The Roosevelt Corollary, announced by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine, which was a U.S. policy established in 1823. The Monroe Doctrine asserted that any European intervention in the affairs of the Americas would be viewed as an act of aggression, warranting U.S. intervention.
The purpose of the Roosevelt Corollary was to assert the right of the United States to intervene in the domestic affairs of Latin American countries to maintain stability and order. Roosevelt believed that if countries in the Americas were unable to govern themselves effectively or manage their financial obligations, it could lead to intervention by European powers, which the United States wanted to prevent.
Essentially, the Roosevelt Corollary justified U.S. intervention in Western Hemisphere nations to maintain political and economic stability. It framed the U.S. as a "policeman" of the region, leading to increased involvement in Latin American affairs and interventions in various countries throughout the early 20th century. The Corollary significantly shaped U.S. foreign policy and relations with Latin America during that era.
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