect American interests and maintain regional stability.
In Latin America, Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was evident in his response to the Venezuela crisis in 1902. When Germany and Britain sent ships to blockade Venezuela's coastline due to unpaid debts, Roosevelt demanded arbitration to resolve the dispute. He also ordered American naval forces to Cuba to ensure compliance with the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would not accept European intervention in the Americas.
Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was also employed in East Asia, particularly during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). Initially, Roosevelt supported Japan's defence against Russia, but when Japan's victories threatened American interests in the region, he invoked his big stick policy by sending the Great White Fleet on manoeuvres in the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force from 1907 to 1909. This action, along with his strategy of maintaining a balance of power, protected American interests in Asia.
Overall, Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was a central aspect of his foreign policy, allowing him to pursue American interests and maintain stability without engaging in direct military conflict. By relying on the threat of military force, Roosevelt was able to shape international relations and project American power on the world stage.
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Maintaining a balance of power
Theodore Roosevelt's ""Big Stick"" foreign policy was based on the idea of "speaking softly and carrying a big stick". This approach was derived from an African proverb that Roosevelt often cited: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".
Roosevelt's foreign policy was shaped by his belief that the United States had the right and obligation to be the "policeman of the hemisphere". This belief, coupled with his "big stick" strategy, led to his intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean, where he policed small debtor nations with unstable governments. Roosevelt's approach to these nations became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that other nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate American rights or invite foreign aggression. This corollary served as justification for U.S. intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Roosevelt's "big stick" policy was also evident in his approach to maintaining a balance of power in Asia. During the Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt supported Japan's defence against Russia. However, when Japan's victories started to threaten American interests in Asia, he invoked his "big stick" policy by sending the U.S. Great White Fleet on manoeuvres in the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force from 1907 to 1909. This action, along with subsequent negotiations, reinforced the Open Door policy throughout China and the rest of Asia, protecting American interests in the region.
Roosevelt's "big stick" diplomacy had five components. Firstly, it was crucial to possess serious military capability, such as a world-class navy, to force adversaries to pay attention. Secondly, peaceful negotiation was essential, but strength and the threat of military force were also necessary if negotiations failed. This idea ties in with the concept of Realpolitik, implying a pursuit of power resembling Machiavellian ideals. Thirdly, Roosevelt believed in the exercise of intelligent forethought and decisive action in advance of any potential crisis. Fourthly, he understood the importance of speaking softly or respectfully towards other nations while also being prepared to defend America's rights. Finally, Roosevelt's "big stick" policy was influenced by his personal beliefs and connections to foreign bondholders, as seen in his response to the Venezuelan crisis involving British and German blockades.
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The Monroe Doctrine
In the early 20th century, Venezuela became a focus of Roosevelt's attention when Germany and Britain sent ships to blockade the country's coastline due to its refusal to repay loans from the European nations. Roosevelt demanded that Germany and Britain agree to arbitration to resolve the dispute. This incident provided the initial basis for the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that other nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate the rights of the United States.
The Roosevelt Corollary, announced in 1904, also declared that the United States would serve as the "policeman" of the Western Hemisphere. This belief, along with his strategy of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick,” shaped much of Roosevelt's foreign policy. The corollary had little to do with relations between the Western Hemisphere and Europe but served as justification for U.S. intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy was also evident in his approach to the Russo-Japanese War. He supported Japan's defense against Russia but stepped in when Japan's ongoing victories put the United States' own Asian interests at risk. Roosevelt sent the U.S. Great White Fleet on maneuvers in the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force, reinforcing the Open Door policy throughout China and the rest of Asia.
Overall, Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy, as a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, reflected his belief that the United States had the right and obligation to maintain stability and enforce its interests in the Western Hemisphere.
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Latin America and the Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean, Roosevelt's "big stick" policy was used to police small debtor nations with unstable governments. Roosevelt believed that the American sphere included not only Hawaii and the Caribbean but also much of the Pacific. He saw it as the manly duty of the United States to exercise an international police power in the Caribbean and to spread the benefits of Anglo-Saxon civilization to "inferior states".
Roosevelt's policies in the region were also driven by a desire to counter European influence. In 1902, he objected to the presence of German and British ships blockading Venezuela's coastline after the Venezuelan dictator refused to repay loans from these countries. Similarly, in Santo Domingo (now the Dominican Republic), Roosevelt ordered an American collector to assume control of customs houses and collect duties to avoid possible European military action.
In 1904, Roosevelt issued the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, proclaiming US police power in the Western Hemisphere and the Caribbean. This corollary stated that the US would intervene as a last resort to ensure that Latin American nations fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate the rights of the US or invite foreign aggression. Roosevelt deployed naval forces to ensure Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, allowing for the construction of the Panama Canal. He also established a US protectorate over Panama and directed the US to manage the Dominican Republic's customs service revenues.
Roosevelt's policies in Latin America and the Caribbean had a significant impact and set a course for US relations with the region for decades. However, they also led to resentment and concerns about American intervention in the internal affairs of other nations.
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Frequently asked questions
The "big stick" in Roosevelt's foreign policy refers to the threat of military force. Roosevelt believed that it was unnecessary to use military force to achieve foreign policy goals, so long as the military could threaten force.
The "speak softly" part of Roosevelt's foreign policy refers to the idea of negotiating peacefully. This was influenced by a West African proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a favourite of his.
Roosevelt's "big stick" foreign policy influenced the Monroe Doctrine through what became known as the Roosevelt Corollary. The Monroe Doctrine, issued in 1823, stated that the United States would not accept European intervention in the Americas. The Roosevelt Corollary, issued in 1904, stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that other nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate the rights of the United States.
Roosevelt's "big stick" foreign policy played out in practice through a combination of peaceful negotiation and the threat of military force. For example, during the Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt initially supported Japan's defence against Russia. However, when Japan's ongoing victories put American interests at risk, Roosevelt sent the U.S. Great White Fleet on manoeuvres in the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force.
