Isabella Carter
Theodore Roosevelt's diplomacy policy was largely driven by his desire to expand US power abroad and increase its influence on the world stage. Roosevelt, who had a deep interest in foreign policy even before he became president, believed that the US should be strong and ready to defend its interests globally. This policy, often referred to as big stick diplomacy, involved a strong naval presence and the projection of power, alongside a willingness to engage in shrewd diplomacy and peacemaking when necessary. Roosevelt's most notable foreign policy achievements include the establishment of the Panama Canal, his role in settling the Russo-Japanese War, and his Open Door Policy in East Asia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diplomacy style | "Speak softly and carry a big stick" |
| Foreign policy interests | East Asia, Latin America, Europe |
| Belief about America's interests | Global |
| Belief about America's role | To be a respected world power |
| Naval policy | Highly visible buildup |
| Belief about the exportation of American values | Would have an ennobling effect on the world |
| Relationship with Japan | Good relations were essential to preserve American interests in the Pacific |
| Relationship with European powers | Advised that the U.S. would avoid involvement in Europe, even as a mediator |
| Relationship with Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany | Emphasized quiet discussion with all interested parties |
| Relationship with Panama | Supported Panama in its war with Colombia |
| Relationship with Venezuela | Wanted to prevent an invasion by European powers |
| Relationship with Cuba | As Assistant Secretary of the Navy, advocated for war with Spain over Cuban control |
| Relationship with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam | Annexed these territories after the Spanish-American War |
| Relationship with Hawaii | Annexed Hawaii |
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What You'll Learn
'Big stick' diplomacy
Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy was characterised by his "big stick ideology", also known as "big stick diplomacy" or "big stick policy". This approach was 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.
The "big stick" ideology was a method of negotiating peacefully but also having the strength to act in case things went wrong. This approach tied in with the idea of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power that resembles Machiavellian ideals.
Roosevelt believed that the United States should expand its power abroad and be strong and ready to defend its interests around the world. He wanted to increase the country's influence and prestige on the world stage and make the country a global power.
One of the first examples of Roosevelt's "big stick diplomacy" was in relation to a strike by mine workers. Instead of using the military to break up the strike, as was common practice, Roosevelt negotiated with the mining company's leaders. When this failed to resolve the issue, Roosevelt used the military to manage the mines, which put the mining companies out of business and brought the strike to a close.
Another example of "big stick diplomacy" was the construction of the Panama Canal. The United States wanted to build the canal to expand its markets, as it would allow ships to navigate through Central America, providing economic benefits. Knowing the importance of the canal to the US, Colombia and France, who had companies overseeing the construction, raised their prices. Instead of using direct military force, the US engineered a revolution in Panama, encouraging them to break away from Colombia.
Roosevelt also used "big stick diplomacy" in Venezuela, where previous tensions with Britain and Germany had resulted in a blockade. Roosevelt requested an end to the blockade but was not hesitant to use the military to enforce the issue.
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Expansion of US power abroad
When Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901, he inherited an emerging empire, with the United States having acquired several overseas territories following the Spanish-American War in 1898. These included the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam, as well as a protectorate over Cuba and the annexation of Hawaii. Roosevelt was determined to expand US power abroad and increase its influence and prestige on the world stage, turning it into a respected global power.
Roosevelt was a strong advocate for a powerful navy, which he saw as essential for exerting diplomatic influence and defending the country's borders. He had pushed for naval expansion even before he became president, serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley. As president, he continued to emphasise naval power, adopting a policy of "speak softly and carry a big stick," which came to be known as "big stick diplomacy." This approach involved building a strong military and economic presence while also engaging in shrewd and skilful diplomacy.
Roosevelt's foreign policy initiatives were wide-ranging and often aggressive. One of his most significant achievements was the establishment of the Panama Canal, fulfilling a long-held dream of the US Navy to create a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In doing so, he controversially interfered in the affairs of a sovereign Latin American nation, siding with Panama in its war with Colombia. Roosevelt also played a crucial role in settling the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He believed that friendship with Japan was essential to preserving American interests in the Pacific, and his diplomacy during the Japanese-American crisis of 1906-1909 was particularly notable.
Another aspect of Roosevelt's foreign policy was his Open Door Policy in East Asia, which aimed to keep China open to trade with all countries. While this policy had little practical impact, it reflected Roosevelt's belief in the importance of American engagement in world affairs. He also updated the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that the United States might exercise international police power in certain circumstances, marking a shift towards a more interventionist approach in the Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt's diplomacy with European countries, particularly during the Moroccan crisis of 1905-1906, further contributed to the expansion of US power and influence on the global stage.
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Establishing the Panama Canal
The idea of a canal through Central America had been proposed earlier in the form of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850, negotiated between the United States and Great Britain. However, this treaty aimed to curb rivalry over a potential canal in Nicaragua, and the project never advanced beyond the planning stage.
The first attempt to build a canal in Panama was led by French entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had successfully constructed the Suez Canal. This effort began in 1880 but encountered significant challenges due to rugged terrain, tropical diseases, and financial difficulties. The French company collapsed in 1889, leading to a political scandal and the formation of a second French company in 1894 to take over the assets and find a buyer.
In the late 1890s, interest in a U.S.-led canal effort emerged, and it became a priority for President Roosevelt, who had a longstanding commitment to building American naval power. Shortly after taking office, Roosevelt emphasized the importance of the Panama Canal in a speech to Congress, stating that no other undertaking on the continent was as consequential for the American people.
Roosevelt acted swiftly to pursue this goal. In 1901, the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty was signed, abrogating the earlier Clayton-Bulwer Treaty and granting the United States the right to build and manage its own canal. The U.S. Senate voted in favour of constructing the canal through Panama in 1902, and negotiations with Colombia commenced. However, Colombia's congress rejected the financial terms offered by the United States.
In response, Roosevelt supported Panamanian separatists seeking independence from Colombia, and U.S. warships were dispatched to Panama City and Colón. Panama successfully declared its independence on November 3, 1903, and the newly formed republic appointed Philippe Bunau-Varilla, a French engineer involved in the earlier French canal attempt, as its representative. Bunau-Varilla negotiated the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903, which provided the United States with a 10-mile-wide strip of land for the canal, a one-time payment of $10 million to Panama, and an annual annuity of $250,000. The United States also guaranteed Panama's independence.
The construction of the Panama Canal faced challenges, including the need to address tropical diseases such as yellow fever and malaria, which had hindered previous attempts. Dr. William Gorgas, who successfully eradicated yellow fever in Havana, led sanitation efforts. The canal's engineering design also changed, with Roosevelt favouring a "lake and lock" canal over a sea-level canal. The push for this design succeeded, and the mighty Chagres River was dammed to create Gatun Lake in Panama's interior.
The completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 symbolized American technological prowess and economic power. It represented a significant foreign policy achievement for Roosevelt, who played a critical role in its realization. The canal's construction was overseen by three U.S. presidents: Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson. However, it was Roosevelt's personal drive and commitment to expanding American naval power that ensured the project's completion, making it a defining legacy of his presidency.
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US intervention in Latin America
Theodore Roosevelt's diplomacy policy was largely driven by his desire to expand US power abroad and increase its influence on the world stage. He believed that the United States should be strong and ready to defend its interests globally, and that the exportation of American values and ideals would be beneficial to the world. One of the most notable manifestations of this policy was the establishment of the Panama Canal, which allowed for the passage of US naval forces between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This policy was not without controversy, as the US interfered with the sovereign nation of Panama in its war with Colombia.
Roosevelt's foreign policy was also characterised by his ""big stick" diplomacy", which involved a significant naval buildup and a more assertive stance on the world stage. He was fond of quoting the proverb, "speak softly and carry a big stick," indicating his preference for quiet diplomacy and consensus-building, but with the underlying threat of military force. This approach was influenced by his belief in the importance of sea power and his lobbying for a stronger Navy even before he became president.
Roosevelt's policy towards Latin America was a reflection of his overall diplomacy strategy. In addition to the Panama Canal initiative, he took a particular interest in Venezuela, where he feared that a crisis between the country and its creditors could spark an invasion by European powers. This concern led to his addition to the Monroe Doctrine in 1904, asserting the United States' role as a regional policeman and its right to intervene in Latin American affairs.
Another example of Roosevelt's intervention in Latin America was the Alaskan Border Dispute, which involved tensions between the United States, Canada, and Great Britain over the boundaries of the Alaskan panhandle region. While this dispute did not involve a sovereign Latin American nation, it demonstrated Roosevelt's willingness to engage in international diplomacy and assert US interests in the region.
Roosevelt's foreign policy also had a significant impact on US relations with European powers. He advised Europeans that the United States would likely avoid involvement in European affairs, even as a mediator. However, his diplomacy with European countries, particularly during the Moroccan crisis of 1905-1906, helped to establish the United States as a respected world power. Roosevelt played a crucial role in settling the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize.
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US interests in East Asia
When Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901, he sought to expand US power abroad and believed that America should be robust and ready to defend its interests globally. Roosevelt's foreign policy was often recognised for its aggressiveness, but he was also a peacemaker.
One of Roosevelt's primary interests in East Asia was maintaining a balance of power and reducing tensions among the great powers in the region. He pursued this goal through his Open Door Policy, which aimed to keep China open to trade with all countries. However, this policy had little practical impact and was mostly rhetoric. Roosevelt also attempted to expand US influence in East Asia and the Pacific, where the Japanese and Russian empires held considerable authority. He viewed Japan as the rising power in Asia, with its military strength and economic modernisation, and believed that US-Japan friendship was essential to preserving American interests in the Pacific. He approved of Japan's takeover of Korea, seeing the latter as a backward nation that needed Japan's guidance to modernise.
Roosevelt's most notable success in East Asia was his arbitration of the dispute between Japan and Russia over Manchuria and Korea in 1905. He also played a role in resolving the First Moroccan Crisis by convening the Algeciras Conference at the request of Kaiser Wilhelm II, which tested the Anglo-French alliance and checked French expansion. Roosevelt's diplomacy in East Asia was generally viewed as shrewd, skillful, and responsible, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize.
Roosevelt's other foreign policy initiatives included the establishment of the Panama Canal, fulfilling a long-held dream of the US Navy to create a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He also pursued closer relations with Britain to counter the perceived threat of the German Empire, which he feared might attempt to establish a base in the Caribbean Sea. Roosevelt's overall approach to foreign policy, characterised by his "big stick" philosophy, reflected his belief in the exercise of intelligent forethought and decisive action in advance of potential crises.
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Frequently asked questions
Roosevelt's foreign policy was largely based on his belief that the United States was a global power and that increasing the country's influence and prestige on the world stage was necessary. He was also a strong advocate for the exportation of American values and ideals. Roosevelt's diplomacy was often described as "big stick" diplomacy, which involved a highly visible naval buildup and a reminder to other countries that the U.S. was building a large navy.
One of Roosevelt's most notable foreign policy initiatives was the establishment of the Panama Canal, which created a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He also played a role in settling the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Additionally, Roosevelt was involved in the Open Door Policy in East Asia, which aimed to keep China open to trade from all countries.
Even before his presidency, Roosevelt influenced US foreign policy as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley. He lobbied for a stronger navy and advocated for war against Spain due to concerns about Spanish control of Cuba.
Roosevelt's diplomacy with European countries helped establish the United States as a respected world power. He advised that the US would likely avoid involvement in Europe, even as a mediator. However, he enjoyed personal diplomacy, and European governments appointed his personal friends as ambassadors to Washington.
