Roosevelt
Taft
Wilson
Big Stick Diplomacy
Dollar Diplomacy
Moral Diplomacy
• Definition: The
art or practice of
conducting
international
relations, as in
negotiating
alliances,
treaties, and
agreements.
• Teddy Roosevelt is
elected President in
1900, he is popular
from his Rough
Rider image
• Embraced the ideas
of Anglo-Saxonism
• Intended to make
the country a world
power
• Teddy Roosevelt
• OBJECTIVE:
– KEEP EUROPE OUT
of Latin America
(Roosevelt Corollary
to the Monroe Doctrine)
– USE FORCE to defend
American interests in
Latin America
Speak Softly but
Carry a BIG
STICK
• This was an amendment
to the Monroe Doctrine.
• The “Roosevelt
Corollary” stated that
the U.S. would intervene
in Latin American affairs
when necessary to
maintain peace and
stability in the Western
Hemisphere.
• Reaffirm that Europe
stays out of “our side”
of the world… we will
handle it
US can intervene
in Latin American
Affairs
We are the top
dog in the
Western
Hemisphere
“All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries
stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people
conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship.
If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable
efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps
order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from
the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which
results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society,
may… ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation,
and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United
States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States,
however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or
impotence, to the exercise of an international police power.”
This is my
“STICK”
• In 1907 Roosevelt sent
16 battleships of the US
Navy on a voyage
around the world to
showcase the nation’s
military might.
• The tour made a stop in
Japan to demonstrate
that the US could and
would uphold its
interests in Asia
This is
getting old...
The World’s Most Important Shortcut
An area of water that is dug across land.
Canals connect bodies of water so that ships
can travel between them.
• In 1903 the US supported
a rebellion against
Colombia and helped
rebels establish a
breakaway state of
Panama
• In exchange for the
support, the US won the
right to build a canal
across Panama and
control the adjacent
territory known as the
Panama Canal Zone
• The Spanish-American War
brought the need for a
short cut between the
Atlantic
•
and Pacific oceans.
• Expand trade with Latin
America
• Allows the United States to
better defend itself and better
protect interests.
• Can quickly move its
warships from one ocean
to the other
shorten the trip by
nearly 8,000 miles
• 1904 The United States begins working
The first ship to transit
on the Canal
• 1914 The canal
is completed
the
Panama Canal on
• It wasn’t until 1977 that the United
States signed a treaty
with Panama
and
August
15, 1914
agreed to give Panama control of the
canal in 1999
The Panama Canal:
“Our interests and those of our southern
neighbors are in reality identical. They have
great natural riches, and if within their
borders the reign of law and justice
obtains, prosperity is sure to come to
them….We would interfere with them only if
it became evident that their inability or
unwillingness to do justice at home and
abroad had violated the rights of the United
States or had invited foreign aggression to
the detriment of the entire body of
American nations.”
The United States supported a revolution in
Panama at the turn of the 20th century in
order to
secure the right to build a canal through
Central America.
What were the US benefits of the
Panama Canal?
• Expand trade with Latin America
• better protect interests.
• quickly move its warships between oceans
The Roosevelt Corollary, stating that the
United States would intervene in Latin
American to maintain stability, was built
upon the…
• Monroe Doctrine
What did the Roosevelt Corollary to
the Monroe Doctrine state?
• The United States reserved the right to
intervene in the affairs of Latin America.
Which of the following diplomatic ideas
relied on having a strong naval force?
• Big Stick Diplomacy
• OBJECTIVE:
– PROTECT American
business interests in
Latin America
• Latin American governments
were pressured to support
US business interests
• By 1913 the US had
displaced Great Britain as
the leading exporter to Latin
America
• 1911 – attempted to
have American bankers
included in international
plan to invest in
railroads in China
• 1912-Taft ordered
Marines into Nicaragua
when civil war
threatened to prevent
repayment of US bank
loan
Taft’s Chair at the Mission Inn
“The diplomacy of the present administration
has sought to respond to modern ideas of
commercial intercourse. This policy has been
characterized as substituting dollars for
bullets. It is one that appeals alike to idealistic
humanitarian sentiments, to the dictates of
sound policy and strategy, and to legitimate
commercial aims. It is an effort frankly
directed to the increase of American trade
upon the axiomatic principle that the
government of the United States shall extend
all proper support to every legitimate and
beneficial American enterprise abroad.”
• MORAL DIPLOMACY OBJECTIVE:
• SUPPORT democratic
governments in Latin America
• OPPOSE oppressive or
undemocratic governments
• US INTERESTS Protect US
investments, US encouraged
obedient, pro-American
governments in Latin America
• When order was threatened, the
US did not hesitate to intervene
• Between 1903 and 1934 the
US sent armed forces one or
more times to six nations in the
Caribbean, occupying three of
them for more than a decade
• President Wilson added to
the Monroe Doctrine
giving it a moral tone
• US had the right to deny
recognition to any LA
government it viewed as
oppressive, undemocratic,
or hostile to US interests.
• Pressured LA countries to
establish democratic
governments
• 1914 – U.S. troops sent
to occupy the Mexican
port of Vera Cruz
• 1915 – sent Marines into
Haiti civil war
• 1916 – Pancho Villa
raided New Mexico,
killing 19 Americans;
Wilson sent forces into
northern Mexico until
• 1916 - In the Philippinesterritorial status and
promised independence
• 1917 – sent Marines into
the Dominican Republic
• 1917 - Puerto Rico- U.S.
citizenship granted to
Puerto Rican people;
granted limited selfgovernment
• 1917- In Mexico –
“Watchful Waiting” – for
government supporting
civil rights & free
elections
Noted that his administration desired
the "most cordial understanding and
cooperation" with Latin America. "As
friends … we shall prefer those who
act in the interest of peace and honor,
who protect private rights, and respect
the restraints of constitutional
provision.“
“Diplomacy”
ALL protected
US business
•
Roosevelt: Big
Stick Diplomacy
Assertion of U.S.
dominance
• Navy is the Big Stick
•Taft: Dollar
Diplomacy The
Effort of the US to
further its aims in LA
through use of its
economic power by
guaranteeing loans
made to foreign
countries.
Wilson: Moral
Diplomacy
support is only
given to countries
who’s moral beliefs
are similar to the
US.
• Expanded its access to
foreign markets in order
to ensure growth of the
economy
• Built a modern navy to
protect its interest abroad
• Used police power to
ensure dominance in
Latin America
• US emerged as a world
power
The foreign policy of President Taft focused
on advancing American commercial
interests abroad. Critics called it…
• Dollar Diplomacy
The “diplomacy” in which that the US
would only support governments similar
to the US?
• Moral Diplomacy
Roosevelt, Taft, & Wilson’s forms of
diplomacy all supported the
protection of…
– US business investment