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Monroe doctrine

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On the homestretch

On the homestretch

Theodore Roosevelt, dressed in a Rough Rider outfit, marches while holding a pile of speeches in one hand and a rope attached to the trunk of a parading “circus” elephant in the other hand. The elephant is pulling a large wagon labeled “prosperity” and is filled with a strapped-down bundle labeled “Western Votes.” The elephant itself is wearing an “Uncle Sam” hat and has a large blanket over its back labeled “G.O.P.” as well as four discs hanging off the bottom of it. The four discs are labeled “Larger Navy, Panama Canal, Anti-Trust Laws, and Monroe Doctrine.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-04

Mr. Hearst’s contest

Mr. Hearst’s contest

The writer of an editorial expresses support for a speech in which Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Theodore P. Shonts suggested naming the completed interoceanic canal in Panama the Roosevelt Canal. President Roosevelt has been a champion of the canal as vital to the carrying out of the Monroe Doctrine since he was governor of New York, and as President he is its most powerful supporter. Other editorials on the page discuss the political situation in Chicago and William Randolph Hearst’s attempts to settle the disputed New York City mayoral election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt writes to Senator Lodge about his misgivings over using his political influence in certain situations. Roosevelt also discusses giving Charles V. Herdliska another consulship and mentions that he will show Lodge part of his message relating to the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1901-11-01

The trap that failed

The trap that failed

Cipriano Castro, President of Venezuela, hides behind a large rock, hoping that the large claw-type animal trap labeled “Monroe Doctrine” he set will prove effective in preventing the British Lion, a cat labeled “Italy” with the face of Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy, and a boar labeled “Germany” with the face of William II, Emperor of Germany, from coming ashore to demand payment of international debts.

Comments and Context

The immediate context of this cartoon is the blockade of Venezuelan ports announced by the principal creditor nations England, Germany, and Italy. President Cipriano Castro arrogantly ignored debts owed by the Caracas government and Venezuelan banks and companies; in February 1902 those powers declared a blockade as a first step to extract debt payments. An international arbitration court at the Hague was suggested by President Roosevelt as a venue to find a solution, but it decreed that as principal creditors, those three powers had a preferential claim. However other nations, including the United States, were also owed money. As the cartoon shows, the European states might have hesitated because of the Monroe Doctrine, but Roosevelt made that a moot point one year after this cartoon by establishing the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine: that in instances like this, the United States would act both as protector against foreign presence in the Western Hemisphere, and a manager to mediate, collect debts, etc., in disputes.

Note: Victor Emmanuel and Kaiser Wilhelm are superb caricatures — a hallmark of cartoonist Keppler’s work. The face of the British Lion appears to be of a specific person, but the likeness is nothing like those of Edward VII nor Prime Minister Balfour or other cabinet secretaries of the time, so Keppler evidently gave a very human and generic visage to the British lion.

Defining the doctrine

Defining the doctrine

A young boy labeled “Venezuela” complains to Uncle Sam about the presence of a German battleship. Uncle Sam explains to him that the Monroe Doctrine will protect him from violence, but that he still must pay his “honest debts.” Caption: Venezuela — Better mind your Monroe Doctrine! That German is making trouble. / Uncle Sam — The Monroe Doctrine will keep you from being kidnapped, Sonny; but it won’t help you get out of your honest debts.

Comments and Context

Keppler’s cartoon is a textbook illustration of the factors leading to President Roosevelt’s formulation of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Several countries in the Western Hemisphere incurred the ire of European nations due mainly to infractions of normal trade and commerce practices. These frictions also threatened to stoke colonial ambitions. No country was more troublesome than Venezuela, which defaulted on debts with nations and individuals in Germany, England, and Italy. This cartoon appeared the first week of 1902, but things came to a head a year later, in early 1903, when the three nations in concert threatened a blockade of Venezuelan ports and extracting debt payments. Roosevelt’s Corollary was, a year in advance, perfectly summed up by Uncle Sam in this cartoon. 

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

His foresight

His foresight

Uncle Sam, as a large rooster, stands among several small free-ranging chicks labeled “Argentine Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Salvador, Peru, [and] Hayti [sic].” Confined to a “European Coop” labeled “Monroe Doctrine” are five roosters labeled “Russia, England, France, Germany, [and] Italy.” Caption: Europe — You’re not the only rooster in South America! Uncle Sam — I was aware of that when I cooped you up!

Comments and Context

The ancient Monroe Doctrine was articulated in 1823, in President James Monroe’s Annual Message. Actually formulated and written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, it warned world powers to cease imperialist meddling in the Western hemisphere, while promising no interference from the United States in existing European colonies. President Roosevelt, in his own Annual Message of 1904, added teeth in what came to be called the “Roosevelt Corollary To the Monroe Doctrine.” Fresh on the heels of Great Britain and Germany attempting to collect debts from Venezuela by military threats, Roosevelt asserted that when necessary, the United States would act as a stern middleman, for instance, forcing South American countries to live up to international obligations, but it would not allow foreign powers to seek colonial advantages in such disputes.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

In working order

In working order

Uncle Sam chops wood with various Roosevelt quotes regarding the Monroe Doctrine with a saw labeled after the same doctrine. Two men representing world powers get too close to the blade. Caption: Uncle Sam:–“Look out, boys; the doctrine’s not on a dead center, by any means”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

President Roosevelt met with Hermann Speck von Sternburg, evidently inspired by Berlin, who suggested that the United States join the European Great Powers in forming a “syndicate” to take possession of Venezuela’s finances. Sternburg thinks that such action would settle the situation in Venezuela and prevent future punitive expeditions by European nations to collect debts. Roosevelt did not provide a definitive answer but expressed his opinion that the American people would oppose such a proposal and consider it a violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt begins his letter to Cecil Spring Rice discussing the presidential election and how Alton B. Parker and the Democratic Party chose to campaign. Roosevelt mentions his plans to send Ambassador to Italy George von Lengerke Meyer to St. Petersburg, and spends the rest of the letter discussing Japan and Russia. The Japanese government treats Americans well, while Russia has treated the United States, England, and Japan poorly. However, Roosevelt believes the Japanese Army groups all white men together and considers such men inferior to themselves, as evidenced by the experience of American military attachés in Japan. The president opines that Russia is the main enemy of Japan, as long as it focuses on China, Korea, and Manchuria. However, if Japan desires to become a maritime power, it could threaten the United States, England, and the Netherlands. Roosevelt concludes his letter by saying, “[W]e must trust in the Lord and keep our powder dry and our eyes open.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-27