Notes+on+Imperialism

__ Imperialism Continued-the US enters the World Stage __ I. The Panama Canal (See wiki) A. TR became the President in 1901 after McKinley’s assassination and was determined to build a canal through Panama. B. Panama was the perfect spot as it sits between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. 1. How would a canal here benefit the US? 2. The canal shortened the voyage from NYC to San Francisco. C. Columbia ruled Panama at this time and Columbia refused to rent the land to the US who volunteered to build the canal. D. The Panamanians rebelled against Columbia with support from TR and the US. 1. Panama gained its independence and the US got permission to begin construction on the Canal. 2. The digging began on 1904 and was completed in 1914. 3. This was not the first time a canal had been attempted here. The French attempted building a canal back in the 1880’s (Ferdinand DeLesseps) but failed when around 20,000 workers died from diseases and they ran out of money for the project. II. The “Roosevelt Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. A. The Panama Canal project involved the US more than ever in world affairs. B. Roosevelt’s corollary told the imperial European powers that they must not involve themselves in Latin American affairs and that the US would keep order in Central America (see cartoon on the wiki with TR dressed as a police officer). III. President Taft’s “Dollar Diplomacy”. A. President Taft (R) was elected after TR kept his word about leaving office after two terms. TR thought Taft would follow in his footsteps as president. B. One of Taft’s concepts as president was to “Substitute dollars for bullets”. 1. By investing in Latin America, Taft wanted to build strong, friendly ties with that part of the world. 2. The US invested in railroads, harbors, roads and other infrastructure projects which in turn helped Latin America to modernize. C. Taft was not as popular as TR and TR was not happy with how Taft was leading the Republican Party. 1. TR decided to run again against his old friend. The Republican party decided to stay loyal to the incumbent Taft so TR began an independent party known as the “Bull Moose Party”(See wiki). 2. The Bull Moose Party became a “spoiler party”. It split the Republican vote allowing the Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win in the election of 1912. IV. President Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”. A. Wilson disliked the foreign policies of his predecessors and disliked the imperialistic track that the US was now on. B. Interestingly enough, Wilson used the US military to intervene in Central America more than either Taft or TR in places like Haiti and the Dominican Republic. C. Wilson sent US troops to protect American’s in those countries as well as to help stabilize those countries. D. Some Latin Americans didn’t like any US intervention south of our border. V. The US and Mexico A. Mexico’s President Diaz welcomed American investment in things like mines, oil wells, railroads, etc. B. Even with many companies investing in Mexico, many Mexicans were still very poor and resented the Mexican government fomenting much instability. C. Revolution in Mexico 1. America’s ally President Diaz was overthrown. Several more Mexican leaders were overthrown and people killed in several bloody coups. 2. Wilson wanted the US to stay neutral, but ended up supporting Venustiano Carranza. Another Mexican general named Poncho Villa wanted to oust Carranza and did whatever he could to do so. Poncho Villa also began attacking American targets. a. Poncho Villa and his men stopped a train in Mexico, pulled off 17 Americans and shot them. Soon after Poncho’s men crossed the US border into New Mexico and raided a town there called Columbus in 1915. They killed 19 Americans in that raid. b. President Wilson had had enough and ordered US troops under “Black Jack” Pershing to cross the Mexican border and kill or capture Poncho Villa. c. This is known as the “Mexican Expedition”. Many of Poncho Villa’s men were killed and captured but Poncho Villa was never captured. Eventually US forces were recalled in 1917 as it appeared more likely that the US would soon be entering World War 1.