Monroe Doctrine

Historical Documents
Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick foreign policy, encapsulated by the proverb "speak softly and carry a big stick," advocated for peaceful negotiations backed by the threat of military force. This approach aimed to expand American influence, particularly in Latin America and the…
Historical Images

"The Big Stick in the Caribbean Sea" is a 1904 political cartoon by William Allen Rogers. It illustrates President Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick Diplomacy, portraying him as a colossal figure wielding a massive club through the Caribbean. It symbolizes America's military and political power.

Historical Documents
In his "Ripe Fruit" Theory, John Quincy Adams argued that Cuba, then a Spanish colony, would gravitate toward the United States once its unnatural connection with Spain was severed. Comparing Cuba to a ripe fruit, Adams argued that the laws of political gravitation would bring the island…
Historical Images

This political cartoon, created and published by Louis Dalrymple in 1905, illustrates the Roosevelt Corollary foreign policy. It depicts a large, stern-faced Theodore Roosevelt, perched atop a massive naval cannon labeled "U.S." on a battleship.

Historical Documents
The Roosevelt Corollary was a significant expansion of the Monroe Doctrine. It declared that the United States had the right to intervene as an international police power in the Western Hemisphere. This meant that if Latin American nations engaged in chronic wrongdoing, such as political…
Historical Documents
The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy statement declaring that the Americas were closed to European colonization. It asserted a sphere of influence for the United States. It also promised U.S. non-intervention in European affairs in return for Europe's non-interference in the Americas.…