American Imperialism

Libertyville HS

Responsibilities of Imperialism

Incorporated territories• Destined for statehood• Ex.: Alaska, Hawaii• Inhabitants received all

constitutional guarantees

Unincorporated territories• NOT destined for statehood• Ex: Puerto Rico, Samoa,

Philippines• Cannot deprive inhabitants

of life, liberty, or property w/o due process

• Congress has right to set policies for territory

Monroe Doctrine in South America: Mexico

• No love lost between Mexico and USA– Annexation of TX (1845)– Mexican-American War

(1846-48)• Maximilian I story

– French protectorate– US busy . . . – After CW, US asserts Monroe

Doctrine, masses troops on Rio Grande

– French troops leave, Maximilian executed

Mexico and the Monroe Doctrine

• New dictator, Porfiro Diaz (r. 1877-1911)– Pro US– Encouraged US investment in

Mexico• Instability returned with new

ruler, Madero– Progressive reformer– Elected 1911-13– Overthrown by General

Huerta– Starts civil war between

Huerta, Carranza

Mexico and the Monroe Doctrine• Mexican Civil War

– President Wilson refused to recognize Huerta government

– President Wilson also prevented European arms from reaching Huerta

– BUT allowed arms to go to Carranza & his rebels

• Tampico Affair (April 1914)– US sailors thrown in jail– US responded with invasion,

occupation of Veracruz for 6 months

– Mediation by ABC countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile)

Mexico and the Monroe Doctrine

• Carranza seized power, July 1914– Opposed by Pancho Villa– Villa crossed into US , 1916– Wilson & Gen. John

“Blackjack” Pershing• Punitive expedition into

Mexico• Unsuccessful (never captured

him)– Second time US had been

invaded

Mexico and the US

• Mexico resented the US economic, military intervention in their revolution

• Germany tried to exploit situation with Zimmerman Telegram

• Resulted in US entering WWI against Germany in April 1917

The Monroe Doctrine and the Caribbean / Latin American countries

• 1902 Venezuela debt dispute– TR prevented European

forces from collecting debts by force

– “Drago Doctrine”: No country, American or European, has right to use force to collect debts in Latin America

The Monroe Doctrine and the Caribbean / Latin American countries

• Panama Canal– Why build it?

• Need for mobility• CA Gold Rush• Need to protect Empire• Assist trade with Asia

– Hay-Herran Treaty, 1903• Between Columbia & US• $10 million fee for 6 mile wide

strip of land• $250,000 annual rent• 99 year lease

The Monroe Doctrine and the Caribbean / Latin American countries

• Problem: Columbian Senate rejected treaty– TR: “I want the canal built!”– Encouraged Panamanian

independence movement– Revolt against Columbia –

US supported rebels– Rebels win independence,

11/2/03

Roosevelt, at the canal

The Monroe Doctrine and the Caribbean / Latin American countries

• Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty (US and Panama, 11/21/03)– $10 million fee for ten mile

wide strip of land– $250,000 annual rent– Lease forever

• Building the Canal– George W. Goethals, Army

engineer– William Gorgas, medical

officer– Completed in 1914

The Monroe Doctrine and the Caribbean / Latin American countries

• Protecting the Canal– Fortifications along canal– Virgin Islands purchased

from Denmark or $25 million, in 1917

• State of Canal Today– 1977 Treaties

• Transfer of Ownership to Panama in 1999

• Neutrality guaranteed from 2000 forward

• US maintains right to protect Canal

1904 Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine

• In the case of “chronic wrongdoing” by any American country, US would exercise “international police power”

• Example: Dominican debt default, 1904-05– Europe vs. Dominican

Republic– To prevent European

intervention, US took over DR finances

“Dollar Diplomacy” of President Taft

• Taft expanded the “policeman” role of US

• US investments throughout Western Hemisphere would be protected with full military, diplomatic support of government

• Why? Because investments were used to promote US policies

• Examples: Marines to Nicaragua, 1912 and to Haiti, 1915

The White Fleet

• Worldwide circumnavigation by US Navy– Ordered by TR to demonstrate

US military power– Size of fleet– Magnitude of trip– Great success