America as a World Power

Read America as a World Power (pps. 565 - 571) Answer the following questions and post them to your blog. They are due Wed., Nov. 16 by 3:30 p.m.

1. What role did President Roosevelt play in ending the Russo-Japanese War?
Japanese officials asked Roosevelt to mediate peace negotiations and he agreed. The Japanese wanted a russian island along with a large sum of money from Russia. Roosevelt helped work out this conflict. Japan got half of the island, and gave up on the money.

2. What events led to the building of the Panama Canal? What happened regarding Columbia? (Be specific)
A canal would greatly reduce travel time by providing a short cut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In The Hay-Pouncefote treaty of 1901, Britain gave the U.S. the right to build a canal through central america. In the late 1800's the French tried to build a canal in Panama but gave up after 10 years. The U.S. bought the French's route for $40 million. The U.S. had to get permission from Colombia, which was ruling Panama at the time. Panama rebelled and declared its independence from Colombia in 1903. The U.S. and panama signed a treaty which said that the U.S. would pay Panama $10 million plus and annual rent of $250,000 for the Canal Zone.

3. What did the Roosevelt Corollary state?

The Roosevelt Corollary was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine and stated that the U.S. claimed the right to protect its economic interests by means of military intervention in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere's nations.

4. How did Taft use Dollar Diplomacy to enforce the Roosevelt Colollary on Nicaragua? (Be specfic)
Dollar Diplomacy means to exert influence over other countries. When a rebellion in Nicaragua left them near bankruptcy, Taft arranged for American bankers to loan Nicaragua enough money to pay off its debts. The bankers were given the right to recover their money by collecting Nicaragua's customs duties. The U.S. bankers also gained control of Nicaragua's state owned railroad system and its national bank. Nicaraguan citizens revolted and U.S. marines were sent.

5. Why did Woodrow Wilson invade Mexico?

Wilson added a moral component to the Monroe Doctrine. According to his missionary diplomacy, the U.S. had a moral responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin American govt. it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests. This pressured nations in the Western Hemisphere to establish democratic govts.

Mexico was ruled by a military dictator. In 1911, Mexican peasants and workers overthrew the military dictator. The leader of the rebellion promised democratic reforms but he was unable to satisfy the conflicting demands of landowners, peasants, factory workers and the urban middle class. Then a general took over and he was murdered. Wilson refused to recognize the governments and he called it a "government of butchers."

Wilson started looking for an opportunity to intervene in Mexico. When a small group of American soldiers were arrested, Wilson used the incident as an excuse to intervene. He ordered U.S. marines to occupy a Mexican port.

6. What were three major foriegn policy goals achieved by the United States in the early 20th century. Be sure to provide an example or two of each.

1)The US expanded its access to foreign markets in order to ensure the continued growth of the domestic economy (Philippines, Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico)

2)The US built a modern navy to protects its interests abroad (navy could back open door notes in china)

3)The US exercised its international police power to ensure dominance in Latin America (Columbia, Nicaragua, Mexico)