The Roosevelt Corollary

The Monroe Doctrine was a doctrine which essentially meant that no European power or any power could claim land in the Americas. The USA was to enforce that rule. Teddy Roosevelt was seen as an ardent defender of the doctrine.

In a great message to congress, Teddy Roosevelt declared that no nation has the right to do “an injustice” to any other nation. He said this in regard to the Monroe Doctrine. He essentially said that America was the policeman of the western hemisphere.

This is especially important as the western hemisphere is separated by two of the largest oceans in the world. There are also the poles at the north and sound ends. What this essentially means is that an entire hemisphere of earth is geographically isolated.

The term corollary means to add. Roosevelt added this to the Monroe Doctrine after Germany in 1902 wanted to punish Venezuela for defaulting on their debts due to their civil war. Roosevelt used this as a pretext to create the corollary to ensure that no foreign powers intervene in the Americas.

In the end, it is Geography that decided the creation of the corollary. If it were not for the large expansive oceans acting as boundaries between Africa/Eurasia and the Americas this doctrine and the corollary would likely have never became a thing.

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