Background
- At the turn of the 20th century, the United States had emerged from the Spanish–American War as a global power.
- To manage its growing influence, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, three successive presidents developed distinct yet overlapping approaches: Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy, William Howard Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy, and Woodrow Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy.
- Each policy reflected modernization, economic expansion, and evolving ideas about America’s global responsibility.
Definition
Roosevelt Corollary
Theodore Roosevelt’s 1904 addition to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American nations to preserve order and stability.
Big Stick Diplomacy (Theodore Roosevelt, 1901–1909)
- Rooted in Roosevelt’s motto, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far,” this policy emphasized diplomacy backed by the credible threat of military force.
- Roosevelt sought to protect U.S. interests and maintain stability in Latin America, arguing that the U.S. had a duty to act as the region’s “policeman.”
- The Roosevelt Corollary (1904) to the Monroe Doctrine justified intervention in cases of “chronic wrongdoing,” asserting that the U.S. could intervene pre-emptively to prevent European involvement.
U.S. Intervention in the Dominican Republic (1905–1907)
- Facing bankruptcy, the Dominican Republic risked European debt collection and possible occupation.
- Roosevelt used the Corollary to justify U.S. takeover of Dominican customs houses to ensure debt repayment to foreign creditors.
- This arrangement established a U.S. protectorate-like financial supervision, stabilizing revenue but limiting Dominican sovereignty.
- It set a precedent for future U.S. involvement in the region, portraying intervention as a stabilizing measure while securing American economic influence.
- The success of the policy encouraged similar interventions in Cuba (1906–1909) and Nicaragua (1909–1910), signaling the shift from isolation to regional management.
Definition
Protectorate
A state controlled and protected by another nation, often retaining nominal independence while losing autonomy in key areas.
Dollar Diplomacy (William Howard Taft, 1909–1913)
- Taft believed economic power was more effective and less confrontational than military force.
- His administration promoted U.S. investments abroad, particularly in Central America and China, to achieve political stability and open new markets.
