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Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Definition

This is an addition made by President Theodore Roosevelt to the Monroe Doctrine in 1904. It stated that not only were European powers not allowed to colonize any more American territories but also that if they tried to interfere with Latin American countries due to unpaid debts or other issues, then US would intervene on behalf of these countries.

Analogy

Imagine you're at school and there's a bully who keeps picking on your younger siblings (Latin America). You've already told him he can't mess with them (Monroe Doctrine), but now you're also saying that if he even tries to, you'll step in and handle the situation yourself (Roosevelt Corollary).

Related terms

Monroe Doctrine: A principle of US policy, originated by President James Monroe in 1823, that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US.

Big Stick Diplomacy: The policy held by Teddy Roosevelt. The phrase comes from an African proverb which says "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." It means to negotiate peacefully but also threatening with the "big stick" or the military.

Latin America: A group of countries and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere where Romance languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French are predominantly spoken.