Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary

Definition

Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine, articulated in 1904, asserting that the United States had the right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and order. This policy was rooted in the belief that European intervention in the Western Hemisphere was a threat to American interests, and it positioned the U.S. as a police power in the region. The Corollary reflected America's growing role on the world stage and signaled a shift toward a more active and interventionist foreign policy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary was first introduced in his State of the Union address in 1904 as a response to concerns about European interventions in Latin America.
2. The Corollary justified U.S. intervention in several countries, including the Dominican Republic and Cuba, under the premise of restoring order and preventing European influence.
3. Roosevelt believed that if countries in Latin America could not maintain their own stability, it was the responsibility of the U.S. to intervene to protect American interests.
4. The Corollary represented a significant shift from previous policies of isolationism, indicating an increased willingness for America to engage actively in international affairs.
5. This policy set a precedent for future U.S. interventions in Latin America throughout the 20th century, influencing American foreign relations for decades.

Review Questions

• How did Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary change the perception of U.S. involvement in Latin America?
  • Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary transformed how the U.S. was viewed in Latin America by establishing it as an active enforcer of stability and order rather than just a distant observer. This approach meant that if a Latin American nation was perceived as unstable or unable to manage its affairs, the U.S. claimed the right to intervene. As a result, many Latin American nations saw the United States as an imperial power exerting control over their sovereignty, which fostered mixed feelings toward U.S. involvement.
• Discuss how Roosevelt's Corollary relates to Big Stick Diplomacy and its broader implications for American foreign policy.
  • Roosevelt's Corollary is closely tied to his Big Stick Diplomacy, which advocated for using military power to achieve foreign policy goals while emphasizing negotiation first. The Corollary exemplified this approach by justifying military interventions when deemed necessary to protect American interests in Latin America. This connection reflects a broader trend during Roosevelt's presidency, where assertive actions were taken to establish U.S. dominance and protect its interests in a region often seen as vulnerable to European powers.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary on U.S.-Latin American relations and how it set the stage for future interventions.
  • The long-term consequences of Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary included strained relations between the United States and various Latin American countries, many of which resented U.S. interference. This policy laid the groundwork for subsequent interventions throughout the 20th century, such as those in Nicaragua and Haiti, contributing to a pattern where U.S. actions were often viewed through a lens of imperialism. Additionally, this legacy fueled nationalist sentiments within Latin America, leading to increased anti-American sentiment and calls for greater autonomy from foreign influence.

Related terms

Monroe Doctrine:

A U.S. policy established in 1823 stating that further European colonization or intervention in the Americas would be viewed as acts of aggression.

Big Stick Diplomacy:

A foreign policy approach advocated by Roosevelt that emphasized negotiation backed by the threat of military force.

Panama Canal: A significant engineering project completed in 1914 that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, highlighting U.S. interests in facilitating trade and military movement.