Essential Question
How did Theodore
Roosevelt’s foreign
policy reflect American
imperialism?
As you review the lecture complete the
corresponding lecture notes.
Opening Activity
 List the countries the United States gained.
 How would a person have to travel from Cuba to the Philippines?
 What would be an easier way?
 Predict what will happen.
Film Clip: The Panama Canal
Stick Policy
Also known as the Big Stick Policy
 Believed that the U.S.
should ask first then use
force or intimidation to
get its way.
 Became known as the Big
Stick Policy from a west
African saying “Speak
softly and carry a big stick”
 Describe the Big Stick
Policy in your own
words
 List all that you see.
 Who does each of the figures represent?
 What is one word that describe each of the figures.
 What is this cartoon about?
Reasons for a
Canal
 The U.S wanted to build
a canal to save time
 It took 14,000 miles to
get around South
America
 A canal would cut the
time by 1/3
“I took the
isthmus”
 Roosevelt wanted to build a





canal through Panama which
was part of Columbia
Columbia refused
Panamanians rebelled
against Columbia
U.S supported them with its
navy and marines
Within 2 weeks, the U.S and
Panama made a treaty to
create a canal
This event most clearly
demonstrates Roosevelt’s
Big Stick Policy
President Theodore Roosevelt at the groundbreaking of
the Panama Canal
Background:
The Monroe Doctrine -1823
•America believed they were
in charge/boss of Latin
America.
•This had first started in the
early 1800s.
•President James Monroe
had issued a proclamation to
Europe called “Monroe
Doctrine”
“No more European
colonization in the
Western Hemisphere”
“No intervention from
Europe if their American
colonies wanted their
independence.”
 Who is the man in the center
 Who do the people on the right represent? Left?
 Who is the “boss” in this picture?
Roosevelt Corollary




Added onto the Monroe Doctrine
AKA: “Big Stick Policy”.
TR said to the world: “You can’t interfere in Latin America … but we can!”
America will be in charge/police the Western Hemisphere
 It is the right of United States to exercise international police power.
 It is the right of the United States to interfere in the economic matters of
any nation in the Americas that cannot manage them.
Pair-Share
Compare and contrast the
Monroe Doctrine and the
Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy.
The Roosevelt Corollary
Directions: Use the following points from the Roosevelt Corollary to create a political
cartoon of your own.
•It is the right of United States to exercise international police power.
•It is the right of the United States to interfere in the economic matters of
any nation in the Americas that cannot manage them.
Explain your political cartoon:
Wrap-Up Activity
Directions: Use your lecture notes and text book to complete the comic strip.