ROOSEVELT’S BIG STICK DIPLOMACY By Abby Katir and Altin Zaku

Cartoon Explanation Time Frame & Pres. Effects Value Limitations T.W.E. CAUSESCAUSES TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE CARTOON

EXPLANATION Roosevelt’s 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 Gulliver’s 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

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

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 nation’s expanding interests

EFFECTS OF THE INTERACTION Roosevelt’s 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

VALUE The source helps us understand the large scale of Roosevelt’s policy and the military strength that backed it The value of the cartoon is that it depicts Roosevelt’s power with that of the Latin American nations (Roosevelt was giant in comparison The source shows that America was indeed a world power (Roosevelt’s 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

LIMITATIONS With only the source, one might think that Roosevelt’s 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 Roosevelt’s 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 author’s bias

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)

FIN