Isabella Carter
Theodore Roosevelt's speak softly and carry a big stick approach to diplomacy was a significant shift in the US presidency, marking a new era of American diplomacy and interventionism. Roosevelt's foreign policy was characterised by a desire to increase US influence globally and assert its status as a world power. This approach, known as the Big Stick ideology, was a thinly-veiled threat, suggesting that while diplomacy was preferred, the US was prepared to use military force if necessary. This policy was notably applied in Latin America and the Caribbean, where Roosevelt took on the role of a regional policeman, as well as in East Asia, where he mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Japan. Roosevelt's diplomacy helped establish the US as a respected global power and set a precedent for future American intervention in international affairs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diplomacy approach | "Speak softly and carry a big stick" |
| Foreign policy | "The exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis" |
| Diplomacy with European countries | Helped make the United States a respected world power |
| Military strength | Possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention |
| Diplomacy in Latin America | Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine |
| Diplomacy in East Asia | Helped negotiate the end of the Russo-Japanese War |
| Diplomacy in the Middle East | Prevented war between Germany and France over their colonial claims in Morocco |
| Diplomacy in Immigration | Brokered a deal with Japan in 1907, known as the Gentlemen's Agreement, to preserve America's diplomatic relationship with Japan while restricting the immigration of people from East Asia |
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What You'll Learn
Roosevelt's Big Stick Policy
Theodore Roosevelt's "Big Stick" ideology, also known as his "Big Stick" foreign policy, was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States. The term "Big Stick" is derived from Roosevelt's favourite proverb, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". Roosevelt's first noted public use of the phrase occurred when he advocated before the U.S. Congress for increasing naval preparation to support the nation's diplomatic objectives.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy was a thinly veiled threat, signalling a new role for the U.S. in international diplomacy. Roosevelt believed that America's interests were global and that the United States could no longer be left out of power conversations in Europe. He sought to assemble a powerful and reliable defence for the United States to avoid conflicts with enemies who might prey on weakness.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy was also used to describe his relations with domestic political leaders and his approach to issues such as the regulation of monopolies and the demands of trade unions. For example, in 1907, Roosevelt brokered a deal with Japan, in which San Francisco would rescind its policy of segregating Japanese students from white students. Additionally, Roosevelt played a role in the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan in 1905, which resulted in Japan gaining control over Korea, several former Russian bases in Manchuria, and the southern half of Sakhalin Island.
The "Big Stick" policy was also evident in Roosevelt's dealings with Latin America. In the early 1900s, Roosevelt grew concerned that a crisis between Venezuela and its creditors could spark a European invasion of the region. This led to the Roosevelt Corollary of December 1904, which stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate American rights or invite foreign aggression. As a result of this policy, the United States increasingly used military force to restore internal stability to nations in the region.
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The Monroe Doctrine
Roosevelt's foreign policy approach, often described as "big stick ideology," was influenced by his belief in the global reach of American interests. He wanted the United States to be taken seriously on the world stage and actively sought to increase its diplomatic influence. Roosevelt's "big stick" metaphor, derived from a supposed West African proverb, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far," reflected his approach to diplomacy and power projection.
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was a significant departure from its predecessor. Roosevelt asserted that the United States reserved the right to intervene in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere if they failed to fulfil their obligations to international creditors or violated American rights. This policy set a precedent for US military interventions in the region, under the guise of restoring internal stability.
Latin America, in particular Venezuela, was a key focus of Roosevelt's foreign policy. He was concerned that a crisis between Venezuela and its creditors could spark European invasions, threatening American dominance in the region. Additionally, Roosevelt's administration was marked by a more aggressive approach to foreign affairs, often acting without the support or consent of Congress, as seen in his recognition of Panama as a new country and the subsequent construction of the Panama Canal.
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine solidified the United States' position as a respected world power and marked a new era in its diplomatic approach, setting the tone for more active American involvement in international affairs.
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Dollar Diplomacy
The term "dollar diplomacy" refers to the use of economic incentives, investments, and loans as tools of foreign policy. This approach reflected Roosevelt's belief that the United States should play a more active and assertive role in world affairs to maintain its status as a global power.
One of the key motivations behind dollar diplomacy was the desire to counter the influence of European powers in Latin America. In the early 1900s, Roosevelt became concerned that a crisis between Venezuela and its European creditors could lead to an invasion of the region by those powers. To prevent this, he developed the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in 1904, which stated that the United States would intervene to ensure that Latin American countries fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not invite "foreign aggression." This often involved the use of military force, as seen in the case of Panama, where Roosevelt recognised the new country, offering them $10 million and an annual payment of $250,000 to gain control of the canal strip "in perpetuity."
Overall, dollar diplomacy represented a significant shift in American foreign policy, marking the end of the relative isolationism that had characterised the previous era. It reflected Roosevelt's belief in the global reach of American interests and his desire to assert the United States as a respected world power.
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Building the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, a strategic artificial waterway, was completed in 1914, 45 years after the US first considered building it. The canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama, providing a maritime shortcut that saves time and costs in transporting goods.
The first attempt to build the canal was made by a French company led by Ferdinand, Viscount de Lesseps, in 1880 or 1881. However, the project faced financial troubles and diseases like yellow fever and malaria, which devastated the workforce, leading to its eventual failure by 1889.
In 1903, after Panama gained independence from Colombia, it negotiated an agreement with the United States for the construction of the canal. Work under US supervision began in 1904, led by President Theodore Roosevelt, who had declared the need to build a canal in Central America. The US undertaking was enormous, moving enough earth and rubble to create a 16-foot-wide tunnel reaching the centre of the Earth. The construction involved tens of thousands of labourers, mostly from Barbados, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, as well as Panamanians, West Indians, and African Americans.
A key challenge during the construction was controlling mosquito-borne illnesses, such as yellow fever and malaria, which had plagued the previous French attempt. Colonel William C. Gorgas, appointed chief sanitation officer for the Panama Canal project in 1904, successfully led the implementation of mosquito management strategies. These strategies, including draining sources of standing water and screening windows, virtually eliminated yellow fever and reduced the toll of malaria. However, Gorgas's work was deeply rooted in racist foundations of colonialism and white supremacy, perpetuating the exploitation of Latin Americans and their lands.
The Panama Canal officially opened in August 1914, marking the culmination of an idea first proposed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, in 1534. The canal has been operational for over a century, with more than one million ships from around the world transiting through it. In 1999, Panama took over full operation, administration, and maintenance of the canal, and it continues to be a vital route for international shipping, accommodating larger modern cargo ships through expansion projects.
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The Treaty of Portsmouth
The chief aims of the Japanese negotiator, Baron Jutarō Komura, included first control in Korea and South Manchuria, then the negotiation of an indemnity and control of Sakhalin Island. However, the Japanese public felt they had won the war and believed they should have gained more in the peace. There were anti-treaty and, at times, anti-American demonstrations in Tokyo following the ratification of the treaty.
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Frequently asked questions
Roosevelt's 'new diplomacy' was a foreign policy approach that aimed to increase the influence and prestige of the United States on the world stage and make the country a global power.
Roosevelt's 'new diplomacy' was based on his belief that the United States' interests were global interests and that it was good for "civilized" nations to intervene in other countries' affairs. He also believed that the exportation of American values and ideals would have an ennobling effect on the world.
The main principle of Roosevelt's 'new diplomacy' was his diplomatic maxim, "speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far", which he claimed was a West African proverb. This meant that he sought to assemble a powerful and reliable defence for the United States to avoid conflicts, while also being willing to use force when necessary.
Roosevelt's 'new diplomacy' represented a major shift in the US presidency, as he believed that the United States' interests were global, and that it was important for the country to wield power in world affairs, just like European empires. This new diplomacy helped make the United States a respected world power.
The key components of Roosevelt's 'new diplomacy' were:
- Possessing serious military capability, particularly a world-class navy, that would force adversaries to pay close attention.
- Using the "big stick", or military power, as a thinly-veiled threat to enforce the Monroe Doctrine and pursue Canal Diplomacy in Central America.
- Increasing the influence and prestige of the United States on the global stage through diplomatic agreements, such as the Gentlemen's Agreement with Japan, and playing a larger role in international diplomacy.
