Questions: What does this cartoon highlight about the state of American foreign policy in the early 1900s?

Transcript text: This cartoon was printed in 1907 in the Washington Evening Star. Uncle Sam offers a baseball bat called "National Big Stick" to a player in a Nationals uniform, a reference to President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" diplomacy. Roosevelt had recently offered the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, an example of his "big stick" approach, in 1904. He also continued work in the Panama Canal in 1906. The teddy bear, a reference to Roosevelt, assures the player that "it's a victory getter, all right!" What does this cartoon highlight about the state of American foreign policy in the early 1900 s?

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Cartoon's Context

The cartoon was printed in 1907 in the Washington Evening Star. It features Uncle Sam offering a baseball bat labeled "National Big Stick" to a player in a Nationals uniform, referencing President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" diplomacy.

Step 2: Explain "Big Stick" Diplomacy

"Big stick" diplomacy refers to Roosevelt's foreign policy approach, which emphasized negotiating peacefully while simultaneously displaying military power. This is symbolized by the baseball bat in the cartoon.

Step 3: Historical References

The cartoon references the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1904) and the construction of the Panama Canal (1906), both examples of Roosevelt's "big stick" approach.

Final Answer

The cartoon highlights the assertive and interventionist nature of American foreign policy in the early 1900s, under President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" diplomacy.

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