Criticism of Theodore Roosevelt

Big Stick ideology

American historian and Socialist activist Howard Zinn in his book 'A People's History of the United States' cites 'Big Stick Imperialism' as a reason for Roosevelt not being a genuine progressive. ^[1]

“Teddy Roosevelt, who was seen as a ‘progressive’ president at home, used the ‘big stick’ to extend American power overseas, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, reinforcing U.S. domination rather than promoting genuine democracy.”

Noam Chomsky denounces Roosevelt's foreign policy in his book Year 501: The Conquest Continues.^[2]

“Theodore Roosevelt… declared that ‘the most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages.’ This is part of a long-standing tradition in U.S. policy, where moral rhetoric about civilization and progress is used to justify military interventions and the extension of state power abroad.”

Roosevelt Corollary

The Roosevelt Corollary was a foreign policy declaration made by Roosevelt in 1904, which asserted that the United States could intervene in Latin American countries' internal affairs to maintain stability and prevent European intervention.

Some Latin American leaders and anti-imperialist writers criticized the Roosevelt Corollary as a form of U.S. imperialism rather than hemispheric protection.^[3]

Philippine-American War

The Philippine-American War faced significant criticism for its brutality and the high civilian death toll, with estimates of civilian casualties ranging from 200,000 to over a million due to violence, famine, and disease.^[4]

Roosevelt portrayed the conflict as a struggle of “civilization” versus “savagery,” using racialized language that justified U.S. colonial rule and violence as benevolent or necessary. ^[5]

Spanish–American War

"Roosevelt's involvement in the Spanish–American War is controversial for reflecting a complex mix of imperialistic ambitions presented under the guise of 'promoting democracy', raising questions about the true motivations behind military actions." ^[6]

Involvement in The separation from Panama from Columbia

Roosevelt's supported Panama's independence in order to secure land for the Panama Canal. When negotiations with Colombia failed, Roosevelt backed Panamanian rebels and sent U.S. naval forces to prevent Colombia from stopping the revolt, which helped ensure Panama successfully broke away.^[7][8]

Native Americans

Roosevelt's policies have had negative impacts Native Americans, characterized by his support for policies that aimed to assimilate them and dismantle their tribal lands. He viewed Native Americans as obstacles to American expansion and promoted the Dawes act, which led to significant land loss for Indigenous peoples.^[10]

"I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indians are the dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every 10 are."

Blacks

Roosevelt had a complex and often contradictory view of Blacks; while he appointed some to prominent positions and advocated for individual merit, he also stated "as a race and in the mass they are altogether inferior to the whites."^[11]

Irish and German-Americans

During World War I, Roosevelt was vehemently opposed to what he called "hyphenated Americans," denouncing German-Americans and Irish-Americans, Claiming were not true Americans. As they demanded neutrality and opposed support for the British cause.^[12] In a speech to the lay Catholic organization. Knights of Columbus—with its German and Irish membership, he said in 1915:

The men who do not become Americans and nothing else are hyphenated Americans; and there ought to be no room for them in this country. The man who calls himself an American citizen and who yet shows by his actions that he is primarily the citizen of a foreign land, plays a thoroughly mischievous part in the life of our body politic. He has no place here; and the sooner he returns to the land to which he feels his real heart-allegiance, the better it will be for every good American.^[13]

In 1894, Roosevelt wrote:

"We must Americanize in every way, in speech, in political ideas and principles, and in their way of looking at relations between church and state. We welcome the German and the Irishman who becomes an American. We have no use for the German or Irishman who remains such ... He must revere only our flag, not only must it come first, but no other flag should even come second".^[14]

After the U.S. joined World War I in April 1917, Roosevelt grew more agitated towards German-Americans. In a speech delivered on July 4, 1917, he questioned immigrants' loyalty to their new country during the war. He accused politicians who voted against war of appeasing German-American voters. Roosevelt said "pacifists" who supported Germany were traitors to the United States. He called for 100 percent allegiance to America by anyone living in the country, emphasizing the need for universal military service as an act of patriotism. Over and over he denounced "hyphenated Americans," a term specifically targeting German-Americans and Irish-Americans who had called for American neutrality instead of aid to Britain.^[15][16]

Italians

The 1891 New Orleans lynchings were the murders of 11 Italian Americans by a mob for their alleged role in the murder of police chief David Hennessy after some of them had been acquitted at trial.

Roosevelt described the lynching of them as a "rather a good thing" in a letter to his sister.

“Monday we dined at the Camerons; various dago diplomats were present, all much wrought up by the lynching of the Italians in New Orleans. Personally I think it rather a good thing, and said so.”

^[17][18]

Japanese Americans

Roosevelt wanted to exclude large numbers of Japanese immigrants from the United States to prevent racial tensions and conflicts, while also advocating for a diplomatic approach to manage relations with Japan. He brokered the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907, which aimed to limit Japanese immigration while maintaining good diplomatic ties with Japan.^[19][20]