Canada and the United States - Manifest Destiny Scott Masters Crestwood College

 1867, the year of Confederation was also the year of “Seward’s Folly”, or the U.S. purchase of Alaska from the Russians.  By the 1890s the U.S. had developed an imperialistic outlook…  the Spanish American War took place: the U.S. won decisively and this was a big boost for American patriotism. Spanish lands like Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam all became part of the U.S.

 American imperialism got another boost when Teddy Roosevelt became the U.S. president  Teddy R. pushed hard for U.S. interests around the world using the slogan, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. His “cowboy diplomacy” was seen in the Panama Canal Crisis  in 1903 the U.S. and Columbia signed a treaty (Columbia owned Panama at the time)

 the treaty gave the U.S. the right to build a canal in return for cash; but Columbia canceled the agreement at the last min…Rebels in Panama began an uprising against the Columbian government in Panama  The U.S. stepped in and Teddy sent the USS Nashville (a powerful warship) to help the Panamanian people overthrow the Columbian government and help the rebels win  The U.S. recognized the independence of Panama the next day and the treaty was signed. The U.S. got its canal rights

Alaska Boundary Dispute  In 1825 a poorly worded treaty had created a vague boundary between Canada and the U.S. on the Northern Coast of B.C.  Most miners made it to the Klondike via the Alaska Panhandle, an area that many Canadians felt should belong to Cda  This would have allowed Canada to have Pacific ports along certain inlets  Klondike miners could then land at Canadian ports

 Teddy Roosevelt rejected Canada’s claims to this territory  In 1903, both sides agree to settle the issue in court with an impartial jury:  the U.S. and Teddy R. named 3 pro-U.S. judges  Canada picked 2 pro- Canadian judges and G.B. picked 1 judge- Lord Alverstone....for whom would he vote?  in 1903, when the 6 met in London, Lord Alverstone voted in favour of the U.S. The U.S. claim to the land was protected and no sig. compromise was reached. The U.S. retained the coastal inlets

 Why did he vote this way?  1) Teddy Roosevelt made a threat.  2) G.B. was concerned about the growth of European navies/armies, especially in Ger.  G.B. needed the support of a strong nation like the U.S. in case of a war in Europe.  Canada was very bitter (and cranky)...

N.A. Cooperation  Relations b/n Canada and the U.S. begin to improve as time went by...  1909: Canada established the Department of External Affairs. Canada and the U.S. could now negotiate directly for the first time  the Reciprocity Treaty – US- Cda “free trade” in Canada’s natural products but protective tariffs on manufactured goods  Co-operation between Canada and the U.S. was to become closer still in WWI…