| Later,
the Roosevelt
Corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine declared that the United
States would exercise "international police power"
to get Latin American nations to honor their financial commitments.
Americans
began to be concerned when British, German, and Italian
gunboats blockaded Venezuela’s ports in 1902 because
the Venezuelan government defaulted on its debts to foreign
bondholders. European intervention in Latin America would
undermine America's dominance in the region.
As
part of his annual address to Congress in 1904, President
Theodore Roosevelt stated that in keeping with the Monroe
Doctrine the United States was justified in exercising "international
police power" to put an end to chronic unrest or wrongdoing
in the Western Hemisphere. This came to be called the Roosevelt
Corollary.
Ironically, the Monroe Doctrine's purpose had been to prevent
intervention in the internal affairs of Latin American countries.
The Roosevelt Corollary sought to justify such intervention
whenever the American government thought it was necessary.
It
wasn't long before the corollary was put into action. The
Dominican Republic could not pay its debts and to protect
American interests the United States took over the customs
houses and established a customs receivership.
Roosevelt was fond of the African proverb, "Speak softly
and carry a big stick, you will go far." His foreign
policy style has come to be called Big Stick diplomacy.
Part
of Uncle Sam Plants the Flag:
American Imperialism in Latin America exhibit
|
