Omar Bennett
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 an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. This approach was used in Latin America and the Caribbean, where Roosevelt believed that the United States had an obligation and right to bring order to the world. Roosevelt's policy justified numerous and repeated police actions in dysfunctional Caribbean and Latin American countries by US marines and naval forces. This policy was also used during the pursuit of a canal across Central America, in what was known as Canal Diplomacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Policy popularised by | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Policy named by | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Policy first used in | 1901 |
| Policy influenced by | West African proverb |
| Policy type | Foreign policy |
| Policy objective | Assert U.S. domination |
| Policy components | 5 |
| Policy implementation | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Policy implementation | Canal Diplomacy in Central America |
| Policy implementation | Nicaragua and Panama |
| Policy implementation | Dominican Republic |
| Policy implementation | Mexico |
| Policy implementation | Anti-Communist Contra guerillas in Nicaragua |
| Similar policies | Gunboat diplomacy |
| Similar policies | Dollar diplomacy |
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What You'll Learn
Canal Diplomacy in Central America
The "'big stick'" ideology, also known as big stick diplomacy or big stick policy, was a political approach used by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. The term "big stick" was derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This ideology was used in the Canal Diplomacy in Central America.
The idea of the canal across Central America was first proposed in 1534 by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who ordered a survey for a route through the Americas to ease the voyage for ships travelling between Spain and Peru. The first attempt to make the isthmus part of a trade route was the Darien scheme, launched by the Kingdom of Scotland in 1698, but it was abandoned due to inhospitable conditions. In 1811, the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt published an essay on the geography of the Spanish colonies in Central America, in which he considered five possible routes for a canal across Central America, including Panama. He concluded that the most promising location was across Nicaragua, traversing Lake Nicaragua.
In 1846, the Mallarino-Bidlack Treaty was negotiated between the US and New Granada (the predecessor of Colombia), granting the United States transit rights and the right to intervene militarily in the isthmus. In 1850, the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was signed between the United States and Great Britain to rein in rivalry over a proposed canal through the Central American Republic of Nicaragua. The Anglo-American canal, however, never went beyond the planning stages. In 1870, US President Grant established an Interoceanic Canal Commission to investigate the possible routes for a canal across Central America. The commission decided in favour of Nicaragua, establishing this as the preferred route among American policymakers.
In 1880, the French diplomat and entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had successfully constructed the Suez Canal, began attempts to construct the Panama Canal. However, these efforts were hindered by malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases. In 1899, the United States renewed its interest in constructing a canal across Central America, with President Theodore Roosevelt overseeing the realization of this long-term goal. The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty of 1901 abrogated the earlier Clayton-Bulwer Treaty and licensed the United States to build and manage its own canal. On June 19, 1902, the US Senate voted in favour of building the canal through Panama. However, the financial terms were rejected by Colombia's congress. In response, President Roosevelt dispatched US warships to Panama City and Colón in support of Panamanian independence, and Panama declared independence on November 3, 1903. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 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, with the United States also agreeing to guarantee Panama's independence. The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, symbolized US technological prowess and economic power.
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US intervention in Latin America
The "Big Stick" ideology, also known as "Big Stick diplomacy", was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. 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.
The policy was used to justify numerous and repeated police actions in "dysfunctional" Caribbean and Latin American countries by US marines and naval forces. 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 approach is sometimes referred to as "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.
Roosevelt's belief in the inevitable conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world led to his belief that the United States was a great civilizing power and therefore had an obligation and right to bring order to the world. This belief resulted in his use of military muscle several times throughout his two terms to enforce the Monroe Doctrine during multiple interventions in Latin America.
One example of Roosevelt's use of the "Big Stick" policy in Latin America was in 1905 when he sent marines to occupy the Dominican Republic and established financial supervision over the Dominican government. Another example was his deployment of naval forces to ensure Panama's independence from Colombia in 1901. The Roosevelt Corollary of December 1904 stated that the United States 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 the rights of the United States. This corollary served as justification for US intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
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US intervention in the Caribbean
The Big Stick ideology, popularized by US President Theodore Roosevelt, asserted American domination when such dominance was considered a moral imperative. The term was derived from a West African proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far," which Roosevelt cited in a letter to a friend. This policy had five components and was frequently used by the press, especially in cartoons, to refer to his foreign policy.
The Roosevelt Corollary of December 1904 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. This policy was enforced in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the US policed small debtor nations with unstable governments.
One example of the Big Stick policy in action was the US intervention in the Dominican Republic. In 1907, the Dominican Republic signed a treaty with the United States, giving the US the right to intervene to protect its customs receivership. This effectively made the Dominican Republic a protectorate of the United States. However, when it became clear that the US wanted more influence, the Dominican Congress rejected Wilson's aims in 1915. In response, US Marines landed in Santo Domingo in 1916 and established a US military government.
Another instance of the Big Stick policy was the US intervention in Cuba. From 1906 to 1909, and again in 1912 and 1917-1919, the United States intervened in Cuba due to fears that the German Empire could support Cuban insurgents who refused to declare war on Berlin. This intervention was also justified under the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that any efforts by European nations to colonize or interfere with states in the Americas were considered acts of aggression.
The Caribbean became a contested area during and after World War I due to imperial debt policy, increasing German investments, submarine warfare, and US economic interests. The US government utilized the imperial interests of European powers to justify its political interests in the region. American corporations, such as the Standard Fruit Company and the United Fruit Company, acquired land and established new plantation systems, further strengthening US economic interests in the Caribbean.
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Dollar diplomacy
Taft's dollar diplomacy allowed the United States to gain financially from countries and restrained other foreign countries from reaping any financial gains. This was done by using American economic power to push for favourable foreign policies and secure markets and opportunities for American businessmen. Dollar diplomacy was also used to protect the nation's interests in its new empire.
The policy was focused on two key zones: Central America and Asia. In Central America, several countries owed steep debts to European countries, and Taft sought to pay off these debts with US dollars. This move made the Central American countries indebted to the United States, which not all nations wanted. When a country resisted, Taft responded with military force, as seen in Nicaragua.
In Asia, dollar diplomacy was used to create a tangible American interest in China, increase trade and investment opportunities, and maintain the Open Door policy of trading. However, it sowed the seeds of mistrust, as Pre-Soviet Russia and Japan viewed US actions in China as imperialist forays into Asia.
Overall, dollar diplomacy was considered a failure, and it was publicly repudiated by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. The policy alienated other world powers and created suspicion of American motives. It also failed to relieve countries of their debt and spurred nationalist movements and conflicts in Central America.
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US military strength
The "Big Stick" ideology, also known as the "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 the phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb. This ideology emphasised the importance of peaceful negotiation while also possessing significant military strength as a deterrent.
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy was notably employed during the ""Canal Diplomacy", the US diplomatic pursuit of constructing a canal across Central America. In 1901, the US negotiated with Nicaragua for approval of the canal, offering $1.5 million in ratification, $100,000 annually, and assurances of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. However, Nicaragua made a counteroffer, requesting a higher ratification amount, which the US accepted. This incident demonstrated Roosevelt's approach of combining diplomacy with the threat of military force, as implied by the "Big Stick" ideology.
Now, turning to the US military strength, as of 2025, the United States is ranked as a Top 5 global military power, specifically ranked 1st out of 145 countries by the GFP index. This ranking takes into account factors such as manpower, financials, material quantities, and potential industrial output. The US military possesses a diverse range of assets, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and mine warfare capabilities.
The US military's strength has significant implications beyond its military capabilities. It plays a crucial role in securing the country's financial dominance and geopolitical supremacy. The US benefits from favourable interest rates and borrowing costs due to its military strength, which in turn reinforces its global standing. However, there are also critics and skeptics of US military power, arguing for a more restrained approach and reduced military presence in certain regions.
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Frequently asked questions
The "big stick" refers to military strength.
"Big stick diplomacy" was first used by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, to describe his foreign policy approach.
The "big stick diplomacy" approach involved negotiating peacefully while also having the strength of the military in case things went wrong.
"Big stick diplomacy" was used in Latin America and the Caribbean, with interventions in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.
"Big stick diplomacy" justified police actions and military interventions in dysfunctional" Caribbean and Latin American countries, leading to the founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
