Mr. Hood U.S. History
As the smoke from the Spanish-American War cleared, Puerto Rico came under direct U.S. rule. Foraker Act- established a civil government in Puerto Rico. Authorized the President to appoint a governor and part of the Puerto Rican legislature. Although they fell under U.S. control, Puerto Ricans did not have the same rights as U.S. Citizens. After many court cases and no answer, President Woodrow Wilson adopted the an Act that gave Puerto Ricans many, but not all, of the rights Americans enjoyed.
Although the Treaty of Paris granted Cuba its independence, U.S. troops did not withdraw from the country until Before they withdrew the U.S. had Congress add the Platt Amendment. Restricted the rights of newly independent Cubans and effectively brought the island within the U.S. sphere of influence. Granted the U.S. the right to intervene on behalf of Cuba if needed. The Amendment was added as part of a treaty that made Cuba a protectorate of the United States.
Policy enacted by President Theodore Roosevelt. Beyond determining what would happen in Puerto Rico and Cuba, Roosevelt developed a broader policy for U.S. action in Latin America. It depended on a strong military to achieve the American goals. Name stemmed from the President’s admiration for an African saying, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
Roosevelt’s view that America needed to carry a big stick during the Age of Imperialism flowed from his adherence to balance-of power principles and from his view of the United States as a special nation with a moral responsibility to civilize, or uplift, weaker nations.
1800s a French company had tried to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans across the isthmus of Panama. They failed. In 1903, the U.S. bought the French claim to the canal. First they needed Colombia’s consent since Panama was part of Colombia at the time.
Colombia demanded more money than the U.S. was willing to provide. Roosevelt decided to use his “Big Stick Policy” to get what he wanted. He dispatched several warships to support a Panama rebellion against Colombia. Colombia decided not to suppress the uprising because of the U.S. involvement. Panama gained its independence.
The new nation of Panama immediately granted America control over the “Canal Zone.” To secure this land for its vital trade link, America paid Panama $10 million and an annual rent of $250,000. More than 35,000 workers helped construct the canal. Completion of the canal depended on a series of scientific breakthroughs by doctors who learned to combat tropical diseases. 5,000 workers died from the harsh conditions The completion of the canal cut off 8,000 nautical miles from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.
Monroe Doctrine-stated that European powers must not interfere in the Western Hemisphere (Latin America). But, by 1903 Latin American countries owed huge debts to European countries and intervention looked very likely. Roosevelt Corollary-updated the Monroe Doctrine for an age of economic imperialism and stated: In the case of “chronic wrongdoing” by a Latin American nation- the kind that Europeans would justify military intervention-the U.S. would assume the role of police power, restoring order and depriving creditors of the excuse of intervene.
Taft was handpicked to replace Roosevelt as President in Taft wanted to maintain the Open Door Policy in Asia and ensure stability in Latin America. He wanted to rely less on “Big Stick” and more on “Dollar Diplomacy”. This meant less on military might and more on what he could buy, or invest in. The policy aimed to increase American investments in businesses and banks throughout Central America and the Caribbean. He sometimes had to use “Big Stick” to secure “Dollar Diplomacy”.
President Woodrow Wilson intended to take U.S. foreign policy in a different direction. He promised the United States would “never seek one additional foot of territory by conquest” but would instead work to promote “human rights, national integrity, and opportunity.” This new approach was meant to boost world opinion of the U.S. and establish it as a democratic police force.
Neutrality Monroe Doctrine Roosevelt Corollary “Big Stick” Diplomacy “Dollar” Diplomacy “Moral” Diplomacy