Chapter 10: Section 3

• By 1900, the United States had emerged as a genuine world power.

• It controlled several overseas territories and had a large and vigorous economy.

• After the assassination of President William McKinley, his Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became President in 1901.

• The Spanish-American War brought home to Americans the need for a shorter route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

• A canal built across Central America would link the two oceans, making global shipping much faster and cheaper.

• The Isthmus of Panama was the ideal location for a route.

• In 1879, a French company bought the rights from Columbia to build a canal across Panama.

• In 1902, Congress authorized the purchase of French assets.

• The act required negotiations, which went nowhere.

• After a revolt, Panama was recognized as independent with the U.S. as its protector.

• Construction of the canal began in 1904.

• Workers were brought in from several countries and trained.

• The canal was finished in 1914, six months ahead of schedule and $23 million under budget.

• Roosevelt’s opponents did not appreciate the methods he had used to secure the Canal Zone.

• Most Americans, convinced that the canal was vital to national security and prosperity, approved of President Roosevelt’s actions in Panama.

• The Panama Canal left a legacy of ill will among Latin Americans toward the U.S.

• In recognition of the illegal means in which the Canal was acquired, Congress voted to pay $25 million to Columbia in 1921, two years after Roosevelt had died.

• “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” – African Proverb

• In Roosevelt’s view, the “big stick” was the United States Navy.

• In December 1904 & 1905, Roosevelt issued messages to Congress, known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

• In this Corollary, Roosevelt denied that the U.S. wanted any more territory.

• The U.S. would however intervene in foreign territories to prevent intervention from other powers.

• U.S. intervention in Latin America became common, but angered many Latin Americans.

• It also angered Congress who felt Roosevelt was weakening their power, while strengthening his own.

• In Asia, the President’s chief concern was to preserve an open door to trade with China.

• However the Russo-Japanese War, which began in 1904, posed a great threat to Asian security.

• In August 1905, Roosevelt mediated a peace agreement to the Russo-Japanese War.

• In doing this, Roosevelt succeeded in making trade in China open to all nations.

• His role as mediator won him the Nobel peace prize.

• Under Roosevelt’s presidency, the U.S. assumed a forceful role in foreign affairs.

• His successors were thrown into a complex mix of political alliances and world events.

• William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson both continued Roosevelt’s legacy, but with unique methods of diplomacy.

• William Howard Taft, elected President in 1908, was not as aggressive as Roosevelt in pursuing foreign policy aims.

• Taft’s main foreign policy goals were to maintain the open door to Asia and preserve stability in Latin America.

• Taft “substituted dollars for bullets,” using dollar diplomacy.

• Although dollar diplomacy increased American power, it also created enemies in Latin America and other foreign countries.

• President Woodrow Wilson’s intervention in Mexico led to further anti-American feelings in Latin America.

• Wilson stopped using Taft’s dollar policy and announced that the U.S. would apply moral and legalistic standards to foreign policy decision.

• Wilson’s “moral decision” did not work well.

• His interference in Mexican affairs soured relations between the two countries for years to come.