Final answer:
Roosevelt's 'big stick diplomacy' was a foreign policy approach that relied on the threat of military force to achieve U.S. diplomatic goals without actual warfare.
Step-by-step explanation:
Roosevelt's Big Stick Diplomacy
Theodore Roosevelt's approach to foreign policy, known as 'big stick diplomacy,' was centered on the proverb 'speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.' At the heart of this approach was the use of threats of military force as a means to achieve foreign policy goals without actual conflict. Roosevelt's policy favored showing American military power to deter conflicts and gain diplomatic success. An example of this was the construction of the Panama Canal, where the possibility of U.S. military involvement played a role in negotiations. The most accurate description of Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy would be D. a system of foreign policy in which the U.S. threatened to use force to achieve its goals.