Foreign Policy 1899 - 1917

1. Foreign Policy 1899 - 1917 China • Due to beings weakened by civil war and the western powers having technological superiority, China was carved up, with settlements and/or spheres of influence where each foreign power claimed special economic rights. • The U.S. viewed China as a market for selling its goods and as a source of business contracts and viewed the spheres of influence as a way of shutting Americans out of China. • The Open Door policy was a series of letters written by Sec. of State, John Hay (1899) addressed to the imperialist nations proposing that they share their trading rights with the U.S.

2. This policy showed three aspects of the U.S. industrial beliefs. • Economic growth depended on U.S. exports • U.S. had a right to intervene abroad to keep those markets open to U.S. • The closing of these markets would threaten U.S. survival. • In an attempt to get rid of the foreigners, many Chinese formed secret societies. • The most famous were the Boxers which rose up in the rural areas and started to kill missionaries and Chinese converts. • The Boxer Rebellion would be eventually be crushed by a multinational force (August 1900).

3. “Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick” • Theodore Roosevelt wanted a canal built across Central America so that travel time was shortened going from Atlantic to Pacific. • After getting the exclusive rights to build and control a canal from Britain, the U.S. then purchased the rights to go across Panama for $40 million. • After that, the U.S. attempted to negotiate with Columbia (who controlled Panama) for permission, but it failed. • The U.S. then stages a rebellion in Panama on November 3rd 1903, with 15 naval ships present as backup.

4. TR inspecting the “Big Ditch”

5. U.S. negotiated a treaty 15 days later to build the canal for 10 million and $250,000 in rent • The canal went through mountains, jungles and bug infested swamps. • Disease was a major problem in the beginning. • August 15th, 1914 the canal (a.k.a. The Big Ditch) officially opens.

6. TR the peace maker • Roosevelt also won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating a peace treaty between the Japanese and Russian Empires in 1906. • Tsar Nicholas II declares war on Japan in 1904 • Japan sneak attacks the Russian Imperial Fleet at Port Arthur in 1905. • The Russian Atlantic Fleet sailed around the world to fight the Japanese Navy and was sunk too! • On the Asian mainland, the Japanese Army defeated the Russians in Manchuria (Northeastern most province of China) and Korea. • Japan is running out of troops and cash so they approach President Roosevelt to mediate a peace • Both sides met at Portsmouth New Hampshire.

7. Terms of the Treaty of Portsmouth Japan received half of Sakhalin Island (off the coast of Russia), control of Korea and Manchuria. Russia didn’t have to pay money for losing, and didn’t lose all of Sakhalin Island.

8. Continued Issues with Japan 1906 Roosevelt intervenes between the San Francisco School District and Japan because SFSD segregated asian children from attending school with white children. • Created the Gentleman’s Agreement in which SFSD pledged to stop its segregation policy while the Japanese promised to hold back its unskilled citizens from immigrating to America. In response to Japans expansion at the expense of it’s weak neighbors (Russia, China, and Korea) TR pushed Congress to build the GREAT WHITE FLEET • A fleet of 16 New Battleships and escort ships broken into two squadrons – U.S.S. Connecticut / Flagship • The ships were painted white, because that was the Navy’s peace time colors with red, white, and blue scroll work painted on the bows of the ships.

9. Other Roosevelt Corollary – Roosevelt amended the Monroe Doctrine by saying that disorder in Latin America could cause the U.S. to intervene to protect its economic interests. Dollar Diplomacy – using the U.S. govt. to guarantee loans made to foreign countries by U.S. businessmen and promote stability in foreign markets such as Latin America, the Caribbean, and China.

10. Missionary Diplomacy President Wilson stated that the U.S. could deny recognition of any Latin American govt. it felt was oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests (missionary diplomacy). 1914 officers of Mexican strongman, General Victoriano Huerta arrested a group of American sailors in Tampico. • Wilson viewing the Huerta govt. as immoral sent the Marines in to occupy Veracruz. • Argentina, Brazil, and Chile stepped in and mediated before there was war. • As this was going on Huerta’s govt. was toppled by a nationalist named Carranza. • The new President was recognized by Wilson and the U.S. Marines withdrawn. It was Carranza that invited American engineers to operate the mines in northern Mexico, but they were shot before ever reaching the mines by other troops loyal to Pancho Villa. 

11. Villa’s troops also raided Columbus, NM killing 17 Americans. Wilson responded by sending John “Blackjack” Pershing with 15,000 to take Villa. • These troops clashed with the Mexican Army in June 1916. • The whole situation didn’t end until 1917 when the U.S. was going to enter WWI.