The Roosevelt Era

Mr. Blais

America in the World

Becoming President

• William McKinley won his second term in 1900 with Theodore Roosevelt as his Vice-President

• Soon after McKinley’s second inaugural address he was shot and killed.

• Roosevelt took over as president at the age of 43.

Foreign Policy

• Teddy Roosevelt’s most famous motto referred to his stance on U.S. foreign policy.

• He said, “Speak softly and carry a Big Stick”

• Meaning: Use diplomacy when you can but be ready to intimidate and use force when necessary.

Panama Canal• The idea of building a canal

through Central America had been an idea since the early 1800s.

• The S-A War really demonstrated the U.S. need for a canal if it was to have a strong navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

• So in 1901 the U.S. offered Columbia (who owned Panama) 10 Million dollars and 250,000 dollars yearly

Panama Canal (cont)• Columbia turned down the

U.S.’s offer.• Roosevelt, now got directly

involved, and in November 1903 a revolution in Panama broke out and Panama became independent.

• Less than two weeks later the U.S. and Panama signed a treaty for the canal.

• The canal would not be finished until 1914.

Venezuela• By 1902 Venezuela owed

Britain and Germany money and was refusing to pay it.

• In response Germany and Britain blockaded Venezuelan ports.

• Per the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt stepped in and got all parties to agree to an arbitration of the dispute

Roosevelt’s Corollary• This was Roosevelt’s

personal addition to the Monroe Doctrine.

• It said that if ever an American republic was guilty of ‘chronic wrongdoing’ the United States might have to intervene.

• This basically gave the U.S. free reign to intervene when necessary

Dominican Republic

• The Dominican Republic was the first nation to be effected by Roosevelt’s Corollary

• The U.S. assumed responsibility for Dominican customs and split the funds between supporting the Dominican debts to European countries

China and the Open Door Policy

• Around 1898 many of China’s ports were under the control of European powers.

• To keep trade open in China the U.S. and Britain proposed an ‘Open Door’ policy in China so all nations could trade there.

• This helped keep China from becoming completely controlled by European powers.

The Boxer Rebellion• The Boxers were Chinese

natives who sought to oust European powers from China.

• Over 200 foreigners were killed and foreign embassies were put under siege.

• The Rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful and European influence continued in China

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)• Fought between Russian and

Japan due to territorial disputes in Northern China and Korea.

• Japan won victories over Russia on land and sea.

• Japan asked Roosevelt to mediate peace between the two nations and Russia agreed.

• The peace conference was held in Portsmouth, NH.

The Treaty of Portsmouth

• This treaty altered the balance of power in East Asia and gave Japan a large advantage in the region.

• Roosevelt did slow Japanese aggression by recognizing Japan as dominant in Korea and Manchuria and simply demonstrating that America was not afraid of Japan.