ROOSEVELT

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ROOSEVELTS BIG STICK DIPLOMACY

• By Abby Katir and Altin Zaku

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Table of contents
Cartoon
Effects
T.W.E.
C A U S E S
Explanation
Value
Time Frame Pres.
Limitations
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THE CARTOON
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EXPLANATION

• Roosevelts political ideology and motto was
  Speak softly and carry a big stick
• Roosevelt aggressively intervened in global
  affairs because he wanted U.S. to be a world
  power
• The political cartoon shows a giant Roosevelt
  portrayed as a giant with his big stick in tow
  as he marches through Latin America in his Navy
  uniform
• The image is the recreation of a scene from
  Gullivers Travels with Roosevelt as the giant
• Roosevelt pulling along his fleet of steel
  warships that are labelled Debt Collector,
  Sheriff, The Receiver etc. as a play on in
  his involvement in the economic affairs of the
  Latin American continent
• Roosevelt believed that America should intervene
  and manage the money of Latin American countries
  that owed debt to European Countries

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TIME FRAME PRESIDENT DURING THE INTERACTION

• Time Frame
• Took place during the Progressive Era
  (Specifically began 1901 in a speech by Roosevelt
  as Vice President)
• President at the time
• Roosevelt was the Vice President when he first
  used the term but became president 8 days later
  after McKinley's assassination

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Causes of the interaction

• At the time, there was the rise of imperialism,
  an aggressive political ideology that promoted
  the control and annexation of other lands through
  political, economic, or military means
• Roosevelt wanted US. To become acknowledged as a
  legitimate world power
• His policy appealed to the imperialists and the
  nations expanding interests

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Effects of the interaction

• Roosevelts policy was implemented in both
  domestic and international disputes (and earned
  him a Nobel Prize)
• Domestic
• The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 he threatened
  to use the military to run the mine if the
  operators were unwilling (Became known as the
  Square Deal)
• Foreign
• Venezuela Debt repayment (Regulated Venezuelan
  economy until European debt was paid (created
  anger towards Americans and also added the
  Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
• Aided Panama natives with supplies and Navy
  support in their revolt against Columbian
  government to build Panama Canal (Colombian anger
  towards U.S./Panama happy)
• Intervened in Cuba to protect American interests
  (Angered Cuban fundamentalists and created the
  Teller Amendment and Platt Amendment)
• Roosevelt negotiated the Russo-Japanese war by
  speaking softly (angered Japanese but
  benefitted the Russians)

SOUTH AMERICA
East Asia
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Value

• The source helps us understand the large scale of
  Roosevelts policy and the military strength that
  backed it
• The value of the cartoon is that it depicts
  Roosevelts power with that of the Latin American
  nations (Roosevelt was giant in comparison
• The source shows that America was indeed a world
  power (Roosevelts size and the advanced Navy
  that followed him)
• The source shows that the type of thinking at the
  time considered Big Stick Diplomacy to be a
  powerful force, one that, through military power
  further established America as a legitimate world
  power

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Limitations

• With only the source, one might think that
  Roosevelts policy was tyrannical or a threat
• Also, the bias of the author influences his
  portrayal Roosevelt as a larger than life
  character and the countries as miniscule, thus
  cheapening the message
• However, the message is not mistranslated because
  it communicates the idea that Roosevelts Big
  Stick Policy was indeed a lumbering force in the
  international community
• Therefore, the message is not corrupted or
  damaged, but only dulled by the authors bias

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To what extent

• Big Stick Diplomacy in US territorial expansion
  was, to a large extent, a proper and legitimate
  policy for the United States to follow.
• Reasons
• It aided the US in establishing itself as a
  global power
• Allowed the US to maintain control over Western
  Hemisphere and expand into Asia
• Allowed US to settle conflicts and expand
• Limitation
• Because the US continually intervened or used its
  power to intimidate others it soured relations
  with some Southern American countries (Venezuela,
  Cuba, etc.) as well as in Asia (Philippines)

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FIN