Download US Latin American Relations

US Latin American Relations (1898-1945)
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Historical Content:
a) Imperialism-the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding
colonies and dependencies.
i) Monroe Doctrine- Written by President James Monroe in December of 1823. Its main purpose was to clearly state that the United
States would not intervene in Latin American Relations unless in affect or threatened the status of the Western hemisphere as a whole.
(Interpretations of the Monroe Doctrine were manipulated and abused to work to the United States advantage)
ii) Olney Interpretation- Was the United States Secretary of state Richard Olney’s interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine. He manipulated
the meaning of the Monroe Doctrine in order to intervene in the Venezuela Boundary Dispute. Olney claimed that the Monroe
Doctrine gave the United States authority to mediate border disputes in the Western Hemisphere.
iii) Roosevelt Corollary-was a substantial amendment to the Monroe Doctrine by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. Roosevelt's
extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserted the right of the United States to intervene to stabilize the economic affairs of small nations
in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts. (Dominican Debt Default).
b) Spanish American War- This was a military conflict between Spain and the United States. It began in April of 1898. The war began after
the American demand for Spain's peacefully resolving the Cuban fight for independence was rejected, though strong expansionist sentiment
in the United States may have motivated the government to target Spain's remaining overseas territories: Cuba, Puerto Rico, the
Philippines, Guam and the Caroline Islands. Tension among the American people was raised because of the explosion of the USS Maine,
and "yellow journalism" that accused Spain of extensive atrocities, agitating American public opinion. The war ended after decisive naval
victories for the United States in the Philippines and Cuba.
c) Panama Canal- The United States, under President Theodore Roosevelt bought out the French equipment and excavations, and began
work on May 4, 1904, after helping Panama achieve independence from Colombia (Did this so they could use the canal for tradePersonal benefit). In exchange for U.S. help in separating Panama from Colombia and setting it up as an independent nation, Panama
would give the United States control of the Panama Canal Zone. The United States paid Colombia $25,000,000 in 1921, 7 years after
completion of the canal, for redress of President Roosevelt's role in the creation of Panama, and Colombia recognized Panama under the
terms of the Thomson-Urrutia Treaty.
d) Great Depression-was a dramatic, worldwide economic downturn beginning in some countries as early as 1928. The beginning of the
Great Depression in the United States is associated with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday and the end
is associated with the onset of the war economy of World War II, beginning around 1939.The depression had devastating effects in both
the industrialized countries and those which exported raw materials. International trade declined sharply, as did personal incomes, tax
revenues, prices, and profits. Cities all around the world were hit hard, especially those dependent on heavy industry. Construction was
virtually halted in many countries. Farming and rural areas suffered as crop prices fell by 40 to 60 percent. Facing plummeting demand
with few alternate sources of jobs, areas dependent on primary sector industries such as farming, mining and logging suffered the most.
Many people were left with nothing and lost all hope in the Government, Herbert Hoover was president at this time.
e) New Deal- Relief, Reform, and Recovery. Its main goal was the three R’s. It wanted to provide Relief, Recovery, and Reform for the
people after the Great Depression. The New Deal was a program that President Frankiln Roosevelt created. Overall it made some great
improvements to the peoples lives. The "First New Deal" of 1933 aimed at short-term recovery programs for all groups in society. A
"Second New Deal" (1935–1936) was a more radical redistribution of power; it included union protection programs, the Social Security
Act, and programs to aid tenant farmers and migrant workers.
f) Good Neighbor- Was a policy of President Frankiln D. Roosevelt. The United States wished to have good relations with its neighbors,
especially at a time when conflicts were beginning to rise once again. This act was more or less intended to garner Latin American support.
Renouncing unpopular military intervention, the United States shifted to other methods to maintain its influence in Latin America: PanAmericanism, support for strong local leaders, the training of national guards, economic and cultural penetration, Export-Import Bank
loans, financial supervision, and political subversion. The Good Neighbor Policy meant that United States would keep its eye on Latin
America in a more peaceful tone.
Presidents and their policies:
a) James Monroe (1759-1831)- Monroe was not actually president during Latin and America relations but his Policy was the Monroe
Doctrine and that greatly influenced the ideas and policies of following presidents.
b) William McKinley (1897-1901) - His policy was the Large Policy. He wanted to enlarge our military, economic and political power. His
main events were the Spanish American War (1898) and The Treaty of Paris (1899).
c) Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) – His policy was the Big Stick Policy. The main point of this policy was “You ask for it nicely and if
you don’t get it then you take it by force”. Examples of this are the Panama Canal (1903), the Dominican Debt Default, and the Roosevelt
Corollary (1904).
d) William Taft (1909-1913) – His policy was know as Dollar Diplomacy. Its purpose was to use private funds to serve the American goals
and at the same time garner profits for American financing. An Example of this is in Nicaragua in 1909-1910.
e) Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) – He believed in his policy Moral Diplomacy, its main idea was that it was the United States job to lead the
war in peace and to help the other countries that needed help. An event that shows this is the United States activeness in Mexico in 1914.
f) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) – His policy was known as the Good Neighbor Policy. The idea of that was Pan-Americanism, support
of strong local leaders, training of national guards and economical and cultural expansion. Example of this is in Panama in 1936.
Significant Events:
a) Signing of the Monroe Doctrine: December 2, 1823 President James Monroe signed the United States to a plan to stay neutral in the wars
between European powers and their colonies.
b) Maximallian Affair: In 1867 the French took over Mexico as a new French colony.
c) Venezuela Boundary Dispute: In 1895 the rush for gold between Venezuela and Great Britain. Resulted in the United States to intervene
in Latin American relations.
d) Dominican Debt Default: In 1904 the Dominican Republic failed to repay loans to European creditors.
e) The Spanish American War: April to August 1898. Conflict between Spanish and the United States. The war began because of
American demands that Spain peacefully resolve the Cuban fight for independence. President McKinley demanded that Spain proclaim an
armistice, end concentration camps, and negotiate with rebels. Because Spain did not agree to do this the United States proclaimed war.
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Sinking of the Maine: The USS Maine was docked in the Havana Harbor and exploded, later concluded that the Spanish were guilty.
Shows the effects of yellow journalism as the press wanted to increase circulation so they exaggerated the events that happened.
g) Panamanian Revolution: Colombia faced secessionist moves by its province of Panama. Panamanian nationalists rebelled against rule by
Bogotá, in order to have control over this huge source of revenue.
h) Panama Canal Conflict: Construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.
Roosevelt supplied arms to the Panamanian people in order so they could take control of their government. In 1903 the new Panama
awarded the U.S. a canal zone and long-term rights to its control.
i) Black Tuesday: On October 29, 1929, 16.4 million shares were traded, the crash marked the beginning of widespread and long-lasting
consequences for the United States.
j) Great Crash: This was one of the most devastating stock market crashes in American History. It consisted of Black Thursday and Black
Tuesday, including the panic it caused.
k) Great Depression: After the huge stock market crash, Americans were hit hard in the struggle to make money and survive through not
being able to work or even in many cases, feed their families.
l) The New Deal: President Roosevelt initiated a series of programs between 1933 and 1938. The goal was to provide relief, recovery, and
reform for the people. The First Hundred Days marked Roosevelt’s sweep into office and the implementation of the New Deal. Many were
not passed but he still responded with a remarkable series of new programs in the beginning of his administration. The Second New Deal
gave Roosevelt large majorities in both houses which turned out better for the people.
Sources:
a) Monroe Doctrine by President James Monroe
i) Allowed the U.S. to act as international police
ii) “We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we
should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and
safety…we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by
any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States. . . .”. (Monroe
Doctrine)
b) The Olney Memorandum by Richard Olney, Secretary of State under President Cleveland
i) A result of the Venezuela Boundary dispute
ii) Olney claims that the U.S. has the right to interfere in the affairs of Latin American countries because Monroe, in writing the Monroe
Doctrine “…courageously declared not merely that Europe ought not to interfere in American affairs, but that any European power
doing so would be regarded as antagonizing the interests and inviting the Opposition of the United States.” (Olney).
c) Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine by President Theodore Roosevelt
i) The Dominican Debt Default resulted in the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, “The Roosevelt corollary gave the United
States the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries in order to protect American and European business
investments” (Monroe Doctrine). Roosevelt claims that “There must be no effort made to remove the mote from our brother's eye if
we refuse to remove the beam from our own. But in extreme cases action may be justifiable and proper. What form the action shall
take must depend upon the circumstances of the case; that is, upon the degree of the atrocity and upon our power to remedy it”
(Roosevelt).
d) The White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling
i) Kipling defends imperialism in a poem saying that Imperialism is the “White Man’s Burden” (Kipling)
e) Anti Imperialism in the United States by Andrew Carnegie
i) Andrew Carnegie explains why Imperialism is a hindrance to the white races. He suggests that in foreign countries with foreign races
it is impossible for their race to reproduce.
f) Dollar Diplomacy by President William H. Taft
i) Taft explains his newly adapted policy of Dollar Diplomacy which philosophy is to use private funds to serve American goals and at
the same time garner profits for American financing
g) The Mobile Speech by President Woodrow Wilson
i) In his speech Wilson, in Mobile Alabama, defends his ideas of Moral Diplomacy he also suggests that the opening of the Panama
Canal will open a world of commerce that the U.S. has not known before.
h) The State Department and Public Opinion by Secretary of State Robert Lansing
i) In his letter written to President of the United States Woodrow Wilson, Lansing makes suggestions to avoid intervention. He says “It
seems to me that we should avoid the use of the word 'Intervention' and deny that any invasion of Mexico is for the sake of
intervention” (Lansing).
i) The Decision to Act Against Spain by William McKinley
i) McKinley went before Congress to ask permission to use force against Spain and to defend U.S. interest in Cuba in he speech to
Congress on April 11, 1898. He says “the forcible intervention of the United States as a neutral to stop the war, according to the large
dictates of humanity and following many historical precedents where neighboring States have interfered to check the hopeless
sacrifices of life by internecine conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on rational grounds” (McKinley).
j) “The Sinking of the Maine” in the New York Journal
i) An editorial in the New York Journal on February 21, 1898 after the USS Maine exploded and sank on February 15, 1898, and killed
260 sailors. The article claims that the sinking of the Maine should be a lesson to the U.S. administration rather than a present cause
for war and the reasons why the U.S. should intervene in the war came about only after the McKinley Administration came into
existence. For example, the article says “The disaster to the Maine is an object lesson to the Administration rather than a present cause
for war…These reasons why the United States should intervene has existed ever since the McKinley Administration came into power”
(The Sinking of the Maine).
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I took final action in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt
i) An excerpt from his biography which he published shortly after his defeat for final bid in reelection as a nominee for the progressive
party in 1912, in it he gives his role in the creation of Panama and the construction of the canal. He justifies his actions in helping to
start the Panamanian revolution by saying “My belief then was, and thee vents that have occurred since have more than justified it,
that from the standpoint of the United States it was imperative, not only for civil but for military reasons, that there should be the
immediate establishment of easy and speedy communication by sea between the Atlantic and the Pacific. These reasons were not of
convenience only, but of vital necessity, and did not admit of indefinite delay. . . . Every consideration of international morality and
expediency, of duty to the panama people, and of satisfaction of our own national interests and honors, bade us take immediate action.
. . .” (Roosevelt)
l) A Columbian View to the Panama Canal Question by Raul Perez the United States Ambassador to Columbia
i) Published in the North American Review
ii) in the article Perez explains how Columbians feels about the United States building the Panama Canal, he makes sure and states that
“Let it be well understood that the Colombians ... are decidedly favorable to the opening of the canal by the United States, should the
negotiations be concluded in a manner that would result in real and lasting good to their country. . . .” (Perez).
m) Managing Nicaragua by Adolfo Diaz and Philander C. Knox
i) a series of speeches and replies between the Secretary of State Philander C. Knox and President of Nicaragua Adolfo Diaz to
guarantee the repayment of Nicaragua’s defaulted debts to U.S. and European bankers
n) The Letter Sources
i) A series of primary sources written by citizens suffering from the Great Depression written to President Roosevelt informing him of
their hardships and the situation they are in.
o) The Hickcock sources
i) A series of letters written by Lorena Hickcock as her assessment of the situation of America after the great depression.
p) The New Deal Readings 1 and 2 written by Margaret Mary Barrett in Ann Arbor and Thomas E. Woods Jr of Suffolk Community
College.
i) Argue that the New Deal did not bring the United States out of the Great Depression. New Deal Reading 1 written by Margaret Mary
Barrett in Ann Arbor argues that world war I with little help from the New Deal Programs brought America out of the great depression
while New Deal Reading 2 written by Thomas E. Woods Jr of Suffolk Community College argues that Far from ending the Great
Depression, the New Deal was an obstacle to recovery because it was not designed to restore national prosperity.
q) New Deal Readings III and IV written by Christopher W. Schmidt of Harvard University and Robert J. Allison of Suffolk University.
i) Discuss whether or not the New Deal was a break from the past. New Deal Reading three written by Christopher W. Schmidt of
Harvard University argues that the New Deal represented a fundamental break with the past because it paid attention to people
previously ignored in the political process and New Deal reading four written by Robert J. Allison of Suffolk University argues that
the New Deal was a continuation of earlier government policies, mainly intended to preserve the capitalist system.
r) The New Deal case studies
i) Fact sheets and background on different acts such as the social security act and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that were
passed as a part of the New Deal.
s) Was the United States a “Good Neighbor” toward Latin America in the 1930s? written by Jurgen Scheunemann a fox fellow at Yale
University and Erik Benson at the University of Georgia.
i) Argue whether or not the Good Neighbor policy was a new beginning in U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. The First source
written by Jurgen Scheunemann argues that the Good Neighbor Policy was a new beginning in U.S. foreign policy in Latin America
and the second source written by Erik Benson argues that the Good Neighbor Policy represented an ongoing effort on the part of the
U.S. government to maintain U.S. hegemony in Latin America.
Study Tips:
a) Know the Monroe Doctrine and how the interpretations of it changed.
b) Know the Policies of the presidents that had the biggest impact. Ex: FDR, Wilson, and T. Roosevelt.
c) Know the events that took place under each policy.
Study Questions:
a) What similarities and difference were there in the foreign policies of Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt?
b) Compare and contrast Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt's Latin American foreign policy.
c) Analyze the key developments of United States policy in Latin America in the period 1898 to 1936.
d) With reference to two countries in the region analyze the reasons for, and the effects of, the Good Neighbor Policy of the US.
e) “The main aim of Franklin Roosevelt’s policy towards Latin America (1933-1945) was to improve relations between the two regions.”
Assess the validity of this statement.
f) Analyze the economic causes of the 1920s boom in the US.
g) Explain why some Americans gained greatly from the economic boom of the 1920s, and why others did not share fully in the prosperity.
h) Analyze the causes of the Great Depression in one country in the Americas.
i) To what extent was the Wall Street Crash a cause of the Great Depression of 1929? Support your argument with specific examples from
one country of the region.
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How effective was the New Deal in solving the problems facing the United Sates in the 1930s?
k) What were the problems of labor in the Great Depression, and how did two countries of the region attempt to solve them?
l) Evaluate the programs of two countries in the region for solving the Depression (1929) problems of labor and farmers.
m) How, and with what success, did the government of any one country in the Americas try to solve the problems caused by the Great
Depression?
n) With reference to one country of the region, analyze the causes of the Great Depression and assess the political impact of the Great
Depression on that country.