Wilson’s Foreign Policy
Wilson the Anti-Imperialist
WW repudiates Big Stickism and
Dollar Diplomacy
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Revokes special support for American investors in
Asia and Latin America
Repeal of the Canal Tolls Act of 1912
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Canal Tolls Act had exempted American coastwise
shipping from paying tolls, much to the annoyance of Great
Britain
Jones Act 1916
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Grants territorial status to the Phillipines, with the promise
of independence as soon as "a stable government" is
established; (Phillipine independence will come on July 4,
1946)
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Averts a conflict with Japan after California
passed laws restricting the right of Japanese
citizens to own land by sending William
Jennings Bryan to negotiate with the California
legislature.
Wilson the Imperialist
Military Interventions
– Haiti (1915)
Wilson dispatches Marines to protect American
investments and citizens when a civil war erupts in
Haiti
1916 - concludes a treaty calling for US
supervision of Haitian finances and police (ala the
Roosevelt Corrollary); financial supervision
maintained until 1941
Dominican Republic (1915)
– Marines dispatched to the DR; military
presence there until 1924; financial
supervision of the DR maintained until 1941
Mexico (1914, 1916)
Mexican revolution in 1913 puts into power
General Victoriano Huerta
– WW refuses to recognize the Huerta
government, and allowed American arms to
be sold to his chief rivals: Venustiano
Carranza and Fransisco ("Pancho") Villa
Victoriano Huerta
Following an incident in which a party of
American sailors was arrested, Woodrow
Wilson asks Congress to authorize the use
of troops, and before Congress gives the
approval, orders the seizure of Vera Cruz,
Mexico by the US Navy in 1914.
– Further conflict is averted by the mediation of
the ABC nations
Huerta's government collapses in 1914,
putting Venustiano Carranza in power
– WW recognizes Carranza, but MexicanAmerican relations are soured by Wilson's
meddling
Carranza's chief rival, Pancho Villa,
attempts to bring Wilson into a conflict with
Carranza through a series of raids.
– January 1916, PV's men kidnap and murder
16 American mining engineers on a train in
Northern Mexico;
– February, PV raids Columbus, New Mexico,
killing 19
Venustiano Carranza
Pancho Villa
General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing
– dispatched to break up Villa's forces
– drives into Mexico with several thousand men,
clashing with both Carranza's men and the
Villistas. PV goes uncaptured, but will be
assassinated in 1923.
– Pershing withdrawn in 1917 as US threat of
war with Germany looms
General John J. "Black Jack"
Pershing