1. Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy

2. Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Press applied the label “big stick” to Roosevelt’s aggressive foreign policy
Roosevelt attempted to build the reputation of the U.S. as a world power by acting boldly and decisively

3. The Panama Canal
After Spanish-American War, America had control over the Caribbean and the Philippines in the Pacific
In order to maintain these territories, the U.S. wanted to build a canal through Central America that would link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Building a canal would be difficult:
Dense tropical jungles
Negotiate a treaty with Great Britain to allow the U.S. to build a canal alone

4. Revolution in Panama
Roosevelt wanted to build the canal through the isthmus of Panama
Colombia controlled the isthmus and refused to allow the U.S. to begin construction
Colombia continued to demand more money and control over the canal, so Roosevelt set up a revolt for Panama’s independence from Columbia
With the support of the U.S. Navy, the Panamanian revolt succeeded immediately without almost any bloodshed
New govt. in Panama had to sign the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903
Granted the U.S. all rights over the 51-mile-long, 10-mile-wide Canal Zone

5. Building the Canal Started in 1904, completed in 1914
Hundreds of workers lost their lives
Most Americans approved of the canal
Latin Americans were resentful
Congress paid Colombia $25 million for its loss of Panama
1999- America returned the Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama

6. Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
Latin American nations were in deep financial trouble, could not pay debts to European creditors
December 1904: Roosevelt declared the U.S. would intervene instead of letting European powers violate the Monroe Doctrine
Under the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, U.S. would send gunboats to delinquent Latin American nations
U.S. military would occupy that country’s ports to manage the collection of taxes until European debts were paid
Next 20 years- U.S. presidents used the Roosevelt Corollary to justify sending U.S. forces into many different Latin American nations
Resulted in poor relations with the entire Latin American region

7. Big Stick Policy in East Asia- The Russo-Japanese War
1904: Imperialist rivalry between Japan and Russia breaks out in war
Japan was winning
Roosevelt arranged a diplomatic conference between the two nations at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Both countries agreed to the Treaty of Portsmouth, but Japanese nationalists blamed the U.S. for not giving them all they believed they deserved from Russia (land)

8. Big Stick Policy in East Asia- The “Gentlemen’s Agreement”
Another cause of friction between the U.S. and Japan were laws in California that discriminated against Japanese Americans
Segregated schools were considered a national insult to Japan
1908- Roosevelt arranged a compromise through an informal agreement, or a “Gentlemen’s Agreement”
Japanese govt. secretly agreed to restrict emigration of workers to the U.S. in return for California repealing its discriminatory laws

9. The Great White Fleet
To demonstrate U.S. naval power to Japan and other nations, Roosevelt sent a fleet of battleships on an around-the- world cruise from
The great white ships were an impressive and intimidating sight
Japanese govt. warmly welcomed them into Tokyo Bay

10. The Root-Takahira Agreement (1908)
Important executive agreement between the U.S. and Japan
Sec. of State Elihu Root and Japanese Ambassador Takahira exchanged notes pledging mutual respect for each nation’s territorial possessions in the Pacific
Also pledged mutual support/respect for the Open Door Policy in China

11. Peace Efforts
Roosevelt saw his big stick policies as a way to promote peaceful solutions to international disputes
Awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1906 for negotiating a truce in the Russo-Japanese War
Arranged and directed the Algeciras Conference in Spain
Settled land disputes between France and Germany
Directed U.S. participation at the Second International Peace Conference
Roosevelt was an expansionist, interventionist, and an internationalist- he embodied the vigor of a youthful nation that had finally arrived on the world stage

12. ?
Why was the nickname “big stick” given to Roosevelt’s foreign policy?
Why did the U.S. want to build a canal through Panama?
Why did Roosevelt orchestrate a revolution against Colombian rule in Panama?
What was the significance of the Roosevelt Corollary?
List three examples in which Roosevelt mediated peace efforts in East Asia.