US FOREIGN POLICY PRIOR TO WWI

The Little Engine That Could

I Think I Can…

Prior to 1898 US involved in Mexico,

Central and S. America, and the Caribbean Protection of US

business interestsFilibustering

Private armies that attempt to take foreign lands Success is non-issue Attempt is the idea of

America…sort of

Spanish-American War

After the war, America enters the Imperial Race Must maintain power

Support merchants Project power Secure markets Support Allies

Flexing American Power

Roosevelt and Big Stick Diplomacy

Roosevelt’s believed that Civilized nations had right to intervene in affairs of uncivilized nations

Definition of civilization Civilized

White, Anglo-Saxon, wealthy

Uncivilized Non-white Slavic, Latin

Open Door Policy

US concerned over threats to Chinese resources Sec. of State John Hay

Sent letters to all those with claims in China Known as the “Open

Door Notes” All countries should

have unimpeded access to China

Roosevelt and Asia

1904 Russo-Japanese War Roosevelt brokers

peace 1906 wins Nobel Peace

PrizeThreat of Japanese

power The Great White Fleet

is sent out to demonstrate US power, especially in Pacific

Roosevelt and Latin America Venezuela 1902

Bankrupt and can’t pay loans from Euro banks

Germany threatens to establish a base

US threatens Germany with Naval war Germany backs down

1904 Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine US had right to oppose any

Euro intervention in Western Hemisphere

Also US could intervene in affairs of its Latin neighbors Strong nations = secure nations

Panama CanalFrench start, but fail to

finishProblem

Area controlled by Columbia John Hay negotiates treaty Columbian Senate Veto's it US supports independence

revolution in Panama USS Nashville sent to

maintain order US recognizes Panamanian

Independence Begins building canal Opened in 1914 and

controlled by US until 1999

Dollar Diplomacy

Instead of aggression, show of force, and revolutions, Taft tries something new Dollar Diplomacy Banks make loans to

Latin nations and in return are essentially in the back pocket of US Resources are extracted

from nations by US corps. at cheap prices

Nations can never really get ahead

Moral Diplomacy

Wilson wanted to be different Not intervene Actually intervenes more

than Roosevelt and Taft Haiti, Dominican Republic,

Virgin Islands, NicaraguaMexico

Tampico Incident Invasion of Veracruz Columbus incident and

Poncho Villa US Expeditionary force in

Mexico