1. U.S. Imperialism’s Impact on Other Nations

2. U.S.-Japanese Relations
Japan had closed itself to outsiders in the late 1400s; held a strong mistrust of Western cultures
In mid-1800s, US businesses began to view Japan as an untapped market for trade
1852: Pres. Franklin Pierce sent a naval expedition to force Japan to sign a trade treaty

3. Perry’s Trade Mission
US Navy under Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay in July 1853
Japanese were awed by American technology (steam powered ships, naval firepower); quickly realized that they could not compete militarily with the US
Japan reluctantly signed the trade agreement and opened its ports to US merchants
Japan learned quickly, and by the 1890s had adopted western technologies, industrialized, and completely modernized their military

4. US interference in the Russo-Japanese War
: Russia and Japan went to war over control of Korea and Manchuria
The world expected the “old world” power (Russia) to easily beat the upstart Japanese, but Japan militarily dominated Russia throughout the war
US President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw peace negotiations (Treaty of Portsmouth, 1905)
Japan was angered that Roosevelt supported Russia in the peace treaty; Japan gained no territory, Russia paid no war indemnities to Japanese
Roosevelt won Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts

5. US Interests in China
China had shown political and military weakness after being easily beaten in a war with Japan in 1894 and being bullied into “leasing” Manchuria to Russia in 1898
US exports to China were growing and the Chinese market held tremendous potential for American business & investment

6. Spheres of Influence in China
China was rapidly divided into economic spheres by Russia, Germany, France, Japan, and Britain
US was in danger of losing China as a market for US products, sought a way to protect its economic interests

7. The Open Door Policy
1899: US Secretary of State John Hay sent his “open door note”: notification to other world powers that the US supported open trade in China
Foreign powers were angered over US demands, but were unwilling to risk war (US had just beaten Spain in 1898); they made no move to block US trade with China

8. The Boxer Rebellion
1900: Chinese nationalists, unhappy with foreigners’ influence on China, rose up in revolt
Hundreds of foreigners were killed
US contributed troops to an international force which crushed the rebellion
After the rebellion, US worked hard to prevent division of China by angry foreign powers

9. Theodore Roosevelt 1858 – 1919 26th President (1901-09)
Made William McKinley’s running-mate in 1900 because of his heroic war record and to rein in his criticisms of the administration
Became youngest US President (age 42)
VERY aggressive in dealing in foreign affairs

10. “Big Stick” Diplomacy
Roosevelt adopted the African proverb “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far” as his motto for foreign policy
Under Roosevelt, the US would pursue peaceful negotiation, but would not hesitate to threaten use of its military strength to protect its interests

11. The Great White Fleet
Fleet of 16 US battleships sent out on a world tour to demonstrate America’s military might was a major piece of Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” threat

12. Roosevelt Corollary
1904: Roosevelt expanded the Monroe Doctrine by declaring that the US would intervene in Latin American affairs when necessary to maintain economic and political stability in the region
Roosevelt wanted to prevent European interventions in Latin America over unpaid debts

13. Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
1901: US & Britain agreed that US would have sole claim to build a canal in Central America
Britain acknowledged that it had insufficient influence in Latin America, allied itself with the US to ensure canal got built

14. The Panama Canal
US offered Colombia $10 million to buy the rights to build a canal across Panama, but Colombia refused
Roosevelt responded by supporting a rebellion by Panama against Colombia
Once Panama was independent, they agreed to a treaty allowing the US to build and operate a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

15. Building the Canal
Canal was started by a French company in 1880, but had been abandoned in 1889 after over 20,000 workers died from disease & accidents
US bought out French & resumed work in 1904 (with new measures to control mosquito-borne diseases) and completed the canal in 1914

16. William Howard Taft 1857 – 1930 27th President (1909- 13)
Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor, but would be nothing like Roosevelt as president
After leaving the presidency, he would be appointed Chief Justice of the US Supreme COurt

17. Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy”
Taft chose to “buy” friendship with Latin American states by guaranteeing low-interest loans, paying off existing loans from European powers to Latin America
Taft’s policy kept Latin states from borrowing money from European powers

18. Woodrow Wilson 1856 – 1924 Democrat
28th President ( )
Democrat
Tried to abandon both Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” policies and Taft’s policy of “buying” friends in Latin America

19. Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”
Wilson would support only Latin American states that were democratic and provided human rights protections or otherwise supported the interests of the US
Wilson hoped to influence and control other countries through economic pressure; nations which did not abide by the US wishes would not receive financial support from the US

20. US & Mexico
During the Mexican Revolution, fighting spilled across the border into the US
This, coupled with cross-border raids for supplies led Wilson to order the “Punitive Expedition” of

21. Francisco “Pancho” Villa
1878 – 1923
Popular revolutionary in Northern Mexico
Punitive Expedition’s target was the capture of Villa
1916: Villa had raided into New Mexico to seize weapons and supplies for his fight against the government of Venustiano Carranza; Villa’s raid had killed 18 Americans
US Expedition failed, but Villa was eventually murdered by his political enemies in 1923

22. Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing
1860 – 1948
US Army
Officer in charge of Buffalo soldiers early in his career
Fought in Indian Wars, Spanish-American Wars, and WWI
Spent 2 years hunting Pancho Villa in Mexico with little success