Foreign Policy in the Early 20th Century

Once upon a time, in the early 19th Century…

• Monroe Doctrine:– 1832: James Monroe addresses Congress.– No more European colonies in the Western

Hemisphere!– Get out Europe (especially Spain!)– Defines American foreign policy – we’re a “police

force” to protect emerging nations in the Western Hemisphere.

• 1852: Polk implements the policy.

What’s Polk got to do with it?

• 1845: Declares no European colony could occupy the North American continent.

• 1845: Annex Texas – break relations with Mexico. Why?

• 1845: Polk negotiates to buy Mexico for $15 million.

Policing the Hemisphere• Civil War – a distraction, to say the least.

• 1861: Spain reclaims the Dominican Republic, despite warnings by Seward.

• 1864: France installs Archduke Ferdidnan Maximillian on the Mexican throne.– Complies with Monroe Doctrine in 1867.

William Seward• Secretary of State during Lincoln.• Dreamed of an America that included:

– Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America as well as Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

– Why? Manifest Destiny, of course!

• Stymied by Congress in 1876 when trying to buy Danish islands in the Caribbean.

• 1876: Seward’s Ice Box.• 1878: Samoa• 1893: American planters usurp

Hawaii.

What about Spain?• 1898: The Spanish American War• Okay, what does Cuba have to do with Spain?

– Cubans struggle for independence from Spain since 1868.

• Okay, why does America want Cuba?– Cuba is a natural part of America?– Sugar, yummmmm!!!!

Cuba Revolts!• 1895: Cuban rebels led

by Jose Marti renews fight for independence, launching attack from American soil.

• Spanish troops force 300,000 Cubans into concentration camps.

• 1896: McKinley elected – won’t fight with Spain but makes Spain promise reform.

Remember the Maine!• 1898: Explosion blows up the Maine.• “Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!”• April 11, 1898: McKinley calls for Congress to

use troops to bring about “compromise” between the two nations.– Why? Because only Congress can declare war!

• Congress: – Gives president authority to use troops to end

Spanish control.– Declares the island independent.

• Spain declares war on April 24, 1898.

The Spanish-American War• Cuba vs. the Philippines?

• 1.6 million vs. 8 million.

• May 1, 1898: George Dewey sails into Manila Bay and defeats Spanish.

• June 22, 1898: U.S. attacks Cuba.

• July 1, 1898: The charge up San Juan Hill.

• July 3, 1898: U.S. navy defeats Spanish in Santiago harbor.

• July 17, 1898: U.S. secures Cuba.

• August 12, 1898: Armistice.

Results of the Spanish-American War• Armistice:

– Meet in Paris.

– Spain grants independence to Cuba.

– Cedes Guam, Puerto Rico, and Philippines to U.S.

– U.S. pays $20 million dollars.

• Aguinaldo and revolt.• National glory and war heroes.• Great Power?• Interventionist!