The “Big Stick”: America & the World (1901-1917)

“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” --Teddy Roosevelt September 2, 1901 at the Minnesota State Fair--

Roosevelt & Civilization TR made distinction between “civilized” & “uncivilized” nations Based on race & economic development Civilized nations should intervene in “backwards” nations Believer in strong navy Asst. Sec. of Navy & author of The Naval War of 1812 U.S. had 2nd largest navy in the world by 1906

Protecting the Open Door” in Asia TR negotiated peace between Japan & Russia in 1905 (Russo-Japanese War) Made agreement w/ Japan to keep trade open Earned him Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 Japan was quickly becoming the leading power in the Pacific Limited some trade w/ U.S. TR sent “Great White Fleet” around the world (1907-1909) Show of strength, test for fleet, chance to gain public support for naval build-up Stop in Japan

Protecting the Open Door” in Asia “I hope that we can persuade our people on the one hand act in a spirit of generous justice and genuine courtesy toward Japan, and on the other hand to keep the navy respectable in numbers and more than respectable in the efficiency of its units. If we act thus we need not fear the Japanese. But if we… show ourselves opulent, aggressive and unarmed, the Japanese may sometime work us an injury.” --President Theodore Roosevelt, June 1905--

The Iron-Fisted Neighbor Intervention in Latin America U.S. navy used to scare Germany after it attacked Venezuela (1902) Took control of Dominican customs in 1903 Platt Amendment allowed U.S. to intervene in Cuba U.S. troops used there in 1906 to stop rebellion

Iron-Fisted Neighbor Announced Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in 1904 1. U.S. had right to oppose European intervention in Latin America 2. U.S. had right to intervene in Latin American countries if they were struggling to maintain order U.S. would act as international police power

Iron-Fisted Neighbor “It must be understood that under no circumstances will the U.S. use the Monroe Doctrine as a cloak for territorial aggression. We desire peace with all the world, but perhaps most of all with the other peoples of the American continent.” --Theodore Roosevelt, 1905--

The Panama Canal U.S. hoped to take over French canal zone for $40 million (1902) Colombia refused to approve of purchase though U.S. then helped organize & support a Panamanian revolt Panama gained independence & gave U.S. rights to canal; Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty Canal completed by 1914, under budget Canal Zone split Panama in two

The Panama Canal “If I had followed traditional, conservative methods I would have submitted a dignified State paper of probably 200 pages to Congress & the debates on it would have been going on yet; but I took the Canal Zone & let Congress debate; & while the debate goes on the canal does also.” --Theodore Roosevelt, 1911--

Taft & “Dollar Diplomacy” Taft’s foreign policy goals: Increase U.S. investments to undeveloped regions “Substituting dollars for bullets” Stability in Latin America Intervention in Nicaragua Maintain open door in Asia Failed railroad attempt in Manchuria

Diplomacy & Morality Wilson had little experience in international affairs Carried on Roosevelt & Taft’s approach Marines sent to Haiti (1915) Military gov’t in Dominican Republic (1916) Bought Virgin Islands (1916)

Wilson & Mexico Much political turmoil in Mexico in 1910s Wilson refused to recognize gov’t led by Victoriano Huerta U.S. & Mexico nearly went to war in 1914 Then Wilson supported a new gov’t led by Pancho Villa, but later rescinded support Villa killed Americans in northern Mexico & New Mexico (1916) Wilson sent Pershing w/ 10K men to capture Villa, no success

Wilson & Mexico Huerta had U.S. sailors arrested in Tampico (1914) Wilson used incident as reason to seize Veracruz Fighting led to casualties for both sides Nearly a war Venustiano Carranza replaced Huerta

The Road to War The Collapse of Peace Imperialist ambitions Nationalism Militarism Alliances Triple Entente=Britain, France, & Russia Triple Alliance=Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy Intense rivalries between Germany & Britain, also Germany & France

“Powder Keg” Ignites Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated on June 28, 1914 (heir to A-H throne) Assassin, Gavrilo Princip, was a Serbian nationalist Many Serbians hoped to annex Bosnia Bosnia was part of A-H empire

“Powder Keg” Ignites Germany & Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia Serbia gained Russian support Germany declared war on Russia and France Britain declared war on Germany WWI was under way

Wilson’s Neutrality Wilson asked Americans to be “impartial in thought as well as deed” British propaganda made Germans look evil/barbaric Ignored German blockade & continued to trade with Britain & France

Wilson’s Neutrality Germans used submarine warfare, U-boats Enemy ships sunk on site Sinking of the British liner Lusitania 1,198 deaths, including 128 American deaths Ship was carrying munitions

Preparedness vs. Pacifism Wilson continued policy of neutrality, but encouraged preparedness Much anti-war sentiment from public Wilson’s 1916 election slogan=“He Kept Us Out of the War” Wilson won close election

A War for Democracy After re-election discussed plans for a postwar world Self-determination, league of nations War in Europe locked in stalemate Germans resorted to unrestricted submarine warfare Zimmermann Telegram Mexico urged to ally with Germans & regain “lost provinces” Russian Revolution (1917)

A War for Democracy Wilson asked Congress for war on April 2, 1917 “We shall fight for the thing which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy…” Congress declared war on April 6, 1917