How did the big stick diplomacy, the dollar diplomacy and the moral diplomacy influence the American foreign policy process of the early xx century?

US foreign policy would be characterized in the turn of the twentieth century by the policies of three presidents; Theodore Roosevelt “Big Stick Diplomacy”, William Taft “Dollar Diplomacy” and Woodrow Wilson “Moral Diplomacy. All of them shared similar characteristics and also differ in many ways, but all the three defended American interests, increased American influence and backed up American business overseas.

Theodore Roosevelt “Big Stick Diplomacy” was based on the idea of “speak softly and carry a big stick”; he believed that the US should become a world power and that it was necessary to carry out actions to demonstrate the US intentions. Not only Roosevelt believed that it was necessary to show a hard power but also it was important to export American values and ideals (democracy, freedom, culture). Consequently Roosevelt’s actions were very aggressive reflecting his “Big Stick Diplomacy”. For example the US had interest in building a canal in Central America, its options were Nicaragua and Panama after Nicaragua was ruled out, Panama became the priority, and in 1903 revolted against Colombia with the support of the United States Navy, becoming a new republic and gaining their independence, with this action the United States gained perpetual control of the canal. Roosevelt’s approach to Latin America was based on the Monroe Doctrine “America for the Americans” he acted on behalf of Venezuela when British and German ships blockade its costliness, acted on behalf of Dominican Republic to avoid European intervention. To show American power he increased the US Navy size, and in 1907 commanded the fleet to go on a world tour to show its power. But he also showed a face of mediator in the Russo-Japanese war and between France and Germany for the control of Morocco.

On the other hand William Taft “Dollar Diplomacy” was based on buying alliances, expanding trade and protecting US business overseas. The initial idea of the dollar diplomacy was to give out loans to countries in debt and in this order of ideas the US would control those countries economy, increasing trade with the US, consequently by increasing trade Taft believed that values and ideals could be exported and American influence would increase. Taft invited US banks to rescue Honduras and other countries, he send troops overseas to stabilize Nicaragua; he protected American overseas business, but eventually Taft’s policies were not backed up the congress neither by the Latin American countries.

Wilson’s foreign policy was based on moral principles rather than commercial or military ones.  Democracy should be exported around the world and the improvement of the relationships with Latin America needed to be immediately.  His most important contribution to the international system was his fourteen points which resemble a moral attitude and approach to world politics, also the establishment of the League of Nations in order to guarantee the political and territorial independence of all states and to avoid a war similar to the world war I.

It’s evident that these foreign policies shaped the US in the turn of the twentieth century and stills holds up a big impact on today’s foreign policy, first of all I want to mention that the US exile from isolation and entered the role of a world power. Furthermore these policies shaped American foreign policy during the next years, in World War II, Cold War and war on terror. If we look at American influence over the years, it has intervened military in many conflicts around the world (Europe, the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Nicaragua and Iraq) it has also exported its ideals and values of democracy and freedom for example Philippines and countries behind the iron curtain. And finally it has developed economic tides in order to gather alliances we can see this in the Plan Colombia. 

Bibliografía

Beck, M. W. (1997). Big Stick Diplomacy: The Politics of the Panama Canal. Houston .