Imperialist Presidents and their Policies

William McKinley – Open Door Supported Alfred Mahan’s proposals for a strong naval power Began construction of a modernized American navy. Did NOT want to intervene in the Cuban revolution or the Spanish-American war Would cost too many lives and hurt the US economy Preferred to negotiate with Spain

Representation of Spanish Misrule in Cuba

William McKinley – Open Door As conflict continued, he sent the USS Maine to Havana harbor to protect Americans in Cuba from riots and be ready to help in case of evacuation Is pressured into declaring war on Spain by congress in 1898

William McKinley – Open Door Despite promising to give them independence at the war’s end McKinley decides to annex the Philippines – keeping them under US control. “And one night late it came to me this way… (1) that we could not give them back to Spain – that would be cowardly and dishonorable; (2) we could not turn them over to France or Germany… that would be bad for business and discreditable; (3) that we could not leave them to themselves – they were unfit for self-government… and (4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them.”

William McKinley – Open Door Helped tie Cuba to the US through the Platt Amendment Proposed and supported the Open Door Policy in China, allowing all nations equal access to China’s trade and markets

Theodore Roosevelt – Big Stick After McKinley’s assassination Teddy is thrust into the presidency “Now look, that… cowboy is president of the United States!” Brought energy and enthusiasm to the presidency

Theodore Roosevelt – Big Stick Believes in military power and intervention for a successful American foreign policy Makes other nations think twice before fighting or attacking Promotes global peace Increases US power around the world Often quoted the African proverb “Speak softly and carry a big stick” The U.S. has should intervene in nations whose political stability is threatened, after diplomatic measures have been tried.

Theodore Roosevelt – Big Stick Toured the Great White Fleet (16 new battleships) around the world to show American naval strength Warned Americans to not “sit huddled” and become “an assemblage of well to do huskers who care nothing for what happens beyond”

Theodore Roosevelt – Big Stick Reminded Congress that the Monroe Doctrine was designed to prevent European meddling in the America 100 years later many countries in the hemisphere were still too weak to defend themselves The United States therefore must use “international police power” to preserve peace and order and protect American interests. This power would help protect weak nations (like those in Latin America) and was a direct extension of the Monroe Doctrine Became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine A corollary is a proposition that is a logical extension of a principle (taking it a step further)

Theodore Roosevelt – Big Stick Established the Roosevelt Corollary The US will intervene in Latin America to maintain stability in the western hemisphere. This includes helping Latin Amer. Countries if they default (don’t pay) loans back to European nations. An addition to the Monroe Doctrine Sent ships to panama to prevent Columbian interference in the Panamanian revolution and protect US investments in the canal Sent marines to the Dominican Republic to collect debt payments owed us Supported the Open Door policy began by McKinley

Theodore Roosevelt – Big Stick “chronic wrongdoing… may, in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the western hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may for the United States, however reluctantly … to the exercise of an international police force.”

William Howard Taft – Dollar Diplomacy Practiced Dollar Diplomacy To support the development of democracies and economic systems in Central America Emphasized helping Latin American industry/infrastructure “we must substitute dollars for bullets”

William Howard Taft – Dollar Diplomacy Promoted education reform, transportation and health care as governor of the Philippines Lessened the hostility of the Filipino people toward Americans Supported the Open Door policy Keep China independent to prevent Japan from becoming the dominate power in Asia Sent marines into Nicaragua to support an unstable government and end civil unrest

Woodrow Wilson – Moral Diplomacy Believed democracy was essential to a nation’s stability and prosperity Believed the US should promote democracy to insure a peaceful world free of revolution Lead the world by example

Woodrow Wilson – Moral Diplomacy Strongly opposed imperialism “we must strike a new note in international affairs” that “sheer honesty and even unselfishness… should prevail over nationalistic self seeking American foreign policy”

Woodrow Wilson – Moral Diplomacy Armed political factions in Mexico and sent troops to overthrow corrupt government officials

Woodrow Wilson – Moral Diplomacy Declares US neutrality at the outbreak of World War I but leads the US into WWI when reelected. Sent diplomatic notes to Germany insisting that its government safeguard the lives of noncombatants and abandon unrestricted submarine warfare “it is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war… but the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest to our hearts – for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations…”