Oversees Expansion
American Foreign Policy
1796: Washington’s farewell address
to increase trade with other countries but to
have “as little political connection as possible” warned Americans to “steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world”
Guided foreign policy for 100 years
Isolationism – noninvolvement in world affairs Supported trade with other countries and
If isolationism has been our
foreign policy for over 100
years, why change?
Spanish American War Begins
Cuban struggle against Spain
1868: Rebellion unsuccessful and revolutionaries flee to the US
1893: Cubans rebel again… this time with success 1894: Republic of Cuba
US involvement in the area not appreciated by Spain
USS Maine explodes off the coast of Havana, Cuba
The Spanish American War
The Spanish American War
War in the Philippines
With “promise” to Filipino
revolutionaries we take the island
Fighting in Cuba
Rough Riders and the Battle of San Juan Hill
Americans blockaded the coast,
Acquisitions
Treaty of Paris (1898)
Dissolved most of the Spanish empire
Cuba became an American protectorate (a country that is technically independent but
actually under the control of another country) Puerto Rico and the Pacific island of Guam became territories of the United States
The US is an Imperial (world) Power
The Spanish-American War has ended and…
Philippines
SUPPORTERS
Provide a naval base in Asia
Large market for American goods Duty to “civilize”
OPPOSITION
Cost of an empire far outweighed its benefits Competition from cheap Filipino labor would
drive down American wages
Imperialism violated American principles
The Decision
Annexation
General Arthur MacArthur
Set up reconcentration
camps to separate guerillas from civilians
Governor William Taft
Win over the Filipinos with reforms
Filipino Revolutionaries attack American soldiers…
The Americans Respond…
Thousands of Filipinos die from starvation and disease
And the end is near…
1901 – American troops capture leader of Filipino revolutionaries and guerillas
surrender
1902 – War is declared over
1900 – Foraker Act makes Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory
Puerto Ricans were NOT US citizens
Puerto Ricans had NO constitutional rights
Congress could pass whatever laws it wanted for the island
1917 – Puerto Ricans became citizens 1947 – Allowed to elect own governor Present Day – Debate over statehood vs.
independent country vs. remaining a commonwealth
1. Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation that would weaken its independence or allow another foreign power to gain territory in Cuba
2. Cuba had to allow the US to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba
3. Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent
foreign countries from landing troops to enforce payment
4. The US would have the right to intervene to protect Cuban independence and keep order
Election of 1900
McKinley runs for a second term with Theodore Roosevelt on the ticket as
Vice President
McKinley wins… is assassinated… and “Now look, that…cowboy is
American Diplomacy in Asia
The Open Door Policy
Allowed all countries to continue trade with China as the country suffered defeat at the hands of Japanese and was “leased” to other nations… these “leased” areas were
Spheres of Influence (a foreign nation controls economic development)
The Boxer Rebellion
Secret Chinese societies were formed to get rid of foreign control…
Part Two of the Open Door Policy
To convince participating powers to back away from a full-scale retaliation against China
Convinced them to accept compensation from China for any damage that the
Balancing Power in East Asia
1905 – Roosevelt helps negotiate peace in a war between Japan and Russia
Relations between US and Japan grow worse as the two nations vied for greater influence in Asia
The Philosophy
The Panama Canal
The construction of a canal through
Central America
was seen as vital to American power in the world. A canal would save time
and money for both commercial and
Timeline
1850 – US and GB agree NOT to build a canal with the other’s participation
1901 – New treaty: Hay-Pauncefote Treaty: gave US exclusive rights
In the meantime, a French company had
The offer
The Refusal
And the saga continues…
Panamanians feared losing the commercial benefits of the canal
+
Panama opposed Columbian rule since the mid-1800s
+
The plan
AND
Panama declares independence
The Result
Within a few days, the US recognized Panama’s independence.
Less than two weeks later, the two nations signed a treaty allowing the canal to be
The Roosevelt Corollary
Addition to the Monroe Doctrine - - the United States WOULD intervene in Latin American affairs when necessary to
Dollar Diplomacy
William Howard Taft
Continued the policies of Roosevelt but focused more on helping Latin American industry than on using military force = DOLLAR
DIPLOMACY: If American Business leaders supported Latin American and Asian
development everyone would benefit - - the US would increase its trade, American business
