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Foreign Policy (1865-1914)
Vania Ng
Seward, Alaska, and the French in Mexico
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William H. Seward was a secretary of state from 1861 to 1869. He was
unsuccessful in getting Congress to annex Hawaii but was able to
annex Midway Island in the Pacific and gained rights to build a canal in
Nicaragua.
Napoleon III sent French troops to Mexico but was threaten by Seward
using the Monroe Doctrine. Napoleon III and his troops left.
Alaska created conflict between Russia and Great Britain. Yet Russia
took control but later felt it was economic burden. So they sold it to the
U.S. for $7.2 million.
The ”New Imperialism”
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U.S. at this time wanted to get more involve in worldwide markets for industrial
and agricultural reasons, as well as raw materials.
International Darwinism applied to competition among nations. The United
States wanted to be strong militarily, politically, and religiously. Thus the United
States went for expansion of lands.
“Our Country: Its Possible Future and Present Crisis” written by Josiah Strong,
wrote that the Anglo-Saxon was “the fittest to survive”. It was the duty of the
Protestant Americans to spread Christianity.
Congressional leaders had Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt eager
to make the U.S. stronger through expansion.
U.S. Navy Captain, Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote “The Influence of Sea Power
Upon History” which stated a strong navy was the key to securing world power.
Latin America
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Secretary of State, James G. Blaine wanted to bring U.S. and
its southern neighbors closer. In 1889, the first Pan-American
Conference was held in Washington. It was decided that there
was to be an organization for international cooperation on trade
and other issues.
The United States used the Monroe Doctrine when it came to
the boundary dispute between Venezuela and Great Britain. If
Great Britain refused to settle the dispute, the U.S. was ready
to use military force. Great Britain gives in and it started the
friendly relation between U.S.-Britain.
The Spanish-American War
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American investments in Cuban sugar, Spanish misrule of Cuba, and the Monroe Doctrine
led justification for U.S. intervention of Caribbean’s largest island.
American public was swept by jingoism which brought pressure on President Cleveland to
go to war against Spain.
The Yellow Press promoted war fever in the U.S. by exaggerating the false accounts of
Spanish malice actions in Cuba. Reading the newspapers, the public asked the Congress
to put a stop to the sufferings.
The Spanish diplomat’s letter which criticize President McKinley and was leaked out to the
public in the press. It was consider an insult to the U.S. national honor.
U.S. battleship, Maine, exploded and killed 260 Americans. It was an accident but the press
lay the blame on the Spanish.
War was declared. Reasons why U.S. would intervene, was said to stop the menace to
peace, stop mistreatment, and protect lives of U.S. citizens in Cuba.
Teller Amendment stated that the U.S. had no intention of controlling Cuba and that when
peace is restore, Cuba should take control.
Fighting the War
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The war ended in a few months with U.S. as the victor.
Starting the war, Roosevelt sent fleets to the Philippines to show off the
country’s new steel navy. There was open fire on Spanish ships in Manila Bay.
Soon capture the city of Manila.
Invasion of Cuba brought death to the American soldiers due to tropical
diseases. Attacks led by American and Cuban troops defeated the Spanish
army.
Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough riders, a cavalry, to take over San Juan Hill.
U.S. Navy destroys Spanish fleet at Santiago Bay. This led to the Spanish
surrender.
There was the overthrow of Hawaiian monarch, Queen Liliuokalani.
Controversy Over the Treaty of Peace
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The terms in the treaty of peace signed in Paris, was
to recognize Cuban independence, U.S. gaining
Puerto Rico and Guam, and U.S. gaining the
Philippines for $20 million. Didn’t mention liberating
Cuba.
Decided to take over the Philippines which people
there became angry. Filipino nationalist leader Emilio
Aguinaldo led guerrilla fighters against the U.S.
Other Results of the War
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Anti-Imperialist League led by William Jennings
Bryan, rallied against expansion in the Pacific. The
insular cases where Bryan had said a yes that any
territories under the U.S. should have constitutional
rights. But the court ruled that it was up to Congress.
Congress withdrew troops from Cuba by making
them accept the terms of the Platt Amendment.
There was a recognition of the U.S. power.
Open Door Policy in China
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China at this time was weaken by spheres of
influence. To prevent loss U.S.’s access to China
trade, John Hay ask the ones holding the spheres of
influence to accept the Open Door policy.
Boxer Rebellion was led by the secret society of
Chinese nationalist who would attack foreign
settlements. It failed when the U.S. troops crushed
the rebellion.
Big-Stick Policy
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The Panama Canal was needed to be built in order
to connect the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans within
American empire.
Roosevelt supported a revolt in Panama and
rebellion succeed. Independent Panama had to sign
the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty.
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty had the United States
digging the canal without British involvement,
canceling the earlier treaty for a British-U.S. control
of canals in Central America.
Paid Colombia $25 million for loss of Panama.
Roosevelt Corollary
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Roosevelt decided to add the Roosevelt
Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, intervening
into Latin America’s affairs.
East Asia
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Russo-Japanese War was when Japan was winning against
Russia, but Roosevelt had persuaded the representatives from
each side to agree to the Treaty of Portsmouth.
In California, there were laws that discriminated against the
Japanese. Roosevelt repeal the laws, in return, Japan restricted
emigration of Japanese into the U.S.
Great White Fleet was a demonstration of U.S. naval power to
Japan and other nations.
U.S. and Japan agreed on mutual respect for the nation’s
Pacific possessions and support the Open Door policy. This
was the Root-Takahira Agreement.
William Howard Taft and Dollar
Diplomacy
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William Howard Traft as the new president, took on a
foreign policy that depended more on investors’
dollars than the navy power. This is the dollar
diplomacy
Traft believed in private American financial
investment in China and nations of Central America.
Wanted railroads in China.
There was intervention in Nicaragua.
Lodge Corollary
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Henry Cabot Lodge added the Lodge
Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. NonEuropeans such as Japan weren’t allow to
own land in the Western Hemisphere.
President Traft opposed it, which also
offended Japan and Latin America.
Woodrow Wilson and Moral Diplomacy
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Woodrow Wilson as president, wanted to
oppose imperialism.
Pass the passage of the Jones Act of 1916
Repealed the act of exemption of Americans
from paying the Panama Canal toll.
Conflict in Mexico
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Wilson’s moral approach to foreign affairs were tested by the
civil war in Mexico. Had refused to recognize the military
dictatorship of General Victoriano Huerta.
Sent arms of embargo against the Mexican's government and
blockade the port of Vera Cruz. American seamen at Tampico
were arrested.
War between Mexico and the United States didn’t happen
because of the ABC powers.
Venustiano Carranza took power after Huerta fell from power.
The new government was challenged by the loyal
revolutionaries of Pancho Villa. Some people were murder in
Texas and New Mexico by Villa. Sent General John J. Pershing
to pursue Villa into Mexico.