The Big Stick Diplomacy Legacy Of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was best known for his 'big stick diplomacy'. This term was derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. Roosevelt's foreign policy was based on this philosophy, which he termed the strenuous life. He believed that the United States had the right and the obligation to be the policeman of the Western Hemisphere and that it was good for civilized nations to intervene in the affairs of uncivilized nations. Roosevelt wanted the US to wield the same kind of power in world affairs that European empires did.

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The Monroe Doctrine

Monroe outlined two separate spheres of influence: the Americas and Europe. He asserted that the independent lands of the Western Hemisphere would be solely the domain of the United States, and that European powers should respect this region as the United States' sphere of interest. In exchange, the United States pledged to avoid involvement in European political affairs and not to interfere in existing European colonies in the Americas.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The big stick ideology, also known as big stick diplomacy or big stick policy, was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The ideology is derived from the phrase, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, Roosevelt enacted the Big Stick policy in foreign policy, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, to police small debtor nations with unstable governments. This 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 Big Stick policy was influenced by his belief in the "civilising influence" of the United States and its duty to spread Anglo-Saxon civilisation to "inferior states". He believed that the US had a manly duty to exercise an international police power in the Caribbean and Latin America. This belief was reflected in his interventions in Latin America, which were aimed at maintaining "order and civilisation".

One example of Roosevelt's use of the Big Stick policy in Latin America was his intervention in Venezuela in 1902-1903. When Germany and Britain sent ships to blockade Venezuela's coastline due to its refusal to repay loans, Roosevelt demanded that they agree to arbitration to resolve the dispute. Roosevelt also stationed naval forces in Cuba to ensure "the respect of the Monroe Doctrine" and the compliance of the parties involved.

Another example of Roosevelt's Big Stick policy in action was his support for Panama's independence from Colombia in 1901. Roosevelt wanted to ensure Panama's independence to acquire a US Canal Zone and promote the construction of the Panama Canal. This intervention in the affairs of a sovereign Latin American nation was controversial and signalled a more active role for the US in Latin American affairs.

The Panama Canal

The first attempt to make the Isthmus part of a trade route was the Darien scheme, launched by the Kingdom of Scotland in 1698. However, this was abandoned due to the challenging conditions. In the 19th century, the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt published an essay on the geography of the Spanish colonies in Central America, considering five possible routes for a canal, including Panama. He concluded that the most promising location was across Nicaragua, traversing Lake Nicaragua.

In 1850, the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was signed between the United Kingdom and the United States, stipulating joint control of any canal built in Central America. However, it was French interests that first began construction in 1881, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal. This attempt was also abandoned by 1889 due to engineering problems, a high worker mortality rate from tropical diseases, and a lack of investors' confidence.

The United States, led by President Theodore Roosevelt, then took over the project. Roosevelt, a proponent of \"big stick diplomacy\", negotiated the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, which granted the U.S. control of the Canal Zone. Work under U.S. supervision began in 1904, and the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. The construction involved building dams on the Chagres River to create Gatun Lake and Lake Madden, digging the Gaillard Cut, and constructing locks to lift and lower ships between the ocean and lake levels.

The opening of the Panama Canal significantly reduced the time and distance for ships travelling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, avoiding the lengthy route around the southernmost tip of South America. By 2012, more than 815,000 vessels had passed through the canal, with annual traffic rising from 1,000 ships in 1914 to 14,702 vessels in 2008. The canal is now managed and operated by the Panamanian government-owned Panama Canal Authority, with the original locks allowing the passage of Panamax ships.

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European diplomacy

Big stick diplomacy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The ideology was derived from the aphorism "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb, although there is little evidence for that. The "big stick" in this case was a sizable naval force sent on a world tour to display the might of the United States. Roosevelt believed that the United States must maintain stability in the region and prevent European powers from reasserting control over former colonies or getting involved in military conflicts within Latin American countries.

Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy had five components. Firstly, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. This meant building a world-class navy. Secondly, Roosevelt believed that diplomatic and peaceful negotiation should be the primary means to protect national interests and resolve conflicts. Military force should be a last resort if negotiation fails. Before taking any military action, he made sure that all channels for diplomacy and dialogue were explored exhaustively. Thirdly, Roosevelt believed it was the burden of 'civilized' nations to uplift 'uncivilized' nations. He wanted the US to wield a 'big stick' in global affairs, the way European empires did. He believed that US interests were global interests and that it was good for civilized nations to intervene in the affairs of other countries. Fourthly, Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was applied in Latin America and the Caribbean, where he enacted the Big Stick policy to police small debtor nations with unstable governments. Finally, Roosevelt used his big stick policy to settle disputes between European powers. For example, he intervened to prevent war between Germany and France over their colonial claims in Morocco.

In conclusion, Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy was a significant aspect of his foreign policy approach, reshaping America's influence and power assertion in geopolitics. It was characterized by a preference for diplomatic and peaceful negotiation, complemented by the use of military power as a deterrent and the projection of power when necessary.

Military strength

The 'big stick' ideology, also known as ''big stick diplomacy' or 'big stick policy', was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The ideology 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.

The 'big stick' ideology was used by Roosevelt to complement his diplomatic policies and enforce the Monroe Doctrine through multiple interventions in Latin America. This included the Great White Fleet, 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe, showcasing the United States' rising yet neutral prestige under Roosevelt's leadership.

At the crux of Roosevelt's 'big stick' diplomacy was a thinly veiled threat. Roosevelt believed that, given the country's recent military successes, it was unnecessary to use force to achieve foreign policy goals, as long as the military could threaten force. This belief was also based on Roosevelt's philosophy, which he termed the "strenuous life", prizing challenges overseas as opportunities to instil American men with the resolve and vigour they once had.

Roosevelt's 'big stick' diplomacy had five components. Firstly, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. This meant having a world-class navy, as Roosevelt never had a large army at his disposal until the 1900s. The other qualities were to act justly towards other nations, never to bluff, to strike only when prepared to strike hard, and to be willing to allow the adversary to save face in defeat. The idea is to negotiate peacefully but also have strength in case things go wrong.

Roosevelt's 'big stick' diplomacy was also used during "Canal Diplomacy", the diplomatic actions of the US during the pursuit of a canal across Central America. In 1901, Secretary of State John Hay pressed the Nicaraguan government for approval of a canal. Nicaragua would receive $1.5 million in ratification, $100,000 annually, and the US would "provide sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity". However, a problem of court jurisdiction arose, as the US did not have legal jurisdiction in the land of the future canal.

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