Today’s LEQ: What presidential policies were created during this time to expand American influence and power?

 By going to war with Spain and acquiring overseas possessions, President McKinley had set the stage for a more aggressive foreign policy  The next three presidents – Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson – pursued their own policies  All three gave the U.S. an even greater role in world affairs

 Became president in 1901 after McKinley’s assassination and wanted to make the U.S. a great world power able to protect American interests from any challenge abroad  Big Stick Policy – believed in working quietly and patiently to achieve goals overseas but using force if necessary  “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”  Gained the Panama Canal for the U.S.

 Greatest Shortcut on Earth!

 The Monroe Doctrine was designed to prevent European meddling in the Americas  Roosevelt’s Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine – it was the right of the U.S. to intervene in Latin American nations  Some countries are too weak to defend themselves  The U.S. should have “international police power” to preserve peace and order and protect American interests

 Taft became president in 1909 and shifted his focus to economic goals  Dollar Diplomacy – encouraged and protected American trade in Latin America and Asia  Believed a strong economic presence abroad would advance American interests

 Wilson became president in 1913 and tried to take a moral approach to foreign relations  Moral Diplomacy – Based foreign policy on promoting democracy instead of economic investment or the use of force  Introduce the idea of self determination – it was the right of other countries to determine their own government, free of outside influence  “We must prove ourselves their friends and champions upon terms of equality and honor… whether it squares with our own interests or not.”  Wilson eventually intervened more than either Taft or Roosevelt!