Simone Lawson
Theodore Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, was a significant shift in US foreign policy, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was characterized by an assertive approach, with a focus on building American empire and global power through military might, territorial expansion, and economic influence. Roosevelt believed that the US had a right and a moral obligation to intervene in the affairs of other nations, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, to uphold its interests and maintain stability. This policy had a significant impact on Americans, as it marked a new era of American imperialism and a more active role in world affairs, with the country now wielding its power beyond its borders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong | Roosevelt's belief in the inevitable conflict between "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world |
| The threat, rather than the outright use, of military force | Roosevelt's belief that the U.S. was a great civilizing power and therefore had an obligation and right to bring order to the world |
| Displaying the controlled might of the United States | Roosevelt's belief that the U.S. should be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere |
| Founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba | Roosevelt's belief that the Monroe Doctrine should be enforced throughout multiple interventions in Latin America |
| The pursuit of a canal across Central America | Roosevelt's belief that the U.S. should maintain a balance of power, wherein the various Asian countries kept each other in check and no single player grew too powerful |
| Annexation of Cuba | Roosevelt's belief that the U.S. should uphold its status as a world power |
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What You'll Learn
- The Big Stick ideology was a political approach used by President Theodore Roosevelt
- It was derived from the aphorism speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far
- Roosevelt believed in the inevitable conflict between the civilized and barbarian peoples
- The Monroe Doctrine was enforced through multiple interventions in Latin America
- The Big Stick diplomacy was also used during the pursuit of a canal across Central America
The Big Stick ideology was a political approach used by President Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy was built on his belief in the inevitable conflict between the "civilised" and "barbarian" peoples of the world. He considered the United States to be a great civilising power, which justified repeated police actions in "dysfunctional" Caribbean and Latin American countries. This approach, sometimes referred to as "gunboat diplomacy", involved the use of naval forces and marines to temporarily seize control of governments and dictate policies favourable to American business interests. For example, in 1905, Roosevelt sent marines to occupy the Dominican Republic and established financial supervision over its government.
The Big Stick ideology also played out in Asia, where Roosevelt sought to maintain a balance of power among the various countries. When Japan forced American business interests out of Manchuria, Roosevelt invoked his "big stick" policy by sending the Great White Fleet on manoeuvres in the western Pacific Ocean as a show of force. He also acted to broker a peace deal between Russia and Japan to restore the balance of power in the region.
In addition to military might, Roosevelt's administration also employed "dollar diplomacy", working with bankers to provide loans to Latin American nations in exchange for control over their national fiscal affairs. This approach, continued by subsequent administrations, contributed to instability in the region as rising debts to European and American bankers destabilised local governments.
Overall, Roosevelt's Big Stick ideology had a significant impact on American foreign policy, shaping its approach to global power through military might, territorial expansion, and economic influence. It reflected Roosevelt's belief in the civilising mission of the United States and its role in bringing order to the world.
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It was derived from the aphorism speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far
The "big stick" ideology, also known as "big stick diplomacy" or "big stick policy", was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term is derived from the aphorism "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb, although there is little evidence for that.
The "big stick" ideology was built on Roosevelt's belief in the inevitable conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world. Roosevelt believed that the United States was a great civilizing power and therefore had an obligation and right to bring order to the world. This belief led to his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which called for America to be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".
The "big stick" ideology had five components. Firstly, it was essential to possess a serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. This meant having a world-class navy, as Roosevelt never had a large army at his disposal until the 1900s. The second component was the threat, rather than the outright use, of military force. Roosevelt was able to keep the United States out of military conflicts by employing the legitimate threat of force. The third component was the use of gunboat diplomacy, wherein naval forces and marines land in a national capital to protect American and Western personnel, temporarily seize control of the government, and dictate policies friendly to American business, such as the repayment of foreign loans. The fourth component was dollar diplomacy, which offered a less costly method of empire-building and avoided the troubles of military occupation. Washington worked with bankers to provide loans to Latin American nations in exchange for some level of control over their national fiscal affairs. The fifth component was the maintenance of a balance of power, wherein the various countries in a region kept each other in check and no single player grew too powerful. When the power balance tipped, Roosevelt acted to broker a peace deal to restore balance.
The "big stick" ideology had a significant impact on American foreign policy in the early 20th century. It justified numerous and repeated police actions in "dysfunctional" Caribbean and Latin American countries by U.S. marines and naval forces and enabled the founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It also influenced the diplomatic actions of the U.S. during the pursuit of a canal across Central America, known as Canal Diplomacy. In addition, it shaped Roosevelt's approach to relations with domestic political leaders and his stance on issues such as the regulation of monopolies and the demands of trade unions.
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Roosevelt believed in the inevitable conflict between the civilized and barbarian peoples
Big Stick Diplomacy, or Big Stick Ideology, was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term "big stick" was used by the American press and modern historians to describe the foreign policy positions during his administration. Roosevelt himself described his style as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".
Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy was built on his belief in the inevitable conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world. He saw the United States as a great civilizing power, with an obligation and right to bring order to the world. This belief led to his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which called for America to be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere.
Roosevelt believed that the United States had a duty to uphold and spread its values, which it saw as universally superior. This belief system justified numerous and repeated police actions in "dysfunctional" Caribbean and Latin American countries by US marines and naval forces. It also enabled the founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the occupation of the Dominican Republic in 1905, where Roosevelt established financial supervision over the Dominican government.
Roosevelt's administration also pursued "dollar diplomacy", working with bankers to provide loans to Latin American nations in exchange for control over their national fiscal affairs. This created instability in the region as rising debts to European and American bankers destabilized Latin American governments, allowing lenders to extract high interest rates.
Theodore Roosevelt's belief in the inevitable conflict between "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples was a reflection of the racist and imperialist attitudes of the time. The idea of regeneration was used to justify American imperialism and military intervention, particularly in lands belonging to darker-skinned peoples. Roosevelt's expansionist policies were also influenced by his desire to enrich the country by turning the world into a market for American goods and perpetuating the Anglo-Saxon version of civilization.
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The Monroe Doctrine was enforced through multiple interventions in Latin America
The Monroe Doctrine was a US foreign policy framework addressing America's security and commercial interests in the Western Hemisphere. It was established in 1823 by President James Monroe, who, in a speech to Congress, outlined the US's refusal to tolerate any further extension of European domination in the Americas. This doctrine was a response to the independence of fifteen Latin American colonies from the Spanish Empire between 1810 and 1822.
The Roosevelt administration also pursued "dollar diplomacy" in Latin America, providing loans to Latin American nations in exchange for control over their national fiscal affairs. This policy, continued by the Taft and Wilson administrations, led to rising debts to European and American bankers, which destabilized the region. The US also used its "big stick" during canal diplomacy, pursuing a canal across Central America. In 1901, the US pressured the Nicaraguan government for approval of a canal, promising to provide "sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity". However, a problem of court jurisdiction arose, and the deal ultimately fell through due to pro-Panama representatives posing problems for Nicaragua.
Roosevelt's interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine has had a lasting impact on US-Latin American relations, with some scholars arguing that it has been used to justify US interventionism in the region.
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The Big Stick diplomacy was also used during the pursuit of a canal across Central America
French attempts to build a canal through Panama (then a province of Colombia) began in 1880, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal in Egypt. After nine years, the project was abandoned due to tropical diseases and the death of approximately 20,000 workers. Despite these setbacks, American interest in a canal persisted, and in 1901, the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty was signed, licensing the United States to build and manage its own canal.
The Isthmian Canal Commission was set up in 1899 to determine the best site for the canal, either Nicaragua or Panama. In 1901, Secretary of State John Hay pressed the Nicaraguan government for approval of a canal, offering $1.5 million in ratification, $100,000 annually, and assurances of "sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity". Nicaragua countered, requesting $6 million in ratification instead of the annual payment, to which the US agreed. However, a problem of court jurisdiction arose, as the US did not have legal jurisdiction in the land of the future canal.
With its interests solidified in Panama, the US faced higher prices from Colombia and the French company supplying construction materials. Refusing to pay the increased fees, the US "engineered a revolution" in Colombia, supporting Panama's revolt in 1903. Panama became a new republic, receiving $10 million and an annual payment of $250,000, as well as guarantees of independence from the US. The US gained the rights to the canal strip "in perpetuity". Roosevelt's involvement in the construction of the Panama Canal symbolized his ambitious designs for global power through military might, territorial expansion, and economic influence.
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Frequently asked questions
The "big stick diplomacy" is a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term is derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This approach involves negotiating peacefully while also having the strength to take action if needed.
Roosevelt's "big stick diplomacy" justified repeated police actions in dysfunctional Caribbean and Latin American countries by US marines and naval forces. This approach, sometimes referred to as "gunboat diplomacy", involves naval forces landing in a national capital to temporarily seize control of the government and implement policies favourable to American business. Roosevelt's threat of force was credible in this region due to America's strong military presence.
In Asia, the United States had less of a military presence, so Roosevelt sought to maintain a balance of power, wherein the various Asian countries kept each other in check and no single player grew too powerful. When the power balance tipped, Roosevelt acted to broker a peace deal between Russia and Japan as a means of restoring balance.
