Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War

American Neo-ImperialismAmerican Neo-Imperialism

And American Foreign PolicyAnd American Foreign Policy

Platt Amendment (1901)Platt Amendment (1901)U.S.-Cuban Agreement:U.S.-Cuban Agreement:

• Never to sign a treaty with foreign power that Never to sign a treaty with foreign power that impairs independence.impairs independence.

• Never to build up an excessive public debtNever to build up an excessive public debt

• To permit the U.S. to intervene in Cuba’s affairs To permit the U.S. to intervene in Cuba’s affairs to preserve its independence and maintain law to preserve its independence and maintain law and orderand order

• To allow the U.S. to maintain naval bases in To allow the U.S. to maintain naval bases in Cuba, including one at Guantanamo Bay. Cuba, including one at Guantanamo Bay.

Open Door Policy with ChinaOpen Door Policy with China

• John Hay – spheres of influence

• Boxer Rebellion

• Hay’s Second Note:

1. Preserve China’s territorial integrity

2. Safeguard “equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese empire.”

Panama CanalPanama Canal

• Rationale for Canal:– Revolution in Panama – Columbian Influence– U.S. connection from Pacific to Atlantic

• Military• Imperialism and trade / spheres of influence• Future income from use• Limit availability and control/persuade other

nations for use agreements.

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)

• Great Britain agreed to abrogate an earlier 1850 agreement in which a Central American canal would be U.S. and British. Abrogate = cancel

• U.S. can now build canal without British control.

Building the CanalBuilding the Canal

• Started in 1904 – completed in 1914

• George Goethals and Dr.William Gorgas

– Goethals: Chief engineer and canal zone administrator

– Gorgas: Minimizes yellow fever do to mosquitoes

Roosevelt Corollary to the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine Monroe Doctrine

• Latin American financial debt to Europe.

– 1902 – British war ships dispatched to Venezuela for repayment of debt.

– 1904 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: European repayment of debt and land disputes.

– Dec. 1904 – U.S. will intervene instead. (Roosevelt Corollary) U.S. would occupy major ports collection of taxes to satisfy foreign debt.

– 1912 - Lodge Corollary

Roosevelt Corollary in UseRoosevelt Corollary in Use

• Over the next 20yrs:– Haiti– Honduras– Dominican Republic– Nicaragua– Long-term result is U.S. negative (resented)

relationship with Latin America.

Presidency in TroublePresidency in Trouble• Latin America angered at T.R.’s role in Panama

Revolution.• Teller Amendment – U.S. limited imperialists• Philippine and Cuban Annexation are contended

and quite different. The U.S. has an Interventionist motive.

• In 1921, U.S. will pay Columbia $25 million for its loss of Panama.

Taft’s message to CongressTaft’s message to Congress

• On December 3, 1912, President Taft looked back at the foreign policy followed by the United States during his administration and noted:

"The diplomacy of the present administration has sought to respond to modern ideas of commercial intercourse. This policy has been characterized as substituting dollars for bullets. It is one that appeals alike to idealistic humanitarian sentiments, to the dictates of sound policy and strategy, and to legitimate commercial aims."

Root–Takahira Agreement Root–Takahira Agreement

• An agreement between the United States and the Empire of Japan negotiated between U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root and Japanese Ambassador to the United States Takahira.

• Signed in November of 1908, the agreement consisted of an official recognition of the territorial status quo as of November 1908, affirmation of the independence and territorial integrity of China. (i.e. the "Open Door Policy" as proposed by John Hay), maintenance of free trade and equal commercial opportunities.

Wilson’s Moral DiplomacyWilson’s Moral Diplomacy• Wilson abandoned the imperialist policy and brought to the

White House a new way of looking at America's relations with the outside world.

• The U.S. was the most politically enlightened nation under God, he felt that all peoples throughout the world had the right to:

self-determination – that the people in every country should have the right to choose their own governments.

• Secretary of State Bryan, felt that it was America's duty to protect democracy and free peoples in other countries rather than to spread it throughout the globe.

Progressive ImperialismProgressive Imperialism• Big Stick Policy

– “speak softly and carry a big stick”

– Strong Military but use diplomacy

• Dollar Diplomacy

– Using foreign aid to ($) manipulate other nations. - Builds dependency

• Moral Diplomacy

– Right past wrongs.

– US to expand the Constitution and Progressive Reforms.