American History Chapter 17-3
Roosevelt and Latin America
Postwar Cuba
• U.S. feared that another nation may take over Cuba.
– Appointed a governor & wrote a new constitution.
– Platt Amendment:
• Limited Cuba’s ability to make treaties with other nations.
• U.S. maintained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs.
• Allowed the U.S. to sell/rent land for naval & coaling
stations.
– Est. Guantanamo Bay.
– Made Cuba a protectorate: A country under the control &
protection of another country.
Guantanamo Bay
Postwar Puerto Rico
• U.S. governed Puerto Rico as a territory.
– Foraker Act: U.S. would appoint a governor & the upper
house of the legislature.
– 1917 – Puerto Ricans given U.S. citizenship.
• Puerto Rico today?
– A self-governing commonwealth belonging to the U.S.
– U.S. government controls interstate trade, immigration,
military affairs.
– Puerto Ricans have no voting power in Congress.
– Do not vote in presidential elections.
– Are subject to military service & federal law.
Panama Canal
• 1880s – A French company started a canal.
• 1902 – The U.S. bought the rights to the French canal
equipment & property.
Panama Canal Continued
• President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to build the
Panama Canal.
– He supported a Panamanian Revolution against Colombia.
– Signed a treaty with the new Panamanian gov’t. for canal
rights.
• 1904 – Work began on the Panama Canal.
– Terrain and disease made construction difficult.
– George Goethals: The genius of the Panama Canal.
• August, 1914 – The first ship passed through the
Panama Canal.
Panama Canal
U.S. Diplomacy
• Roosevelt Corollary: The U.S. will use military force
to police the Western Hemisphere from any
wrongdoing.
– Wanted to protect economic interests in Latin America.
• Dollar diplomacy: President Taft believed that by
promoting U.S. economic interests in Latin American
countries it would keep European countries from
interfering.