Big Stick, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Big Stick
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 Big Stick
Location in West Virginia
Big Stick
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Raleigh |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Big Stick was a small place in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. It was an unincorporated community. This means it was a settlement without its own local government.
Big Stick was located along County Route 3/2, right next to a place called Winding Gulf. This area is known for its history with coal mining. Big Stick was part of the Winding Gulf Coalfield in Raleigh County.
The Name Big Stick
The community of Big Stick got its name from a famous saying. This saying was used by Theodore Roosevelt, who was a U.S. President.
Theodore Roosevelt's "Big Stick Policy"
President Theodore Roosevelt (who was president from 1901 to 1909) had a foreign policy idea. He called it the "Big Stick Policy." This idea was based on an old West African proverb. The proverb says, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
What the Proverb Means
The proverb means that you should try to be peaceful and polite first. That's the "speak softly" part. But you should also be strong and ready to act if needed. That's the "carry a big stick" part. Roosevelt used this idea to guide how the United States dealt with other countries. He wanted the U.S. to be strong but also to try diplomacy first.
So, the community of Big Stick was named after this famous saying. It connects the small place to a big part of American history.
See also
In Spanish: Big Stick (Virginia Occidental) para niños
