1. Foreign Policy of President Teddy Roosevelt
Policies in the Caribbean: Big stick diplomacy

2. Describe (tell all about) President Roosevelt’s Big Stick policy
Admired the West African proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
Roosevelt preferred not to brag about American power, but rather to be so strong that other countries would bow to the United States.
Roosevelt’s Big Stick policies in the Caribbean included the building of a canal in Panama and the extension of the Monroe Doctrine

3. Why was the creation of a canal so important?
Building a canal across Central America linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans had many commercial (business)and military advantages.
1.) A canal would reduce the travel time of commercial fleets and save them millions of dollars (gas, food, wages).
2.) Military: In addition, a canal would increase the efficiency of naval fleets. The inefficiency of naval fleets during the Spanish-American War hurt the US war effort; battleship Oregon (sent from Seattle to Cuba) did not arrive to war was nearly over. (Had to travel around S. America)

4. “I took the Canal and let Congress debate”
1.) The U.S. negotiated the Hay-Herran Treaty with Colombia in 1903, offering $10 million outright and $250,000 annually for a canal zone 6 miles wide in Panama, which at the time belonged to Colombia.
2.) When the Colombian legislature held out for more money, Roosevelt responded angrily and plotted to support a revolution that would make Panama an independent country-one the US could more easily control.
3.) When the Nashville, a gunboat from the US, arrived on 11/2/1903, the Panamanians began their rebellion. On 11/4/1903, the victorious rebels read a formal declaration of independence, and 2 days later the US recognized the Republic of Panama.

5. “I took…”
4.) The new government had little choice but to accept the US’s terms for the building of the canal. The cutting of the canal began in 1904 and was completed 10 years later. Roosevelt took pride in skillfully gaining the Canal, despite reservations from Congress and legal advisors.

6. Why did Roosevelt want peace & security in Caribbean?
Despite his support for the revolution in Panama against Colombia, Roosevelt did not like revolutions of any kind or any disorder in the Caribbean. Roosevelt disliked instability because he wanted to keep the region stable for American investment.

7. Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe’s address to Congress in 1823 had a significant impact on the relationship between the US and its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere.
Monroe’s message to European powers was loud and clear: no more European colonies in the Western Hemisphere. “Any foreign military expeditions sent to the Western Hemisphere for whatever reason would be seen as a threat to the US,” Monroe warned. “No European country should interfere in US affairs, at home or abroad.”
Monroe also volunteered the US to be the “police force” in the Western hemisphere- protecting emerging nations in the entire hemisphere.

8. Causes of Corollary to Monroe Doctrine
Roosevelt’s desire for stability in Caribbean for American investment
Roosevelt did not want European presence in Western Hemisphere
In 1904 and 1905 several European powers threatened the Dominican Republic. They wanted to collect money owed by Dominican customs (taxes imposed by law on imported goods), but could not do so peacefully because various factions in the Dominican Republic fought for control of customs revenues. Before Germany could send troops to collect the funds owed it, American troops seized Dominican customhouses and supervised the collection of customs fees and the repayment of debts.

9. Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
Corollary: A proposition added to another as a natural consequence or effect
Roosevelt’s Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine: Stated that “chronic wrongdoing” or “impotence” (weakness or powerlessness) gave the US the right to exercise “international police powers” in the Western Hemisphere. This changed the original intention of the Monroe Doctrine, which was to ward off European colonization. The US now committed itself to maintaining stability in the Western Hemisphere.