Big Stick Diplomacy
Roosevelt believed that if America mad a show of force to the rest of the world, other nations might be more hesitant to challenge the military. Proved by this, he also understood that the threat of force rather than force itself was often better to put off military conflict. He summarized this Belief with an African proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.” Roosevelt swung the Big Stick several times during his presidency, mostly in Latin America. In 1902, Germany tried to force Venezuela (in poverty), into paying after a year of attempted negotiation. Germany blocked five ports on the coast of Venezuela and bombarding one of its coastal bases. Angered, Roosevelt threatened to attack the German ships if the siege continued. They stopped the siege and conducted successful negotiations.
"1901-1909: Big Stick Diplomat and Peacemaker." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/troosevelt/section9.rhtml>;.
This idea of spreading American values and ideals throughout the world helped make America a world power, but it also weakened the constitutional government by making the executive branch supreme in foreign policy. Roosevelt stuck to the concept that government should be used to help the needy and fight societal injustice.
"Teddy Roosevelt and His Big Stick." Campaign for Liberty. N.p., 26 Jan. 2012. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. <http://www.campaignforliberty.org/members-posts/teddy-roosevelt-and-his-big-stick/>;.
To “speak softly and carry a big stick,”, in my mind, means to threaten to take action without doing anything. It’s like telling a child that they will be punished if they do it again and then they never do it again.
This is a picture of TR walking through Latin America with the Big Stick.
This is TR on top of the world with his Big Stick.
Comments
Well done Shea!