Simone Lawson
Big stick diplomacy is a term used to describe the foreign policy positions and actions of US President Theodore Roosevelt during his administration. The term is derived from the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick, which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb. This approach to foreign policy involved pursuing peaceful negotiations while also being prepared to use military force if necessary. Roosevelt believed that the United States had the right and obligation to be the policeman of the hemisphere, and his big stick diplomacy was shaped by this belief.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Negotiate peacefully | Negotiate with the Nicaraguan government for a canal |
| Request an end to the blockade in Venezuela | |
| Meet with mining company leaders to negotiate a deal | |
| Be respectful towards all people | Refrain from using military force to break up strikes |
| Be scrupulous to refrain from wronging them | |
| Keep a strong military to enforce negotiations | Use military muscle to complement diplomatic policies |
| Act justly towards other nations | Support the Panamanian people's revolt against Colombia |
| Never bluff | Threaten to take the Panama Canal project away from Colombia |
| Strike only when prepared to strike hard | Use military force to break up strikes |
| Allow the adversary to save face in defeat |
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What You'll Learn
The proverb: Speak softly and carry a big stick
The proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick" is often associated with Theodore Roosevelt, who used it to describe his foreign policy approach. Roosevelt first publicly used the phrase in 1900, attributing it to a West African proverb, although there is little evidence to support this claim. The "big stick" refers to the use of military power, while "speaking softly" represents a preference for peaceful negotiation and respect towards other nations.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" foreign policy had five components. Firstly, it was crucial to possess a formidable military capability that would force adversaries to take notice. Secondly, the policy entailed acting justly towards other nations, never bluffing, and striking only when prepared to strike hard. Thirdly, it was important to be willing to allow the defeated adversary to save face. Fourthly, the policy emphasised the need to negotiate peacefully while also being prepared to use military strength if necessary. Finally, Roosevelt believed that the United States had the right and obligation to be the ""policeman" of the Western Hemisphere, ensuring that its interests aligned with those of the hemisphere.
There are several examples of Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy in action. In 1901, Roosevelt negotiated with Colombia for the construction of the Panama Canal. When Colombia rejected the treaty, Roosevelt supported the Panamanian people in their revolt against Colombia, ultimately leading to the construction of the canal. Another instance of "Big Stick" diplomacy was Roosevelt's involvement in Venezuela, where he denounced a blockade by Britain and Germany and created a naval presence near Cuba to protect the interests of smaller countries. Roosevelt's approach to domestic issues, such as regulating monopolies and dealing with trade unions, also reflected his "speak softly and carry a big stick" philosophy.
The "Big Stick" policy has been criticised for its potential to lead to war if the balance between speaking softly and carrying a big stick is not maintained. Critics argue that solely speaking softly may result in being bullied, while solely carrying a big stick without speaking softly will lead to war.
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Negotiating peacefully but also having military strength
The term "big stick diplomacy" is used to describe the foreign policy positions of former US President Theodore Roosevelt's administration. The term is derived from the phrase, "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.
Roosevelt's "big stick" policy can be understood as a strategy of negotiating peacefully while also being prepared to use military force if necessary. The idea is to approach negotiations in a respectful and peaceful manner, but also to have the strength to enforce one's interests if negotiations fail. This strategy requires a careful balance between diplomacy and the use of coercive power.
Roosevelt believed that the United States had both the right and the obligation to be the "policeman" of the Western Hemisphere. He felt that while the coercive power of the United States could be harmful in the wrong hands, its interests were aligned with those of the hemisphere as a whole. This belief shaped much of his foreign policy, including his interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean, where he sought to police small debtor nations with unstable governments.
There are several examples of Roosevelt's "big stick" diplomacy in action. In one instance, Roosevelt negotiated with the government of Colombia over the construction of the Panama Canal. When Colombia rejected the proposed treaty, Roosevelt threatened to use military force, stating that the United States would support the Panamanian people if they chose to revolt against Colombia. In another example, Roosevelt refrained from using military force to break up strikes by mine workers, instead choosing to negotiate a deal with the mining company's leaders. However, when negotiations failed, Roosevelt ultimately resorted to using the military to enforce his interests.
Overall, Roosevelt's "big stick diplomacy" represented a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, prioritizing peaceful negotiation while also recognizing the necessity of military strength to enforce the nation's interests when needed.
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Roosevelt's foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean
Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean was largely characterised by his "Big Stick" ideology, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 stated that the United States would not accept European intervention in the Americas. Roosevelt's Corollary, announced in 1904, expanded upon this, proclaiming that the US would intervene in the internal affairs of Caribbean and Latin American countries if they defaulted on their debts to European creditors or committed flagrant wrongdoings that loosened the ties of civilised society.
Roosevelt believed that Latin American countries should pay their debts to European creditors and that the US should serve as a policeman in the region, intervening to maintain stability and protect American interests. This policy was partly a response to the Venezuela crisis of 1902-1903, during which Germany, Britain, and Italy blockaded Venezuela's ports after the country defaulted on its debts. Roosevelt also believed that the US had a right and a duty to spread the benefits of Anglo-Saxon civilisation and "uplift" debtor nations in Latin America.
Roosevelt's policy resulted in repeated police actions and military interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean. For example, in 1903, he deployed naval forces to ensure Panama's independence from Colombia in order to acquire a US Canal Zone. In 1905, he sent US Marines to occupy the Dominican Republic and established financial supervision over the Dominican government. He also exerted US control over Cuba and Puerto Rico, despite Cuba gaining formal independence in 1902.
Roosevelt's foreign policy in the region was driven by his desire to increase US influence and prestige on the world stage and make the country a global power. He believed in using military power when necessary to protect national interests and spheres of influence, seeing the American sphere as extending to the Caribbean, much of the Pacific, and beyond.
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The Panama Canal
The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850 was negotiated between the US and Great Britain to manage their rivalry over a proposed canal through Nicaragua. However, this Anglo-American canal never progressed beyond the planning stages. French attempts to build a canal through Panama, then a province of Colombia, began in 1880 under Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal. This effort was hindered by tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever, and approximately 20,000 lives were lost over nine years.
The US interest in constructing a canal persisted, and in 1901, the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty superseded the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, granting the US the right to build and manage its own canal. The US Senate voted in favour of Panama as the canal's location on June 19, 1902. However, Colombia's congress rejected the financial terms of the subsequent treaty signed with the US. In response, President Roosevelt dispatched US warships to Panama City and Colón, supporting Panamanian independence. On November 3, 1903, Panama, with US Navy backing, revolted and became a new republic, receiving $10 million and annual payments from the US, which also guaranteed its independence. The US secured the rights to the canal strip "in perpetuity".
The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 provided the US with a 10-mile-wide strip of land for the canal, along with the aforementioned financial incentives for Panama. The Panama Canal's construction exemplified Roosevelt's "'Big Stick'" diplomacy, characterised by a strong military capability and a willingness to negotiate peacefully while maintaining strength. This approach was reflected in the US's pursuit of the canal, as they utilised their military might to support Panamanian independence and secure favourable terms for the canal's construction.
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Theodore Roosevelt's approach to domestic issues
Roosevelt's central belief was that the government had the right to regulate big business to protect the welfare of society. He did not want to abolish big business, but he did want to exert more control over large, domineering corporations or trusts. He was the first president to use the power of the media to appeal directly to the American people, bypassing political parties. He understood the media's potential to influence public opinion and used it as a "bully pulpit". Roosevelt's progressive policies often went against the grain of his own party, with many Republicans wanting to maintain high tariffs to protect domestic manufacturing and keep wages high. Roosevelt, however, was not a strong advocate of the protective tariff, and he avoided the issue during his presidency, which hurt his successor.
Roosevelt's first major domestic test came in 1902 when 140,000 miners in Pennsylvania went on strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. He threatened to use troops to seize the mines and run them as a federal operation, forcing the owners and labour unions to agree to submit their cases to a commission. Roosevelt also pushed for the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which endeared him to the public and corporations that favoured government regulation. He was a strong supporter of conservation, wanting to conserve as much land as possible for future generations.
Roosevelt's progressive policies and beliefs were popular with the masses, and he proved to be a great vote-getter. He offered the American people a Square Deal to improve their standard of living, and he was determined to fight big industry and corruption to help the common man.
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Frequently asked questions
Big stick diplomacy refers to a foreign policy approach that involves pursuing peaceful negotiations while also being prepared to use military force if necessary. The term is derived from the phrase ""speak softly and carry a big stick", which was popularised by Theodore Roosevelt.
One example of big stick diplomacy is the construction of the Panama Canal. The United States wanted to build the canal to expand its markets and facilitate ship navigation through Central America. When the companies overseeing the construction from Colombia and France raised their prices, the US engineered a revolution in Panama, encouraging them to break away from Colombia, instead of using direct military force.
Another example is when Roosevelt got involved in a blockade of Venezuela by Britain and Germany, despite the conflict not directly affecting the US. He denounced the blockade and asked for it to be ended, while also creating a naval presence near Cuba to enforce his request.
As practiced by Roosevelt, big stick diplomacy had five components. Firstly, possessing a strong military capability that would force adversaries to pay attention. Secondly, acting justly towards other nations. Thirdly, never bluffing. Fourthly, striking only when prepared to strike hard. And finally, allowing the adversary to save face in defeat.
