The Foreign Policies
Theodore Roosevelt- “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
William Howard Taft- “Dollar Diplomacy”
Woodrow Wilson- “Moral Diplomacy”
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Russo Japanese War
Roosevelt’s Idea
Teddy thought the United States needed more than just the Monroe Doctrine.
Roosevelt Corollary- if any Latin nation engages in chronic wrongdoing, the United States had the right to intervene, which included sending the military.
Civil unrest
Irresponsible finances
Who might be against this policy?
The World’s Police
Roosevelt Corollary in the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo) 1904
DR owed $32 million to European nations
Corruption, bad book keeping, poor decisions
European nations wanted to invade
Teddy decided to invade himself – take control of customs house and control situation
Monroe DoctrineRoosevelt Corollary
Panama Canal
French attempted it but stopped because of disease and cost
Revolutionaries want Panama to be independent – US sends gunboat in support and Panama becomes independent
1904 begin to build canal
Roosevelt visits – 1st time sitting president leaves US
1914 – Canal opens
Great White Fleet
16 Battleships from Atlantic FleetPainted white
Sailed around the world 1907-1908
“We just wanted to let the world know we were prepared for anything they wanted to kick up. We wanted to show the world what we could do ”-random sailor
William Howard TaftDollar Diplomacy- the strategic use of a country’s finances to extend its international influence and power
Would invest in international opportunities to gain favor from other nations as well as provide the United States with economic expansion opportunities. Send money, not ships.
Prevent European countries from lending money
Sometimes Peaceful, Sometimes Not
Taft wanted to protect the new investment in Panama, so he attempted to purchase Honduran debt from British bankers.
Nicaragua – funded revolutionaries, sent in troops to protect American banks
Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy and American Exceptionalism
Moral Diplomacy• Give support to countries that had
the same “morals” as the US• AKA Democracy
American Exceptionalism• America has the duty to spread liberty and freedom• Support fellow democracies and injure other forms
of government
Involvement in Mexico
Revolution had been occuring since 1899, in 1913 Victoriano Huerta came into power
Wilson refused to recognize this government – “a government of butchers”
American ships in Veracruz – weakened Huerta’s power
Venustiano Carranza came into power – Wilson recognized
Why is this important? The US is involved in the internal affairs of other countries
Pancho Villa
Revolutionary – protested President Wilson’s support of Caranza
Attacked small town in New MexicoPresident Wilson sent troops
Lead by John J Pershing
Mexican government did not approve of US troops in Mexico
What are we today?
Do we follow Teddy Roosevelt’s “Do whatever because America” policy, William Howard Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy,” or Woodrow Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”?
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