Ch. 28:America on the World Stage (1899-1909)“I never take a step in foreign policy unless I am assured that I shall be able to eventually carry out my will by force.”-Theodore Roosevelt, 1905

I. The Philippines•Filipinos demanded their

independence from the United States.▫Filipino Emilio Aguinaldo

led the rebellion against U.S. troops from 1899 to his capture in 1901.

•Filipinos used guerrilla style tactics, melting into the jungle if defeat was possible.

I. The Philippines• American tactics:

▫ “water cure”- form of torture where drowning was simulated▫ Reconcentration camps- remember these from Cuba?▫ Did not officially give Philippines their independence until 1946.

• William H. Taft (future president) was sent as a U.S. representative. ▫ Formed a tight bond with Filipinos, calling them his “little brown

brothers.”

II. China and the Open Door Policy

• Europe rushing to carve out trade centers with China. America was getting concerned they will be left out.

• Open Door Policy- President McKinley and Secretary of State John Hay, stated that all countries should be allowed to trade with China. Each country would receive a “sphere of influence,” or a specific part of China to trade with.

III. Boxer Rebellion 1900• In 1900, Chinese nationalists

(“boxers”) began to violently throw out foreigners in what became known as the Boxer Rebellion.

IV. President McKinley’s Short Second Term•Reelected in 1900 with the extremely popular

Theodore Roosevelt running as Vice President.•Democrat William Jennings Bryan did not

stand a chance.

• McKinley shot by an anarchist in 1901.

• Theodore Roosevelt becomes the youngest sitting president ever at age 42.

V. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt• Philosophy as

president:▫“Speak softly and

carry a big stick, and you will go far”

▫Meaning?• Huge personality,

and seen as a champion of the common people.

• Did not care for courts or Congress unless they suited his interest.

VI. The Panama Canal• Roosevelt viewed

construction of a canal to connect the Pacific and Atlantic as vital to American power.

• Why did the United States believe this?1. Easier to defend our holdings abroad (Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Hawaii)2. Improved trade relations for America

VI. The Panama Canal• 1901- Hay Pauncefote

Treaty with Britain gave the US the exclusive right to build the canal.

• Panama was chosen, but it was controlled by Colombia which refused to allow American builders in.

• Panamanians rebelled with the help of the U.S. (the canal would make them rich!) and won their independence.

VI. The Panama Canal•Construction began on the canal in 1904

and it was completed in 1914.•Problems:

▫Landslides▫Sanitation▫Yellow fever▫Work stoppages

•Total cost= $400 million

VII. The Roosevelt Corollary 1904•Venezuela, Dominican Republic were behind in

paying their debts back to Europe (mostly Britain and Germany).▫Conflict expanded when Germans sunk two

Venezuelan boats and raided a city.•Roosevelt feared this was a step toward

Europeans returning to the Western Hemisphere- a violation of the Monroe Doctrine.▫The Corollary said we would pay off Latin

American debts to keep the Europeans out of our backyard.

VII. The Roosevelt Corollary 1904

• The Roosevelt Corollary effectively made the U.S. the Policemen of the Americas.

• Remember the Monroe Doctrine of 1823?▫ It basically said “Europe, do

not intervene in the Americas.”

• The Roosevelt Corollary said:▫ “Europe, we will intervene

to keep you from intervening in the Americas.”

VIII. Teddy Intervenes in Asia• In 1904, The Russo-

Japanese War was close to ending with a Japanese victory, but Japan was running short on funds.

• They asked TR to host peace talks.

• Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905 won Teddy Roosevelt a Nobel Peace Prize… but Japan and Russia were both upset with the United States as a result.

IX. The Gentlemen’s Agreement

•The San Francisco school board segregated Japanese students from whites.

•The Japanese were offended, and asked Teddy to mediate.

•The Gentlemen’s Agreement forced the school to stop its racist policies in exchange for an end to Japanese immigration into the U.S.

X. The Great White Fleet•Teddy Roosevelt sent 16 ships, painted

white, to travel around the world.•Why do you think he did this?•Navy’s new slogan: “Join the Navy, see the

world!”