1. From soldier, to U.S. President,
Theodore Roosevelt

2. Many Jobs Pave the Way to the Future
Roosevelt ‘s lifelong love of naval history led to an appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, by President McKinley. However, when the Spanish American War broke out, Roosevelt quit his job and enthusiastically signed up to serve his country.
During the Spanish American War Roosevelt lead a group of soldiers who became known as the “Rough Riders.”

3. Many Jobs Pave the Way to the Future
At the Spanish American War’s end in 1898, Roosevelt was elected governor of New York. Roosevelt would not tolerate corruption, and his reputation as an honest, hardworking war hero landed him on the presidential ticket as candidate for Vice President with William McKinley in Shortly after winning the election, President McKinley was shot by an assassin and died a few days later. Theodore Roosevelt found himself taking the oath of office as President of the United States on September 14, 1901.
At the age of 42, Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest President in U.S. History.

4. Can you find Theodore Roosevelt in the carvings at Mount Rushmore?

5. America the Story of Us Disc 3: Bust Mount Rushmore
30:45-35:12 (4 min 27 sec)

6. Big Stick Diplomacy
In a 1901 speech, Roosevelt said, “speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.” What he meant by this African proverb was words should be supported by strong action, (do not be afraid to use a “big stick” [force] to get things done, referring to the military, political, and economic power of the United States of America.

7. The Spanish American War placed the U. S
The Spanish American War placed the U.S. on the world stage as a powerful force to be reckoned with. The global balance of power had shifted. Someone had to protect the rights and interests of the nations of the Americas. Someone had to serve as the region’s policeman. Theodore Roosevelt believed the United States was that someone.

8. Words to Know Corollary (cor-uh-leh-ree):
A statement of fact that follows a previously stated idea.
Teddy Roosevelt announced an addition to the Monroe Doctrine known as the Roosevelt Corollary.

9. The Roosevelt Corollary
The Monroe Doctrine, written in 1823, had warned European nations to stay out of the affairs of South America and Caribbean nations. By 1900 it was no longer stopping them. With European countries threatening to take over South American and Caribbean governments because of unpaid loans, Roosevelt stepped in and wrote the Roosevelt Corollary as a continuation of Monroe’s plan. His corollary stated two things…

10. The Roosevelt Corollary
1. It is the right of the United States to interfere in any economic matters of any nation in the Americas.
2. It is the right of the United States to exercise international police power.

11. This 1905 cartoon pokes fun at Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Diplomacy”
This 1905 cartoon pokes fun at Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Diplomacy”. He stands astride South America and Europe as a the “world’s constable” (policeman).

12. Why Was the Roosevelt Corollary Needed?
Trouble in the Caribbean worsened when Germany demanded loan repayment from Venezuela and began building naval bases in Brazil to protect its investments in the region. Roosevelt sent a powerful fleet of war ships to Puerto Rico as a show of force to the Germans, and he also loaned money to Venezuela so they could repay their loans to the Germans. Being a good neighbor by policing the region was one thing, but Roosevelt had his eye on something else, something that would have a huge economic impact for the United States. That “something” was a canal to link the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

13. This cartoon is entitled “The Big Stick in the Caribbean Sea”
This cartoon is entitled “The Big Stick in the Caribbean Sea”. Central American countries had borrowed money from European nations that they were unable to repay. President Roosevelt feared that European countries would take over these nations as a result, so to remind the European powers of the Monroe Doctrine he added his own section. In the Roosevelt Corollary he stated that the U.S. could use force to protect any country in the America’s. This cartoon shows Roosevelt doing just that as he parades his “big stick” (the U.S. Navy) through the Caribbean Sea.

14. Explain why President Roosevelt felt the need to expand the Monroe Doctrine, what were his concerns?
The Monroe Doctrine was no longer keeping European countries out of the Americas; European nations were beginning to threaten to take over South American and Caribbean governments.
This cartoon entitled “Keep Off,” shows Uncle Same standing guard protecting Caribbean and South American countries from Europe by a sign that reads “No Trespass… America for Americans!”

15. This cartoon illustrates which American Foreign Policy?
“Big Stick Diplomacy”

16. After which war was the Roosevelt Corollary written?
Spanish American War

17. Who wrote the Roosevelt Corollary?
Theodore Roosevelt

18. Under President Roosevelt’s Corollary the United States had the right to interfere in economic matters of the nations in the America’s. What was meant by this statement?
It meant that the United States had the right to control Caribbean, and South and Central American countries finances (money) by helping them pay their debts and stabilize their economy. It also meant that the U.S. had the right to protect its business interests in these countries as well, such as the building of a canal in Panama.
Uncle Sam says “hands off” to Colombia as he protects Panama and is rewarded with the rights to build a canal.

19. Under President Roosevelt’s Corollary the United States could exercise international police power. What was meant by this statement?
It meant that the United States would use its military power to help countries threatened by a foreign power, or internal enemy.

20. This political cartoon titled the “new baby” shows Uncle Sam with the newly “born” nation of Panama. The United States helped Panama get their independence from Colombia so we could build a canal through their country connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

21. Words to Know Isthmus (Iss-miss):
A narrow strip of land with water on both sides that links to larger areas together.

22. Big Stick Diplomacy in Action
The isthmus of Panama was the best place to build a canal. In 1880 engineers from France tried, but 13 years later, with 20,000 men dead from tropical diseases, and nothing but mudslides to show for their effort, they gave up. Without a canal, the trip from San Francisco to New York by sea was a dangerous 14,000 miles. A canal would cut the trip in half, but Panama was under the control of the nation of Colombia. When a deal with Colombia fell through because they wanted too much money, Roosevelt decided to take action.

23. Before the Panama Canal was finished a trip from New York to San Francisco was a 4 month 14,000 mile journey.

24. An Engineering Nightmare
Panama was a state of Colombia, but some of its citizens longed for independence so President Roosevelt decided to help. He knew the nation would owe him a big thanks, and the 48 mile long canal would be a perfect “thank you”. Roosevelt sent several war ships to the Panama Coast, with promises to help finance a revolution, in exchange for a canal zone.
"By far the most important action I took in foreign affairs during the time I was President was related to the Panama Canal," wrote Theodore Roosevelt in his autobiography. 

25. How did Theodore Roosevelt use Big Stick Diplomacy in the building of the Panama Canal?
Roosevelt sent American warships to Panama and helped pay for the revolution so they could get their independence from Colombia. In exchange for this help, the U.S. would get to build a canal through Panama.

26. The engineers tried to predict everything that could go wrong, from seasonal flooding to heavy rains, to mudslides. Instead of trying to simply dig a channel where there was none, as the French had done, a decision was made to use dams to control the wild rivers and create a large man-made lakes to build a series of locks, a bit like water elevators, to lift and lower ships over the uneven terrain between the oceans.
There are two lanes so ships can travel in both directions in the Panama Canal. It takes about 45 minutes to go through a lock (like the one pictured above) and 12 hours to cross the entire canal.

27. Panama Canal Time-lapse Video
(1 min 56 sec)

28. An Engineering Triumph
It took ten years, but the Panama Canal opened its locks in 1914, ahead of schedule and under budget. The technology behind it, the electricity that powered the massive gates that control the locks, and the steam shovels that scooped out one hundred-million cubic yards of dirt and rock were amazing engineering triumphs.
Theodore Roosevelt visited Panama in 1906 and tried his hand a steam shovel.

29. Histeria: Teddy Roosevelt Part 2
Panama Canal
0:00-5:16 (5 min 16 sec)