Which event exemplified Roosevelt's "Big Stick" Diplomacy?

The event that exemplifies Roosevelt's "Big Stick" Diplomacy is the construction of the Panama Canal. This approach, famously summarized by Theodore Roosevelt's phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick," emphasized diplomacy backed by a strong military presence.

Roosevelt believed that the United States needed to assert its influence in Central America to facilitate trade and enhance national security. The construction of the Panama Canal was crucial for this strategy, as it enabled faster naval movement between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. To secure rights to build the canal, Roosevelt supported the independence of Panama from Colombia, which can be seen as a direct application of his "Big Stick" policy. The U.S. recognized the new government of Panama and quickly negotiated a treaty that allowed for the construction of the canal, thereby asserting American power and interests in the region.

Other choices reflect significant historical events but do not specifically embody the principles of "Big Stick" Diplomacy in the same direct manner as the Panama Canal's construction. The Treaty of Versailles relates to the post-World War I international landscape, the purchase of Alaska involved territorial expansion without military confrontation, and the annexation of Hawaii, while assertive, was not as clear in reflecting Roosevelt's specific diplomatic strategy.