Theodore Roosevelt

Birth-Death: (1858 - 1919 ) Term: (1901-1909 )

Roosevelt took the proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick" to heart. President Roosevelt initiated construction of the Panama Canal, and won a Nobel Peace Prize for acting as arbiter at the end of the Russo-Japanese War. When problems arose over Japanese immigration and education, he reached a Gentleman's Agreement whereby existing Japanese immigrants would receive fair treatment in education, and Japan would cease to send more immigrants over. Roosevelt sent the U.S. Navy, his "big stick," to tour the world.

Foreign Events of Theodore Roosevelt

    President Roosevelt introduced a dramatic change to the foreign policy of the United States. One of the pressing problems was the need for a canal across the Americas. During the Spanish American War the U.S.S. Oregon sailed from the West coast of the United States to Cuba. However, by the time she completed the voyage, the war was already over. It took a series of treaties to receive the land for the canal, and although the canal was not officially opened until 1921, it was completed long before then.

    Together with the canal, Roosevelt also signed new agreements with European nations and expanded the Monroe Doctrine. Roosevelt's Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine stated, "Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in the general loosening of ties in a civilized society . . . may force the United States, however reluctantly . . . to the exercise of an international police power." The first test of the Corollary came during the Dominican Republic financial crisis. The Dominican Republic was plagued by financial instability and chaos on the island. When the financial demands from European nations grew louder, the United States went in and took over the tariffs. This strategy worked; in two years all of the debt was paid.

    Theodore Roosevelt was also a moderator between other countries. When he learned that both Russia and Japan sought peace, he organized a conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he forced the Russians and the Japanese to compromise. Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for this work in 1906.