1890-1912 Foreign and Imperial Policy

• Open Door Policy


  1900

  - created by John Hay

  - free trade with China

  - after Boxer Rebellion there was fear of damage to trade
• Alaska Boundary Dispute


  1903

  - between GB and Canada

  - TR got settlement in favour of US (big stick diplomacy)
• Panama Canal


  1904

  - wanted 48km canal for gold transport

  - helped Panama coup against Colombia

  - 22,000 died trying to bring land to sea level

  - 9 years to build, 500 dead, 76 mil cubic metres of rock removed

  - eventually used locks to bring sea level to land
• Roosevelt Corollary


  1904

  - principle that US can intervene in Latin America in case of impotence or wrongdoing

  - formalised intentions to intervene against European involvement

  - virtual amendment to the Monroe Doctrine
• Russo-Japanse War


  1905

  - mediated and helped to negotiate peace

  - received Nobel Peace Prize in 1906
• which other regions did the Treaty of Paris give to the US

  Puerto Rico, Guam and Hawaii
• what was the value of US investment in Cuba

  $50m
• Taft's Dollar Diplomacy


  used US economic prowess for control of Latin America
• US buy Honduras' debts


  1909

  - to gain financial control

  - did not work as in 1914 US troops had to deal with Nicaraguan revolt
• Example of Dollar Diplomacy in China


  JP Morgan and large European banks finance Chinese railroads
• Great White Fleet


  1907

  - 16 US warships sent on world tour

  - demonstrates ambitious intentions
• Expansion of the Navy

  Alfred Thayer Mayan realised only 42 warships in use
• Reasons for more expansionist ideology


  - oversaturated markets

  - spread of democracy to protect against European colonisers

  - manifest destiny
• Anti-Imperialist League


  1898

  - many key figures supported e.g. Andrew Carnegie, Grover Cleveland