Chapter 4 Section 3 Notes: New American Diplomacy

Theodore Roosevelt’s Rise to Power
Election of 1900
Election of 1900, President McKinley against William Jennings Bryan
McKinley focuses on the nations increased prosperity
Bryan, an anti-imperialist, attacked Republicans for their support of Imperialism
McKinley won and had Theodore Roosevelt became vice president
McKinley in gunned down by a anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, and dies few days later.
At the age of 42, Teddy Roosevelt is the youngest person ever to become president.
Roosevelt Becomes President
Roosevelt became a strong proponent of increasing American power on the world stage.
Roosevelt accepted some of the ideas of Anglo-Saxonism.
Believed that the US had a duty to shape less civilized corners of the earth and intended to make the US a world power.
American Diplomacy in Asia
Open Door Policy
By 1899, US was a major power in Asia, with Naval Bases all across the Pacific.
The US was now the third largest Navy in the World and was capable of exerting American power anywhere in East Asia.
Primary interest in Asia = Commerce
In 1894, China and Japan fought over Korea, which was part of the Chinese Empire.
China, despite having a massive armed forces, was easily defeated by a modern army and powerful Japanese Navy.
This showed European powers how weak China was and how Japan successfully adopted Western Technology
Russians feared the rising Japanese power so Russia, supported by France and Germany, forced Japan to give the part of Manchuria it had acquired back to China.
Russia then demanded that China lease the territory to Russia.
Leasing meant that this territory belonged to China but was controlled by the European powers.
Germany, France, and Britain followed by this demand and created spheres of influence.
President McKinley and Secretary Hay bot supported the policy called Open Door Policy
All countries should be allowed to trade with China.
In 1899, Hay sent the notes to countries with these leaseholds in China asking them not to discriminate against other nations that wanted to trade within their spheres of influence.
Europeans and Japanese accepted the principle of Open Door Policy but refused to act on them unless all of the others agreed to do so as well.
US expected the other powers to abide by the plan!
Boxer Rebellion
Secret Chinese societies were organized to get rid of foreign control.
One group was called the “righteous, harmonious fists” or Boxers.
In 1900, the Boxers rose up and attempted to wipe out foreigners and Christian converts.
They successfully besieged foreign embassies in Beijing, killing more than 200 foreigners.
In August 1900, an international force including US troops stepped in and quashed the rebellion.
Secretary Hay along with British leaders,convinced the European powers not to conduct a full-scale retaliation against China.
China was never broken up into colonies and US retained access to China’s lucrative trade in tea, spices, and silk and maintained a larger market for its own goods.
Balancing Power in East Asia
Theodore Roosevelt supported the Open Door policy in China and worked to prevent one single nation from monopolizing trade in China.
Roosevelt stepped in during the war between Japan and Russia in 1905 (Russo-Japanese War) convincing Russia to recognize Japan’s territorial gains and persuaded Japan to stop fighting/seek more territory.
Roosevelt was the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for this endeavor.
In the following years, relations between US and Japan worsened but they both agreed
to respect each other’s possession
uphold the Open Door Policy
support China’s independence.
In 1907, Roosevelt sent 16 battleships of the new US Navy called the “Great White Fleet” to showcase the nation’s military might.
The tour made stops around the world including Japan to demonstrate that the US could and would uphold its interest in Asia.
Growing Presence in the Caribbean
Roosevelt believed in a strong global presence!
Displaying American Power to the world would make nations think twice about fighting (promoting global peace)
“Speak Softly and carry a Big Stick”
Panama Canal
The construction of a canal through Central America as vital to American power and would save time and money for both commercial and military shipping.
In 1903, Roosevelt acquired the Panama Canal Zone.
As early as 1850, US and Britain had signed a treaty to work together on the canal.
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty – gave the US the exclusive right to build and control any proposed canal through Central America.
US bought the rights and property from a French company which previous attempted to build a canal.
Panama was still part of Columbia
US offered $10 million and $250K yearly rent
Columbian government refused the offer
Revolt in Panama
Fearing that the US might build the canal in Nicaragua instead of Panama, Frenchmen Philippe Bunau-Varilla and Panamanian officials, decided that to ensure the building of the canal, they would have to declare independence.
November 3, 1903, Bunau-Varilla’s forces revolted which were supported by US ships to prevent Colombian interference.
In a few days, Panama was independent and signed a treaty to build a canal.
The Roosevelt Corollary
Expanding of the “Big Stick” diplomacy, Roosevelt made a address to Congress in 1904 which became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
To prevent European nations from sending troops to the Caribbean or Central America, US would intervene in Latin American affairs
First used in Dominican Republic
In 1905, Roosevelt sent American marines to the Dominican Republic to collect customs tariffs to make the debt payment.
Roosevelt feared that European troops would hinder American trade with the Dominican Republic.
Roosevelt’s successor, William Taft, continued Teddy’s policy with a emphasis on helping Latin American Industry.
With increased trade meant Latin America would rise out of poverty and social disorder giving Europe no reason to intervene.
This policy was called Dollar Diplomacy “substituting dollars for bullet”