America on the World Stage

1899 - 1909

“Little Brown Brothers” Filipinos assumed they would be granted

their independence like Cuba Senate refused

Feb. 4, 1899 Insurrection led by Emilio Aguinaldo Filipinos were defeated & resorted to

guerilla warfare• US used torture & camps

1901 – Aguinaldo was captured

“Benevolent Assimilation” Philippine Commission 1899

Established by McKinley William Howard Taft – head Goal was to make appropriate

recommendations Improved roads, sanitation,

public health, & schools Ill received

Philippines will receive their independence on July 4, 1946

John Hay Defends China China

Defeated by Japan 1894 – 1895 Russia & Germany moved in

• Tore away valuable leaseholds & economic spheres of influence

American• churches worried about missionaries• Business feared European monopolies on Chinese goods

Sec of State John Hay proposed the Open Door Policy

Open Door Policy

1899 – John Hay sent Open Door Note Sent to all great powers Urged countries to announce that in their

dealings, they would respect certain Chinese rights & the ideal of fair competition

Eventually all nations agree with the exception of Russia

Hay proclaimed that Open Door Policy is in effect

Problems with the Open Door

1900 – Boxer Rebellion in China Over 200 missionaries & whites killed 18,000 multinational soldiers were sent

& stopped the rebellion• Japan, Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany, & US

Hay feared that the rebellion would be used to justify carving up China 1900 – expanded policy to include

territorial integrity in addition to its commercial integrity

• Did not ask for formal acceptance

Presidential Election 1900 Republicans – McKinley

Platform – prosperity, gold standard, & overseas expansion

VP – Theodore Roosevelt• Gov of NY but political bosses wanted him out

Democrats – Bryan Platform – anti-imperialism

Campaign Approach

McKinley – front-porch Bryan & TR traveled & campaigned

McKinley won easily Prosperity at home seemed more important than

freedom aboard Election was not a mandate for or

against imperialism For or against McKinley & Bryan Mandate for prosperity & protection

TR becomes President Sept. 1901 - McKinley is assassinated

By a deranged anarchist TR became youngest president

Claimed he would carry on the politics of McKinley

TR as President “Speak softly and carry a big stick” Outspoken moralizer & reformer Master politician Beliefs:

No respect for checks & balances Constitution was too rigid President should lead Felt he may take any action in the general

interest that was not specifically forbidden by the laws of the constitution

The Need for a Canal TR understood the outside world more than

his predecessors War established the need for a canal

USS Oregon – had to travel all the way around South America

Canal would increase naval mobility Make defense of new territories easier

Canal Plans Clayton-Bulwer Treaty – 1850

Agreement with Great Britain that US would not control such a route

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty – 1901 Agreed to by Great Britain, US could build &

fortify a canal Where?

Nicaragua Panama

Nicaragua v. Panama

French Canal Company – started building canal but had to stop Wanted US to continue where they left off

New Panama Canal Company –led by Philippe Bunau-Varilla Dropped the price of the land from

$109 million to $40 million Congress was concerned about

volcanoes in Nicaragua Hanna argued in Congress for Panama

Congress accepted June 1902

Problems in Panama Treaty was negotiated between US &

Colombia Granted use of 6 mile canal zone $10 million & $250,000 annually

Treaty was rejected by Colombia TR was running for office in 1904

Wanted to start building before election

Panama Revolution Nov. 3, 1903

Panamanians wanted the canal Counted on the prosperity to come

Bunau-Varilla raised a “patriot” army Made up of fire departments & Colombian troops

that had been paid $100,000 Colombian troops were ready to attack

US naval forces would not let them cross the isthmus

TR justified actions based on former treaty(1846) to maintain “perfect neutrality” of the isthmus

Sealing the Deal TR quickly moved to recognize Panama Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

Signed by US & Panama Price remained the same, zone

increased to 10 miles “Rape of Panama”

Resulted in a downward turn in relations with Latin America

“Big Brother” Policy had begun

Completing the Canal Difficulties

Labor troubles Landslides Sanitation

Colonel George Washington Goethals Helped with

organization

Colonel William C. Gorgas Helped made canal

zone safe from yellow fever

Canal completed in 1914 $400 million

TR’s Perversion of Monroe’s Doctrine

Latin American countries defaulted on their payments to

European creditors Particularly Venezuela & the Dominican Republic 1903 - Germany attacked Venezuelan gunboats

& a town TR feared that Germany & Great Britain

might remain in Latin America Violation of Monroe Doctrine

Roosevelt Corollary In the future, if Latin American countries

defaulted on their loans, the US would intervene take over customhouses, pay off the debts, and

keep the troublesome powers on the other side of the Atlantic

Monroe Doctrine “Thou shall not intervene.”

Roosevelt Corollary “We shall intervene to prevent you

from intervening.”

Colossus of the North 1905 – US took over

tariff collections in the Dominican Republic DR were not happy

with the interference

1906 – US Marines sent to Cuba to stop disorder Stayed until 1909

Started “Bad Neighbor” policy

TR on the World Stage

Russo-Japanese War – 1904 Russia was trying to take ports in Manchuria,

China – Port Arthur Japanese attacked Russia at Port Arthur Japanese eventually asked US for help

Portsmouth, NH – 1905 TR helped Russia & Japan work out an

agreement • Japanese receive no money & some land

1906 – TR receives the Nobel Peace Prize

Results of Russo-Japanese War

Relationship among US, Japan & Russia soured

Numerous Japanese laborers moved to California 1906 – 70,000 lived around the Pacific coast

1906 – Japanese were sent to special schools Gentlemen’s Agreement – 1907-1908

CA repealed the school order Japanese agreed to stop the flow of immigrants

The Great White Fleet 1907 – TR sent 16 battleships on a cruise

around the world Goal was to impress the Japanese & the world TR believed this to be his most important

contribution to peace 1908 - Root-Takahira Agreement

US & Japan pledged to respect each other’s territorial possessions in the Pacific & to uphold the Open Door Policy

The Great White Fleet