Chapter 10-4

AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER

TR & the World•When TR became President he refused to allow the imperial powers of Europe to control the world’s political & economic destiny•Using the Open Door Policy TR would increase the U.S. presence in Asia by settling the dispute between Russia & Japan

TR as the Peacemaker• The issue between Russia &

Japan was their competition over Korea• Early in the war Japan was

destroying the Russian Army & Navy• These victories did come at a

cost as Japan began to run out of men & money• As a result the Japanese secretly

approached TR & asked him to negotiate a peace settlement• TR agreed & was able to barter

a settlement known as the Treaty of Portsmouth• TR would win the Nobel Prize for

his efforts

Panama Canal• Once President TR believed that the U.S.

needed a canal that cut across Central America

• The canal would drastically cut time from travel between the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans

• The U.S. had gained the rights to build the canal through the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty with Great Britain in 1901

• The U.S. had two choices to build the canal• It would be constructed through Nicaragua or

through Panama• A French company had started the canal

through Panama & was eager to sell its claim to the U.S.

• The U.S. decided to accept the French offer & build the canal through Panama which was under the control of Columbia

• When negotiations broke down, the Panamanians revolted

• The U.S. sent in war ships to protect the Panamanians

• Within 15 days the U.S. had a treaty with the Panamanians to build the canal

Constructing the Canal• Work would begin in 1904 • The cost would be $380

million• The canal would open on

August 15, 1914

The Roosevelt Corollary• By the late 19th century many Latin

American countries were in deep debt to European banks• TR feared that if the Latin American

countries defaulted on the loans the Europeans nations might intervene• TR was determined that the U.S.

would be the dominant power in Central America• TR would remind the European

nations of the Monroe Doctrine, which demanded that they stay out of the affairs of Latin America • Later in 1904 TR would add the

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine• The corollary stated that the U.S.

would now use force to protect the economic interests of Latin America

Dollar Diplomacy• During the next decade the

U.S. would use their powers to stabilize affairs in Latin America• In Nicaragua for example the

U.S. arranged for American bankers to loan money to the government to prevent default• This allowed the bankers to

gain control of the national banking system as well as the state owned RR system• This policy of controlling

another nation through finances became known as “Dollar Diplomacy”

Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy• The Monroe Doctrine under

President Monroe warned other nations not to intervene in Latin America & under TR & his corollary he warned of military intervention, under President Wilson he stated that the U.S. had the right to deny any government that the U.S. viewed as repressive, undemocratic, or aggressive to the U.S.• This policy would pressure

nations of the Western hemisphere to establish democratic governments• Mexico would be the first to test

this new policy

The Mexican Revolution• Mexico had long been ruled by Porfirio

Diaz who was a friend to the U.S. • Diaz allowed for American investment

which led to much of the economic control being heavily influenced by American businessmen

• This influence angered many Mexicans as they did not see the wealth that was generated by the foreign dominated businessmen

• In 1911 a revolt led by Francisco Madero overthrew Diaz

• Madero promised democratic reforms but was unable to satisfy the demands of all the different groups of people

• After two years of instability Madero was assassinated & replaced by General Victoriano Huerta

• Wilson would refuse to recognize the new government calling it “a government of butchers”

Intervention In Mexico• Wilson would wait for an opportunity

to act against Huerta• In 1914 the opportunity would

present itself as Huerta would arrest a small group of American sailors

• The Sailors would be immediately released & an apology was made

• Wilson would use the arrests as the rational for an invasion

• The marines would land at Veracruz & capture the important port city

• The U.S. & Mexico were at the brink of war when other Latin American countries stepped in the mediate the situation

• In the end the Huerta regime collapsed & Wilson withdrew the troops & recognized the Carranza government

Rebellion In Mexico• Carranza was now in charge of

Mexico but he did not have the support of the Mexican people • Two men that would lead the revolt

were Poncho Villa & Emiliano Zapata • Villa talked of friendship but was on

a mission to keep Americans out of Mexico• He began attacking/killing

Americans• Wilson would respond by sending

General John J. Pershing into Mexico to capture Villa• This would anger Carranza & the

Mexican people• Forces from both sides would clash

with Carranza demanding the withdraw of U.S. troops, making war inevitable