America as a World Power Mr. Whites US History 1

Main Idea –The Russo-Japanese War, the Panama Canal, and the Mexican Revolution added to Americas military and economic power. Big Questions –How did Roosevelts foreign policy promote U.S. power around the world?

The Russo-Japanese War Russia and Japan were both imperialist countries Were competing for Korea, other Russian territories Japanese launched a surprise attack on the Russian navy and won a victory Also won a land battle and secured Manchuria

Stalemate Japan won early victories, defeating the Russian navy a second time As the war went on, both countries wanted to find an end to it: –Japan was running out of men and money –Russia was losing battles Japan approached Teddy Roosevelt, then President of the United States, to help negotiate peace

Roosevelts Impact Peace negotiations were held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire Teddy Roosevelt was able to get the two sides to sit down and talk – were very wary of each other at the start Roosevelt was also able to get both sides to give up some demands to make peace Roosevelt wins the Nobel Peace Prize for overseeing these negotiations This is the first international treaty signed in the United States – U.S. would have more of a world impact after this

Panama Canal Many in the U.S. wanted a shorter way around South America for shipping purposes Roosevelt also knew that the U.S. would need this canal to be able to move American naval power U.S. had exclusive rights to build a canal across Central America; bought from United Kingdom

Getting the Site Two different routes were proposed, but the one through Panama was chosen as the best Panama at the time was controlled by Colombia – the United States would need to get Colombias approval Colombia refused – United States incited a rebellion that was already brewing there U.S. and Panama signed a treaty to let the U.S. lease the land

Construction of the Canal Construction of the canal was very dangerous –Disease – yellow fever and malaria –Soft soil that was tough to remove –Mud slides –Earthquake Canal opened on August 15, 1914

The Roosevelt Corollary The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 said that European powers could no longer influence Latin American countries When these countries got independence, Roosevelt was afraid that they might go into debt, and European countries might attack them to get their money Roosevelt told European countries that the U.S. would step in to protect its own interest in Central and South America

Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson became president in 1912 Believed that the United States had a moral responsibility in Latin America – wouldnt recognize any country that was: –Oppressive of its people –Undemocratic –Hostile to U.S. interests

Mexican Revolution U.S. businessmen had invested in Mexico – oil wells, mines, railroads, ranches 1911 – Mexican peasants and workers revolted against the government – Francisco Madero took over, but failed, and government was taken over by the military Wilson refused to recognize this government

American Intervention When Mexico arrested American sailors in Tampico, Wilson used this as a chance to intervene U.S. Marines occupied Veracruz – almost comes to war between the U.S. and Mexico Mexican military government collapses, though, and a leader more sympathetic to the U.S. takes over

Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata The new government didnt have the support of everyone, though. –Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata opposed this government and continued to rebel and oppose the U.S. Villa invited U.S. engineers to come down and use Mexican mines, then took them off a train and shot them

Pancho Villa Wilson ordered John J. Pershing and an expeditionary force of 15,000 soldiers into Mexico to hunt down Pancho Villa Mexicans got angrier about U.S. invasion of Mexico Eventually, both sides backed down, and the United States was about to enter a war in Europe