Tr. 2 Essay, Research Paper
Theodore Roosevelt
Speak softly and carry a big stick , [and] you will go far?
These were words said by and lived by Theodore Roosevelt.Theodore Roosevelt (or TR
as they sometimes referred to him as ) had a very ?big stick ? He used this big stick ?to make
America an imperialist power to the world . His big stick ?was really all the power the United
States of America had in its money,land,army and armed forces . No other world power would
want to get in a conflict with the United States . So Theodore Roosevelt did as he pleased with
foreign affairs . He showed the world this with the whole Panama and Cuba fiasco . Roosevelt
then did it again with his views toward the Monroe Doctrine. He didn t stop there he also showed
his imperialistic views with the Japan and Russia conflict. Theodore Roosevelt truly was the
ultimate imperialist.
Theodore Roosevelt decided it was in the United States best interest to build a canal .
Roosevelt also saw this as a chance to help himself be more appealing to the public . With a canal
the United States would have an easier time defending there imperialistic gains which were Puerto
Rico,Hawaii,and the Philippines . The United States had a lot of trouble getting started building
the canal . Roosevelt signed the Haybunau-Varilla treaty which helped them gain Panama land
right under Columbias feet. Columbia hesitantly defied the United states because they didn t want
the same fate as Puerto Rico . In 1914 the Panama canal was finally built and Roosevelt had got
what he wanted, a canal and basically control of Latin America.
Roosevelt didn t stop there with the Caribbean countries he continued to try to get
imperial gains south of the United States. Many Latin American countries were in debt to
European countries (mostly the United Kingdom and Germany). One of the Latin countries,
Venezuela had not paid there debtors which were Germany . So Germany sunk two of there
warships and raided a small town . Roosevelt heard of this and thought Europe would stay in
Latin America to collect money. Which was a direct violation of the Monroe Doctrine . Roosevelt
added his own twist to the Doctrine which was known as the Roosevelt Corollary. This stated
that if any future problems arrised the European countries would come to the United States and
be paid off. Roosevelt made it sound that the United States didn t want anyone pushing around
Latin America . In truth though Roosevelt had done this so he could get a tighter imperialistic grip
on Latin America without outside interference . The Doctrine helped the United States turn the
Caribbean into a Yankee lake?. Much of Latin America were in fear for they could be the next
United States imperial conquest.
Then Roosevelt went on a much bigger stage which was in front of the world. Tokyo
officials approached Roosevelt to help them begin peace negotiations with Russia, what they had
just recently had a war with . Roosevelt worked behind the scenes with both countries and after
the treaty was made both felt cheated by the United States . Many Japanese laborers had began
flooding California with there people. Roosevelt let the Japanese have equal rights but feared that
Japan might think of this as a weakness and takeover some of the United States conquests. So
Roosevelt sent sixteen white battle ships around the world to scare everyone and show Latin
America who was boss.
Theodore Roosevelt had done a great deal for the United States to become the imperial
power that they are today. He had built the Panama Canal , threw Europe out of Latin America
and shown the world that the United States is an imperial force to be reckoned with. Roosevelt
truly was the ultimate imperialist but this is really not a good thing it shows how egotistic and self
riteous the United States and Roosevelt really were. Sure the United States got power but what
was the cost, the same thing the United States supposedly lives by, freedom.