TR, Taft, Wilson TR, Taft, Wilson Imperial PresidenciesImperial Presidencies

TR’s Foreign Policy• U.S. needs a canal to help save time & $• US starts a revolt for independence from Colombia

w/in Panama, wins

• US builds the canal and leases it from Panama– Total cost to build= $380 mill.– Pd. $10 mill. up front, $250,000/ year rent– 5,600 men lost their lives in 11 years

Up and Down in the Locks…

Roosevelt Corollary* Added to Monroe Doctrine

• TR wants to make the US the main power in the Caribbean & Central America

• “Speak Softly & Carry a Big Stick”– Roosevelt Corollary: the U.S. will use force to

protect Latin America from foreign interests & themselves (anything that threatens US economic interests)

* An additional statement that follows the first, logically

TR- The Peacemaker

• 1905: TR negotiates peace between Russia & Japan (wins Nobel Peace Prize in 1906!)

Roos. Cor. Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy

• Pres. Taft

• US will buy debt of Latin Amer. countries to keep Euros out!

• 1911: US intervenes in Nicaragua– US bought debt owed to Euros– US puts down rebellion against Nicaraguan gov’t

Leads to

Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy• The US had a moral responsibility to deny

recognition to any Lat. Amer. gov’t it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to US interests

• Invades & occupies Veracruz, Mex.– “Pres.” Huerta had come to power after a coup– Not legitimate!

• Huerta taken out of power, Carranza steps in

Wilson vs. Pancho Villa & Emiliano Zapata

• Pres. Carranza doesn’t have support of Mexicans– Villa & Zapata don’t like foreign investments – 1916: Villa’s men attack and kill Americans

• US invades Mexico w/ Gen. Pershing

• US & Mex. close to war, but WWI keeps US out