Taft and Wilson foreign affairs

• What was dollar diplomacy?

  Foreign policy approach used by the United States to promote economic interests and influence in Latin America and East Asia.
• 1911 using finance from Morgan, Taft supported railroad projects in China to block Russian and Japanese influence in the region = Ho Weber, trade with China actually declined under Taft
• 1912 = the US took control of Nicaragua’s finances - US presence led to a rebellion and marInes had to be sent into restore order
• In Haiti American banks virtually took over the economy as the governments couldn’t pay their debts
• Ethical foreign affairs under Wilson

  • Gave $25 million compensation Columbia for Americas role in the Panamanian revolt = to foster good relations
  • repealed the Panama canal act 1912 which exempted US ships from paying tolls for using the canal
  • the US built highways, bridges, airfields, hospitals and schools in many regions of Latin America
  • Jones act 1916 = granted the Philippines territorial status and promised independence
• Not ethical foreign affairs under Wilson

  • recognised the new nationalist government of China in 1912
  • sent marInes into Mexico ‘restore order’ after the revolution
  • sent troops to Nicaragua in 1914 and Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 1915 to restore order
  • annexed the Virgin Islands in 1917
  • the jones act 1917 = granted Puerto Ricans born on or after April 25 1898 US citizenship = opponents claimed this was to draft Puerto Rican men into the army to fight in WW1