THE big stick politics is a reference to US President Theodore Roosevelt's (1858 - 1919) style of resolving diplomatic conflicts.
In a speech given in 1901 at a fair in Minnesota, the president used an African proverb that states: "soft-spoken and a big club, you go far".
This was the way found by the US president to avoid conflict and show military power. The style of diplomatic negotiation was exposed when referring to South American countries, devastated by debts with Europe.
Soft-spoken and a big stick, you go far, Roosevelt said
The main episode occurs in Germany's debt collection against Venezuela in 1900. Faced with the threat of a moratorium after 24 months of negotiations, Germany surrounded five ports and bombed the Venezuelan coastal base in 1902.
Monroe Doctrine
The German action violated the precepts of Monroe Doctrine, enacted in 1823, which provides for the prevention of the invasion of American countries by Europeans.
In the case of Venezuela, the United States intervened directly and sent ships to the region, avoiding war. Germans and Venezuelans ended up negotiating the debt.
With Congressional support, the president managed to bolster the fleet of warships on the grounds that the show of force reflects positively on international affairs.
Faced with the outcome, Roosevelt published in 1904 an amendment to the Monroe Doctrine, providing that the US could in case of impotence of threatened nations, intervene directly in policy matters International.
Panama Canal
With the argument that, in case of threat, having the fleet fully available in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, Roosevelt negotiated with the government of Colombia the right to assume the Panama Canal for which it was used as a military pass.
The point, in addition to military availability, would also be used to transport goods, enabling the expansion of US trade in a 99-year lease.
Negotiations collided with the National Congress, but through the president's intervention, the rules of international law were revised, the Panama separated from Colombia and the US recognized it as a nation.
After recognizing the Republic of Panama, the US signed the lease and began construction of the Panama Canal.
Read too: Panama Canal
Dollar diplomacy
Roosevelt's style preceded another form of US treatment of international relations and the consolidation of american imperialism: dollar diplomacy.
This was a policy instituted by the president Willian Taft (1857 - 1930) and foresaw the promotion of US interests abroad by encouraging investment in foreign countries.
Taft's actions did not dispense with the use of military power to promote US companies and ensure trade in Latin America and Asia.
To better understand, read: Imperialism.
