T. R, Speaks Softly and Carries a Big Stick Theodore Roosevelt was convinced the United States deserved to play a major role in world affairs, and during his presidency, many major decisions were made. After arguments with England over the boundary of Canada and Alaska, a commission was formed with each country appointing three members. When the final line was drawn, Americans were satisfied.
Like the United States, Japan was a newly emerging country, and it shared American sensitivity to any insult. In 1904, Japan attacked Russia, and the Russo-Japanese War followed. Neither country could sustain a long war. In 1905, Russia had to send troops home to put down a major uprising in Moscow, and Japan ran short on money. The Japanese asked Roosevelt to mediate, and he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
West coast sentiment against Orientals was almost as bad as southern racism. In 1906, anti-Japanese sentiment in San Francisco caused its school board to segregate all Asian children. T. R. had no power to override the decision. He worked out a deal with the school board to reverse the policy, and he would then persuade Japan to stop sending laborers to the United States. The Theodore Roosevelt's "Big Stick" next year, Roosevelt sent the navy's battleships on a "goodwill" trip around the world, making a special point to visit Japan. Painted white, they were known as the "Great White Fleet," and their voyage let the world know that the United States had become a naval power second only to England.
One of T. R. 's mottos was "Speak softly and carry a big stick." It was in Latin America that he most waved the stick. One of his great dreams was to build a canal across Panama. Several problems stood in the way: (1) We had an 1850 agreement with England promising that we would not exercise exclusive control over any canal we might build in the region. (2) Two foreign companies were trying, without success, to build canals. The New Panama Canal Company was working in Panama, and the Maritime Canal Company was working in Nicaragua. Both companies were plagued by lack of funds and health problems from yellow fever. (3) While Panama was judged the best place to locate a canal, it belonged to Colombia.
The first problem was easily solved by the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty in 1901. The British willingly gave the U. S. exclusive control over the canal. The second problem was overcome when the New Panama Canal Company lowered its price from $109 million to a more realistic price of $40 million. When Colombia refused the American offer of $15 million and $250,000 a year in rent for the right to build the canal in Panama, it was a major setback to the whole project.
On November 3, 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama City, and the American cruiser Nashville was ordered to block the landing of any troops within 50 miles of Panama. On November 6, the U. S. recognized Panama's independence. T. R. denied that the United States had done anything wrong, but he later boasted, "I took the canal zone, and let Congress debate, and while the debate goes on, the canal does also."
RESULTS: T. R. had paved the way for future U. S. involvement in world affairs, but his Latin American policy would also cause serious problems in the future.

T. R. Speaks Softly and Carries a Big Stick: Reinforcement

CHALLENGES:
1. How did Americans feel about the outcome of the Alaskan boundary dispute?

2. What war was fought between Japan and Russia between1904 and 1906? What part did the United States play in it?

3. How did the San Francisco school board cause problems between the United States and Japan?

4. What was the Great White Fleet? Where did it sail?

5. How did the old Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850 limit U. S. enthusiasm for building a canal?

6. How much did the New Panama Canal Company want for its rights? How much did it receive?

7. What country owned Panama in 1902?

8. How much did the United States offer the country in #7 for the rights to build the canal?

9. How old was the revolution in Panama when the United States recognized Panama's independence?

10. Who boasted that he had taken the canal zone?