Transcript America Becomes A Colonial Power

Section 4: World
Power
• Teddy and
the World
• 1901 TR becomes
pres when
McKinley shot
• Likes to get
involved in world
affairs
Roosevelt's “Big Stick” Diplomacy
American Action
Consequence of that Action
1. Treaty of Portsmouth is negotiated.
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2. U.S. warships used to ensure Panama’s
independence.
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3. Panama Canal is built.
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4. Roosevelt Corollary is adopted.
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• 1904 Russia and
Japan at war
– Japan approaches TR
and asks him to end
the war
– Meetings took place at
Portsmouth, N.H.
– Portsmouth Treaty
won TR the Nobel
Peace Prize
• TR and others thought we
needed a Canal connecting
Atlantic and Pacific
• Different places we could
build, but French had
started one in Panama,
failed
Panama Canal
Panama Canal
 1 problem: Columbia
controlled Panama
and did not want to
give up land to US
 TR and Bunau-Varilla
“arranged” a
revolution against
Columbia
 US warships pointed
their guns at
Columbia as a threat
if they stopped the
Panamanians from
their revolution
 US would pay 10
million up front and
250,000 a year to
Panama for use of
Canal
Panama Canal
• Still had to be built
• Disease, soft soil,
hard to get good
workers
• 43,400 employed at
one time!
• August 1914 open for
business
• Good for US
business, but bad
feelings between
Latin American
countries and US.
Would they be next?
Roosevelt
Corollary
• TR worried that Latin
American countries might
be taken over by European
countries, especially those
with bad economies
• 1820’s Monroe Doctrine
had told Europe to stay out
of our hemisphere
• 1904 TR reminds Europe to
stay out with the Roosevelt
Corollary: Just a reminder
that US will protect Latin
America and use force to
bring peace. “Speak softly
and carry a big stick”
Dollar Diplomacy
• Taft did not like TR’s
threatening approach and
tried a different one
• He lent money to countries in
trouble to get them back on
their feet by getting new
businesses in their countries.
• He felt they would like us
better if we helped them
grow, rather then threaten
their enemies
• Sometimes he used troops,
but tried not too
Woodrow Wilson
• Wilson replaced Taft and had
new ideas
• He felt that the US would
only help countries that had
good moral governments:
Treated their people well
• Wanted more countries to
get a Democratic
government and we would
help them
• Mexico put him to the test
Wilson’s “Missionary” Diplomacy
American Action
Consequence of that Action
1. Wilson uses minor incident with Mexico as an
excuse to occupy Veracruz.
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2. Wilson recognizes the Carranza government.
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3. Wilson refuses Carranza’s demand to withdraw
U.S. troops sent into Mexico to capture Villa.
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Mexico
• Mexico had a dictator
for many years: Diaz
– Friendly to US, but not to
his own people
• 1911 poor in Mexico
led by Madero
revolted and won, but
only lasted a couple
of years
• 1913 new president:
Huerta. Wilson did not
like him, so he did not
recognize him as the
leader
US intervenes in
Mexico
• Wilson waited for a moment
he could challenge Huerta
• Tampico: 1914 US sailors
arrested but let go quickly
• Wilson sends Marines to
Mexico
– We almost went to war
– ABC powers stopped war,
got rid of Huerta
• New president: Carranza,
Wilson OK with this, but not
the Mexican people
Rebellion in
Mexico
• Pancho Villa and Zapata not
agree with Carranza and
wanted him out
– Villa had been a friend of US
before
• Villa attacked US miners on
way to Mexico, and invaded
New Mexico killing US
citizens
• Wilson had to send US army
under Pershing to chase
• Carranza not like US troops
in Mexico so his army and
US clash
• Just about to go to war and
WWI breaks out