Simone Lawson
Theodore Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was a foreign policy approach that aimed to increase US influence and prestige on the world stage. Roosevelt believed that the US had a civilizing influence and a duty to spread its values and ideals globally. This policy, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, asserted America's willingness to use force and intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean to maintain regional stability and protect US interests. In Panama, Roosevelt supported Panamanian rebels against Colombia, ensuring US control over the Panama Canal project, a strategic waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This intervention exemplifies Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy, showcasing his assertive approach to foreign affairs and his belief in US exceptionalism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Supported Panama's independence from Colombia | Panama |
| Sent American battleships to the coast of Colombia | Colombia |
| Signed a lease for the land to build the Panama Canal | Panama |
| Established the Panama Canal | Panama |
| Supported a Panamanian revolution with money and a naval blockade | Panama |
| Applied the "big stick" policy | N/A |
| Established protectorates over Cuba and Panama | Cuba, Panama |
| Managed the Dominican Republic's custom service revenues | Dominican Republic |
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What You'll Learn
Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy in Latin America
Theodore Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy in Latin America was a significant shift in US foreign policy, reflecting his belief that the US was a "civilizing" force with global interests and responsibilities. This policy, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, asserted US intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean under the guise of maintaining stability and protecting US interests.
One of the most notable examples of Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy in Latin America was the Panama Canal affair. In 1901, the US negotiated with Britain and Colombia to obtain a lease for a strip of land in Panama, then owned by Colombia, to construct a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Colombian government agreed to a treaty, but it was rejected by the Colombian Senate and people due to the loss of their land. Roosevelt then supported Panama's revolution against Colombia, sending American battleships to block the Colombian troops from landing in Panama and recognising Panama as an independent country. Panama accepted the canal treaty, and construction began in 1904, concluding in 1914. The Panama Canal shortened the voyage between San Francisco and New York by over 8,000 miles and established the US as the dominant military power in Central America.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy was also evident in his approach to Venezuela and the Dominican Republic (then Santo Domingo). In 1902, when Germany and Britain blockaded Venezuela over unpaid loans, Roosevelt demanded arbitration to resolve the dispute, asserting US interests in the region. Similarly, when the Dominican Republic faced financial issues with European creditors, Roosevelt ordered American officials to assume control of their customs houses and collect duties, effectively overseeing their finances.
Roosevelt's policies in Latin America were driven by his belief in the superiority of "civilized" nations like the US and its duty to intervene in "inferior" nations' affairs. This approach, often referred to as "gunboat diplomacy," involved using naval forces to protect American interests and project power. Roosevelt's assertive policies in Latin America strained relations with Central American countries, which resented US intervention in their internal affairs.
Overall, Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy in Latin America represented a more aggressive and interventionist approach to foreign policy, reflecting his desire to establish the US as a respected global power.
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The Panama Canal Treaty
The Panama Canal, a long-desired passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, became a reality under President Theodore Roosevelt's administration in the early 1900s. Roosevelt, known for his assertive "Big Stick" diplomacy, supported Panamanian independence from Colombia, recognising Panama as an independent nation in 1903. This move ensured American control over the land needed for the canal's construction, which began in 1904 and was completed in 1914.
The original agreement, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903, gave the United States permanent rights to the land surrounding the canal. However, Panama sought to renegotiate this treaty almost from the start, and tensions escalated after the Suez Crisis and the events of 1964, which included rioting and a breakdown in diplomatic relations.
The election of Jimmy Carter brought a new impetus to resolving the dispute. Despite initial opposition, Carter prioritised negotiations with Panama, appointing Sol Linowitz as co-negotiator. The resulting Torrijos-Carter Treaties faced significant opposition in the Senate, with critics arguing against ceding control of the canal to Panama. However, the treaties were narrowly ratified in 1978, with Panama assuming full control of the canal operations and its defence as of 31 December 1999.
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US expansionism and imperialism
The most notable example of Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy is the establishment of the Panama Canal. In 1901, the US negotiated with Britain for support in constructing a canal through Nicaragua or Panama, then owned by Colombia. When Colombia rejected the terms of the agreement, Roosevelt supported the Panamanian revolution with money and a naval blockade, preventing Colombian troops from landing in Panama. He immediately recognised Panama as an independent country and signed a lease for the land to build the canal, making Panama an American protectorate until 1939. The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, shortened the voyage from San Francisco to New York by more than 8,000 miles and made the US the dominant military power in Central America.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy also extended to other Latin American and Caribbean countries. He established protectorates over Cuba and Panama and directed the US to manage the Dominican Republic's customs service revenues. In 1905, he sent marines to occupy the Dominican Republic and established financial supervision over its government. Roosevelt's policy justified repeated police actions in "dysfunctional" Caribbean and Latin American countries, enabling the founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also intervened in Venezuela, demanding arbitration when Germany and Britain blockaded its coastline due to unpaid debts.
Roosevelt's expansionist policies were driven by his belief in the superiority of "civilized" nations like the US and its obligation to bring order to the world. This belief in American exceptionalism and the country's role in spreading its values and ideals globally shaped his foreign policy approach, which often involved the use of force or the threat of force ("big stick") alongside persuasion.
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Roosevelt's foreign policy legacy
Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy legacy is characterised by his assertive approach to Latin America and the Caribbean, often termed the "Big Stick". This policy became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
Roosevelt believed that the United States should wield the same kind of power in world affairs as the European empires, and that it was good for "civilised" nations to intervene in other countries' affairs. He wanted to increase the influence and prestige of the United States on the world stage and make the country a global power. He also believed that the exportation of American values and ideals would have a positive effect on the world.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy was applied in the construction of the Panama Canal. He negotiated with Colombia, which controlled Panama at the time, for a lease on the land to build the canal. When the Colombian people and senate rejected the treaty, Roosevelt supported the Panamanian people in revolt against Colombia. He sent American battleships to the coast of Colombia, preventing it from suppressing the Panamanian uprising. He immediately recognised Panama as an independent country, which became an American protectorate until 1939.
Roosevelt also established protectorates over Cuba and Panama, and directed the United States to manage the Dominican Republic's customs service revenues. This put the United States in the role of the "'policeman' of the Western Hemisphere", a role that was continued by subsequent presidents as a rationale for American involvement in Latin America.
Roosevelt's other foreign policy initiatives included restricting immigration to the United States through the Immigration Acts of 1903 and 1907, and the Expatriation Act of 1907, which stated that American women who married non-American men would lose their citizenship. He also brokered a deal with Japan to end the segregation of Japanese students in San Francisco. In addition, Roosevelt modernised the US Army, expanded the Navy, and sent the Great White Fleet on a world tour to project American naval power.
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The Roosevelt Corollary
One notable application of the Roosevelt Corollary was in Panama. Roosevelt supported Panama's revolution against Colombia, which rejected a treaty granting the United States a lease on the land across Panama for the construction of the Panama Canal. He sent American battleships to block Colombia's suppression of the Panamanian uprising and immediately recognized Panama as an independent country. This intervention exemplified Roosevelt's belief in using the "big stick," or the threat of force, to advance American interests and exert influence in Latin America.
The Panama Canal's construction, completed in 1914, was a significant engineering feat that shortened the voyage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It also solidified the United States' dominant military position in Central America. Roosevelt's policy towards Panama and other Latin American countries, such as the Dominican Republic, demonstrated his commitment to expanding American influence and power on the global stage. He believed that the United States had a manly duty to spread its influence and the benefits of its civilization to other nations.
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Frequently asked questions
The "big stick" in Teddy Roosevelt's foreign policy refers to his belief in the inevitable conflict between the civilized and barbarian peoples of the world, and that the US had an obligation to bring order to the world.
Roosevelt wanted to build the Panama Canal to establish a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Central America. This would shorten the voyage from San Francisco to New York by more than 8,000 miles.
Roosevelt used the "big stick" in Panama by supporting the Panamanian people in revolt against Colombia. He sent American battleships to the coast of Colombia, blocking them from suppressing the Panamanian uprising.
Roosevelt immediately recognized Panama as an independent country and it became an American protectorate until 1939. Panama accepted the terms that had been offered to Colombia, and construction on the canal began in 1904.
The building of the Panama Canal converted the Panama Canal Zone into a major staging area for American military forces, making the United States the dominant military power in Central America.
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