Chapter 18 Section 4 Critical Thinking # 3 & 4

3) What do you think were the similarities and differences between Roosevelt's Big Stick and Wilson's missionary diplomacy?
-the goal of each of these foreign policies
-how the policies defined the role of U.S. intervention in international affairs
-how the policies were applied

Roosevelt's Big Stick was based on the African saying "speak softly and carry a big stick". Roosevelt's Corollary was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine, which basically told Europe to stay out of the Western Hemisphere. The corollary said that the U.S. would "now use force to protect its economic interests in Latin America" (page 568). It goal was to keep things going well in Latin America as long as it benefited the U.S. Wilson's missionary diplomacy said that the United States had a moral responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin American government it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests" (page 569). They were similar in that they both sought to keep things going well in Latin America, but while Roosevelt's corollary was enacted for the benefit of the U.S. and the U.S. only, while Wilson's missionary diplomacy made Roosevelt's Corollary more moral. It helped Latin America, and not just in cases that would help the U.S.
These defined the roll of U.S. intervention in foreign affairs because they showed why the U.S. was interested in helping . Under Roosevelt's Corollary, the role of U.S. intervention was only to fix problems that threatened the U.S., as well as giving an excuse to keep foreign powers out of Latin America. But when Wilson's missionary diplomacy came about, it completely changed America's role in foreign intervention. Though part of the diplomacy was concerned with anything hostile to American interests, it was mostly about ridding countries of oppressive governments, and so the U.S. became a protector of the citizens of undemocratic countries (if they wanted the U.S.'s help or not) (pages 568-569).
The policies were similar in the way there were applied: with the help of military/police power, and with a similar takeover of the offending government. Na example of the Roosevelt Corollary in use was when the U.S. intervened in a 1911 rebellion in Nicaragua. The country was near bankruptcy, and so American banks loaned money to Nicaragua so it could pay its debts. American bankers then collected the Nicaraguan customs duties, as well as control of Nicaragua's railroad system and national bank. When Nicaraguans hear do this and revolted against the government, about 2,000 marines were sent to Nicaragua, and some troops stayed until 1933. AN example of Wilson's missionary diplomacy in action was the intervention in Mexico at the time of the Mexican revolution. Wilson refused to recognise the new government because it came about violently. At the first excuse they were given, the U.S. invaded Mexico and occupied Veracruz, killing 200 Mexicans (pages 568-569).


4) In your opinion, should the United States have become involved in the affairs of Columbia, Nicaragua, and Mexico during the early 1900s?
Think about:
-the effect of Roosevelt's Corollary
-the results of dollar diplomacy
-the implication of Wilson's missionary diplomacy

i think that America should have stayed out of the business of the foreign countries. It nearly caused a war between Mexico and the U.S., caused us to have marines staying in Nicaragua for more than 20 years, made us constantly at odds with European powers trying to get into Latin America. Finally, the implications of Wilson's missionary diplomacy meant that every time there was a country with an undemocratic government, we have to go and rescue them, risking war and many fatalities. As seen in the Nicaraguan rebellion in 1911, the U.S. had to loan money to the banks, and when it tried to collect the money owed, it sparked another revolution. As a result, the U.S. had to send 2,000 marines to go keep the peace in this foreign country that isn't really our responsibility to be taking care of, and some U.S. men had to stay for more than 20 years. The dollar diplomacy meant that we would be constantly at odds with any European power that tried to do anything in Latin America, and it divided the country. Wilson's missionary diplomacy almost caused a war when we had to follow through with it. The biggest problem was not the war that almost happened, though, but the promise it made for as long as the U.S. should exist, that every time a country is in trouble (specifically from its oppressive or undemocratic leaders) we have to be the heroes and go off and save them. this is a lot of trouble to go to for a country that isn't ours, and it has the potential to cause a war. The U.S. was better off staying out of the business of foreign countries.