Pan-Americanism & Building the Modern U.S. Nav y

1. Pan-Americanism & Building the Modern U.S. Navy

2. Pan-Americanism American businessmen wanted to increase the sale of US products to Latin America. They also wanted to let Europe know that the US was the big dog on the block.

3. Pan-Americanism James G. Blaine – US Secretary of State. Called first Pan-American conference in Washington. To create a customs union to reduce tariffs (free trade) To create a system for American nations to resolve disputes.

4. Building the modern US Navy Alfred T. Mahan – wrote The Influence of Seapower Upon History. He argued that nations became rich by trade, and that a large merchant fleet needed a large navy to protect it.

5. Building the modern US Navy Mahan emphasized strategic locations such as chokepoints, canals, and coaling stations. Mahan’s book led to a complete rebuilding of the US Navy under Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt.

6. Building the modern US Navy Roosevelt’s rebuilding of the Navy created the conditions for the Spanish American War.