Jonah Patel
Big stick diplomacy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term originates from Roosevelt's famous saying, Speak softly and carry a big stick. The saying refers to Roosevelt's belief in the importance of peaceful negotiation and diplomacy, while also possessing the military strength to back it up. This policy was applied in various regions, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, where Roosevelt sought to maintain stability, prevent European powers from reasserting control over former colonies, and intervene in the affairs of small debtor nations with unstable governments. Additionally, Roosevelt used big stick diplomacy in the construction of the Panama Canal, supporting Panama's independence from Colombia, and in mediating the Russo-Japanese War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Roosevelt Corollary | Extension of the Monroe Doctrine, claiming the U.S. had the right to intervene in Latin America |
| Examples | Mediation of the Russo-Japanese War, Panama Canal construction, intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic |
| Policy Components | Serious military capability, peaceful negotiation, diplomatic efforts |
| Foreign Policy | Assertive involvement in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere, intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean |
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What You'll Learn
Latin America
Big stick diplomacy 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 many modern historians to describe the foreign policy positions during his administration. The ideology behind it is negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong. This idea is comparable to gunboat diplomacy, as used in international politics by the powers. 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".
Big stick diplomacy was applied to Latin America and the Caribbean. 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 used military muscle several times throughout his two terms to enforce the Monroe Doctrine through multiple interventions in Latin America. This included the Great White Fleet, 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe as an illustration of the United States' rising yet neutral prestige under Roosevelt's direction. Roosevelt also exerted US control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Panama. He deployed naval forces to ensure Panama’s independence from Colombia in 1901, and within a week of the successful revolution, Panama became an American protectorate, remaining so until 1939.
Dollar diplomacy offered a less costly method of empire 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. Roosevelt first implemented dollar diplomacy on a vast scale, and it was continued by Presidents Taft and Wilson during their administrations.
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The Caribbean
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" is derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This approach to foreign policy involved negotiating peacefully, but also having the strength of the military as a backup in case things went wrong.
In the case of the Caribbean, Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was used to justify police actions in "dysfunctional" Caribbean countries by US marines and naval forces. This policy enabled the founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Roosevelt's interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine called for America to be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere. This led to Roosevelt issuing the Roosevelt Corollary in 1904, which stated that the United States would use military force as an "international police power" to correct any "chronic wrongdoing" by any Latin American nation that might threaten stability in the region.
The Dominican Republic provides a clear example of big stick diplomacy in action in the Caribbean. In 1905, Roosevelt sent marines to occupy the country and established financial supervision over the Dominican government. This action was framed as a humanitarian intervention, with imperialists celebrating the United States as an advanced practitioner of nation-building and civilization. However, the true motive was to assert American dominance in the region and ensure the repayment of foreign loans.
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Panama
The "big stick" ideology, or "big stick diplomacy", was 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".
Roosevelt's foreign policy was built on his belief in what he saw as the inevitable conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world. He 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's "big stick diplomacy" was applied to Panama in the early 20th century. In 1901, the United States negotiated with Britain for support for an American-controlled canal that would be constructed either in Nicaragua or through a strip of land in Panama, which was then owned by Colombia. The Colombian Senate rejected a treaty that would give the US a 99-year lease on a canal corridor across the Isthmus of Panama. Roosevelt defied the US Congress and international law by backing a revolution in Panama. He sent American battleships to the coast of Colombia, ostensibly for practice maneuvers, as the Panamanian revolution unfolded. These warships blocked Colombia from moving troops into the region to stop the growing Panamanian uprising. Within a week, Roosevelt recognized the new country of Panama and offered them the same terms he had previously offered Colombia: $10 million plus an annual rental fee of $250,000. Panama became an American protectorate and signed a treaty with the US, allowing the construction of the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal was completed in 1914, and by 1925, more than 5,000 merchant ships had traversed the 40-mile passage each year. The canal shortened the voyage from San Francisco to New York by more than 8,000 miles. It could be used not only as a military passage but also for commercial shipping, benefiting US farmers, manufacturers, and shippers looking to expand their markets. The process of building the canal also generated advances in US technology and engineering skills. The Panama Canal Zone became a major staging area for American military forces, making the United States the dominant military power in Central America.
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Cuba
Big Stick Diplomacy was a political approach used by the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term "big stick" was derived from Roosevelt's favourite phrase, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This reflected his belief in the importance of diplomacy, while also possessing strong military power to protect the nation's security and international influence.
Roosevelt's "big stick" approach in Cuba was exemplified by the Platt Amendment, which extended the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine, issued in 1823, stated that the United States would not accept European intervention in the Americas. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, issued in 1904, asserted that the US would intervene in any Latin American country that manifested serious economic problems or violated the rights of the US. This policy of interventionism, known as the "big stick", was applied to Cuba, along with Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Roosevelt's Big Stick Diplomacy in Cuba was driven by his belief in the importance of maintaining stability in the region and preventing European powers from regaining control over former colonies. He wanted the US to wield power in global affairs, particularly in Latin America, as he saw US interests as global interests. This approach had a significant influence on how countries projected power strategies in the contemporary era.
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Puerto Rico
Big Stick Diplomacy was a term used to describe the foreign policy approach of President Theodore Roosevelt, which emphasised the use of military power and the threat of military intervention to achieve foreign policy goals. It was based on the idea of "speak softly and carry a big stick", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb.
Roosevelt exerted US control over Puerto Rico, even after it gained formal independence in 1902. The Roosevelt Corollary of December 1904 stated that the US 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 US rights or invite foreign aggression. This policy served as justification for US intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Dollar diplomacy, which refers to the use of financial and economic resources to influence other nations, was also employed by the US in Puerto Rico. Washington worked with bankers to provide loans to Latin American nations, including Puerto Rico, in exchange for some level of control over their national fiscal affairs. This approach to foreign affairs allowed the US to exert influence without the troubles and costs of military occupation.
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Frequently asked questions
Big Stick diplomacy was primarily applied to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Big Stick diplomacy was a foreign policy approach used by US President Theodore Roosevelt to assert US hegemony over strategically important regions in the Western Hemisphere.
Roosevelt sent American battleships to the coast of Colombia to support the Panamanian people in their revolt against Colombia. He also offered them the same deal he had offered Colombia: $10 million plus an annual $250,000 rental fee.
Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy influenced future US foreign policies in terms of military modernisation, military interventionism, and the projection of power to safeguard national interests.
The Roosevelt Corollary extended the Monroe Doctrine by claiming that the US had the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to ensure they did not fall into disorder.
