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.