U.S. Foreign Policy Over Time

American Imperialism

U.S. Imperialism: HAWAII1820-1890: Americans moved in –

missionaries & fruit plantation owners

1891: Queen Liliuokalani came to

power / tried to reduce US power in Hawaii

1893: Americans overthrew her 1898: Hawaii annexed by US

U.S. Imperialism: CHINABy 1890s: Euro powers carved China into “spheres of influence”

Got exclusive trade rights to Chinese ports

1899: US declared “Open Door Policy” to allow free trade by any

nation in any port

U.S. Imperialism: CUBA1895: Cuba dec independence from SpainTo defeat revolution, Spain used brutal tactics

(1st concentration camps / starvation)

US newspapers sensationalized events in Cuba (“yellow journalism”)

1898: USS Maine sent – protect US interests in Cuba

Mysteriously exploded, US declared war“Remember the Maine; to hell with Spain”

Spanish-American War fought to liberate Cuba & the Philippines from Spanish control;

War lasted only 113 days

Teddy Roosevelt & the Rough Riders

As a result of the Spanish-American War, Cuba was liberated & the USA annexed the

Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico

U.S. Imperialism: PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico still a U.S. territory

U.S. Imperialism: PHILIPPINES1898: Philippines annexed by US / not given independence

Filipino-American War began

Filipino-American War lasted 3 yearsCost more $ & US lives than Span-Am War

U.S. Imperialism: DOMINICAN REPUBLICT Roosevelt – “Big Stick Diplomacy”: Active foreign policy w/a strong navy to

accomplish goals

Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine: US has “police powers” to protect Latin

America from European imperialism

U.S. Imperialism: PANAMATR’s “Big Stick Diplomacy” for Panama Canal: Encouraged Panama to rebel from Colombia

U.S. Imperialism: MEXICOUS intervened in Mexican affairs when Huerta overthrew Diaz & again when

Carranza overthrew Huerta

Mexico & US almost went to war when Mexican rebel Pancho Villa

killed 33 Americans

US Becomes a World Power■ Turn of century: US became world power:

– US asserted dominance in Span-Am War

– US built 3rd largest navy in the world

– Annexed Hawaii, the Philippines, Puerto

Rico, many Pacific islands

– Asserted economic control over almost all of Latin America

US Becomes a World Power

■ 1900-20 (Progressive Era):–Developed aggressive foreign policy

under Roosevelt, Taft, & Wilson■ Policies all worked for:

– US wealth– military power– prestige, esp in Latin America

“Big Stick Diplomacy”

“Dollar Diplomacy”

“Moral Diplomacy”

American Foreign Acquisitions, 1917

Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Diplomacy”

TR’s “Big Stick Diplomacy”■ TR hoped to expand upon US’s world

stature after Span-Am War:

–Believed US Protestant culture superior / hoped to spread values

–To US econ & pol stature in world: US needs military strength & readiness

TR & Sec of State Elihu Root applied “big stick” diplomacy

most effectively in Latin America

“Speak softly & carry a big stick, you will go far”

—TR’s favorite African proverb

TR’s “Big Stick Diplomacy”■Top FP objective:

–Build Panama Canal & used “big stick” to get it:

–Colombia rejected US offer to lease land for canal

–TR supported Panama’s independence

–1903: Panama independence & US signed lease for a canal

Facilitate world trade / allow USN to merge Atlantic & Pacific fleets quickly

US paid $10 million for the canal & leased it for $250,000 per year

Span-Am War revealed major flaw in USN: took too long to get Pacific fleet to Atlantic

1914: Canal opened /gave US huge econ advantage in Western Hemisphere

“The inevitable effect of our building the Canal must be to require us to police the

surrounding premises”—Sec of State Elihu Root

The Roosevelt Corollary■ One of TR’s greatest concerns:

–Euro intervention in Latin America–1903: Germany & England

threatened to invade Venezuela to recoup unpaid debts

–1904: TR issued Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine claiming special “police powers” in Western Hemisphere

TR warned Euros to stay out AND warned Latin American nations to be more responsible

OR US would intervene

The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, 1904

Additionally, Lodge Corollary in 1912 denied foreign companies right to buy ports or establish

military sites in Latin America

Roosevelt Corollary justified armed intervention in Dominican Republic & Haiti, Cuba,

Nicaragua, & Mexico

Attempts to maintain order in Latin America led to US-friendly regimes acting as dictators

Big Stick Diplomacy■ TR’s FP extended to Asia as well:

–1905: Negotiated end to Russo-Japanese War (Nobel Peace Prize)

–1907: Gentlemen’s Agreement limited Japanese immigration

–1908: Root-Takahira Agreement protected Open Door Policy in China

“Constable of the World ”

William Howard Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy”

Taft and Dollar Diplomacy■ Taft elected after TR / continued

aggressive FP – “Dollar Diplomacy”–Use $$$ rather than military

strength in foreign policy –Latin America: US banks assumed

debts to Europe–Attempted to build RRs in China

Woodrow Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”

Moral Diplomacy■ Wilson knew domestic policy before

becoming POTUS, not FP

■ Moral Diplomacy could bring peace & democracy w/o militarism & war

■ “Human rights” in Latin America, but defended Monroe Doctrine / intervened more than TR or Taft

“It would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with

foreign affairs”—Wilson in 1912

Wilson appointed pacifist WJ Bryan as Sec of State

Apologized to Colombia for US

support of the Panamanian revolt

TR replied: “I didn’t steal the Panama Canal…I built it”

Moral Diplomacy in Mexico1913: Mex Pres Madero overthrown by dictator

Victoriano HuertaWilson refused to recognize Huerta / demanded he step down so legitimate elections could be

held for a new president

Huerta refused

Wilson sent military to occupy Veracruz – forced Huerta to flee to Europe

Mex rebel Pancho Villa tried to provoke war by raiding US for supporting his rival CarranzaWilson sent military to find Villa

(unable to do so)

Moral diplomacy seemed to failWar w/Mex seemed sure

Then WWI started – forced US to change focus to Europe

Conclusions■After Span-Am War, US assumed

aggressive FP:–Maintain order–Forestall foreign intervention–Protect U.S. economic interests

–By WWI, US saw FP evolve from strict neutrality, to imperialist, to police officer

Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) & Farewell Address (1796)

Annexation of Alaska, Hawaii, & Philippines; Open Door policy in China

“Big Stick,” “Dollar,” & “Moral” diplomacies