Entering the World Stage17.3 Roosevelt and Latin America

“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

-Teddy Roosevelt

Focus Your Thoughts . . .

Why was Teddy Roosevelt such an influential figure in American history? List three reasons.

Teddy Roosevelt often quoted a West African proverb: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”. What was Roosevelt’s ‘big stick’?

Cuba and Puerto Rico

After the Spanish-American War, it was essential we restore order in Cuba and Puerto RicoMcKinley set up

military governments on each island

Yellow Fever in Cuba Leonard Wood was appointed as governor

of Cuba in 1899

During Wood’s term in office, scientists made significant steps toward eliminating Yellow Fever; the disease had reached epidemic levels among American troops As many as 85% of people infected died

U.S. Army doctors Walter Reed and William Gorgas and Cuban doctor Carlos Juan Finlay studied Yellow Fever and theorized that mosquitoes were to blame . . . within a year, they had proven this theory Reed and Gorgas organized a plan to drain

all pools of standing water where mosquitoes bred Within six months, Yellow Fever had been

virtually eliminated in Havana

U.S. Control Over CubaIn 1901, Cuba began to draft a Constitution; however, the

United States feared that other imperialist nations might try to annex Cuba and forced Cuba to include the Platt Amendment in their Constitution

The Platt Amendment: Made Cuba a protectorate of the U.S. Limited Cuba’s ability to sign treaties with other nations Gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairsForced Cuba to sell and/or lease land to the U.S. for naval

stations Led to the establishment of a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay

What do you think it means to be a ‘protectorate’?

Guantanamo Bay

Governing Puerto RicoUnlike Cuba, the U.S. did not make Puerto Rico a

protectorate; instead, Puerto Rico was governed as a territory

The Foraker Act – Established that the U.S. would appoint Puerto Rico’s governor and the upper house of the legislature; Puerto Rican voters could elect the lower house

In 1917, we granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and in 1957, Puerto Rico became a self-governing commonwealth of the United StatesThe United States still controls interstate trade, immigration, and

military affairs . . . just as we do for each of the fifty states

Puerto Rico Today

The Panama Canal For decades, people had dreamed of a

faster way to move between the Atlantic and the Pacific without having to travel all the way around South America

The French began a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, but went bankrupt and abandoned their plans

In 1902, the U.S. bought the rights to the French canal Secretary of State John Hay began negotiations with Colombia to gain permanent use to the strip of land that the canal would cut through

By 1903, a treaty for a canal zone had been drafted but Colombia would not ratify it

Panama’s RevolutionTeddy Roosevelt was especially

interested in the construction of the Panama Canal so . . .

When Panamanian revolutionaries, plotting to break free of Colombian rule, had gained his support, they began a revolution, declaring their independence

The United States swiftly recognized the Republic of Panama

A new treaty with Panama gave the U.S. complete and unending sovereignty over a ten-mile-wide canal zone

Teddy . . . again

The Roosevelt Corollary The Monroe Doctrine

Passed in 1823 Declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to further colonization by

European nations Remained an idle threat until the Spanish-American War occurred, then

President’s began to enforce it

The Roosevelt Corollary Without seeking the approval of any Latin American nations, Roosevelt

amends the Monroe Doctrine to include the following:

“Chronic wrongdoing in the Western Hemisphere may force the United States, however reluctantly, to the exercise of an international police power.”

The Result Succeeded in bringing more stability to the region, but America’s willingness

to use “international police power” made Latin Americans uneasy, they worried about continued U.S. involvement in their affairs

Reshaping U.S. DiplomacyDuring the presidency of William Taft, U.S. influence in

Latin America deepened – we had $1.6 billion worth of investments in Latin America - thanks to Dollar Diplomacy.Dollar Diplomacy – A policy proposed by Taft that

promoted American economic interests in other countries and using that economic power to achieve policy goals.

During the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, American diplomacy was re-shapedMoral Diplomacy – A policy proposed by Wilson that

promoted the use of persuasion and American ideals to advance the nation’s interests abroad

The Election of 1912 Teddy Roosevelt, who had already served as President,

had hoped for the Republican nomination again

Republican’s snubbed Teddy and instead nominated incumbent President William Taft; this angered Teddy, he then broke away from the Republican party and formed his own party, the Progressive/Bull Moose Party

Teddy, running as a third party candidate, commanded 27% of the vote . . . all these votes likely would have gone to Taft had Teddy not run.

Because Taft lost 27% of the Republican vote, he only commanded 23%, and the Democratic Presidential candidate, Woodrow Wilson, won the Presidency as a result with 44%

Teddy rejoined the Republican party the next morning

Is there anything Teddy can’t do?

No assignment