Roosevelt believed that in light of the country's recent military successes, it was unnecessary to use force to achieve foreign policy goals, so long as the military could threaten force. This belief, and his strategy of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick,” shaped much of Roosevelt's foreign policy.
This phrase describes the approach that Roosevelt took towards foreign policy. This approach is known by the name "big stick diplomacy."
Roosevelt believed that the best way to approach foreign policy was by combining five elements. First, military power that was threatening to the adversary. Second, acts that are just towards other nations. Third, a decision to never bluff. Fourth, strikes that only came when prepared to strike hard. And fifth, the willingness to allow the adversary to save face in defeat.
Each plan had its own flaws. The New Jersey plan made small states have too great a power, while the Virginia was opposite giving a too large power to large. Both were used to form a bicameral congress.
