18-4 Critical Thinking #s 3 & 4

What do you think were the similarities and differences between Roosevelt's Big Stick policy and Wilson's missionary diplomacy?

President Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy was meant as a reminder for the Monroe Doctrine, which forced European countries to stay out of affairs of the western Hemisphere, including Latin American countries. in his message to congress not long afterward, he added to the Monroe Doctrine. The piece he added was called the Roosevelt Corollary, which said that the United States would now use force to protect its economic interests in Latin America.(568)
When Woodrow Wilson came into office, he had a different interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which urged him to created the "missionary diplomacy," which gave the United States right to deny recognition to any Latin American countries that seamed oppressive, undemocratic or hostile to our country. This is pretty much the opposite of what Roosevelt would have wanted. (569)
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In your opinion, should the United States have become involved in the affairs of Columbia, Nicaragua and Mexico during the early 1900s?

Because of the Roosevelt Corollary, President Taft, following Roosevelt's term, was forced to aid a bankrupt Nicaragua. In return, they gave US bankers control over their state owned railroad and its national bank. Also, thanks to the Dollar Diplomacy, we were able to reinforce the ability to keep European power out of the Caribbean and the rest of Latin America. In, my opinion, its great that we were able to help foreign countries, but President Roosevelt was using it as a excuse for controlling their economy, which is the completely wrong reason for it.