America Expands Its Influence

Around the World

“From sea to shining sea”

A New Canal to Connect the Oceans

• The Spanish-American War had demonstrated the need to shorten the distance between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Two possible routes were examined:-through the isthmus of Panama -through Nicaragua

• The route through Nicaragua was preferred by many until a volcano in the area erupted

Panama Canal

• The U.S. finally settled on Panama as the nest route. Panama was controlled by Columbia.

• When negotiations with Columbia failed, the U.S. supported a Panamanian revolution. The U.S. then negotiated with Panama for a canal zone.

Panama Canal continued…

• Building the Panama Canal took more than 10 years (1904-1914) and cost many lives lost to disease.

• A U.S. doctor, William Gorgas, led a campaign to rid Panama’s swamps and jungles of the mosquitoes which carried the deadly diseases.

American Interests in Latin America:

• Monroe Doctrine (1823) - The U.S. warned European countries to respect the independence of Latin American countries

Extension of the Monroe Doctrine:

• When European nations began to threaten intervention in some Latin American countries, President Theodore Roosevelt stated that the U.S. should take on the duties of an international police force for the Western Hemisphere.

• This would be known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Dollar Diplomacy:

• U.S. business investment in Latin America grew dramatically in the early 1900s. To protect and promote this investment, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson used money (such as loans to governments) as well as diplomacy

• Venezuelan Boundary Controversy- 1895 When the British challenged the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana and refused arbitration, President Cleveland asked Congress to appoint a commission to settle the matter.

• The British then agreed to arbitration. This enhanced U.S. prestige and established the U.S. as a great power.

Intervention in Mexico:

• The U.S. had invested heavily in Mexican business. When the Mexican Revolution began in 1910, the U.S. became concerned about our southern neighbors.

• American troops landed in Veracruz in 1914 to try and calm the situation. The troops were withdrawn when a more moderate government took over.

• However, when Pancho Villa’s men attacked Columbus, New Mexico, President Wilson ordered General John Pershing into northern Mexico to capture Villa.

• The chase was abandoned when the U.S. entered World War I in 1917

Raid on Columbus New Mexico

U.S. Interest in Africa:

• The U.S. interest was primary in the expansion of trade into African markets. This led to the proposal for an:

• Open Door Policy-an appeal to allow all countries to trade in western Africa on an equal basis.

• To win European support for this, the U.S. had to agree to support the control of the Congo by Belgium. However, the Belgians were cruel and support of this cruel government in the Congo tainted American action in Africa.

The Election of 1912

• The Republican party split between progressives and conservatives

• T. Roosevelt and his followers would form a new party called the Progressive Party. (Bull Moose Party)

• The split would benefit the Democratic party.

• The Socialist party would also have a candidate. A Punch cartoon, by Leonard Raven-Hill

depicting the perceived aggression between Taft and Roosevelt.

Results of the Election

• Progressive T. Roosevelt:88 electoral votes

• Republican W. Taft:8 electoral votes

• Socialist E. V. Debs0 electoral votes

• Democrat W. Wilson435 electoral votes

Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom

• His goal was to attack the “triple wall of privilege”

-trusts: Clayton Antitrust Act (add further substance to the U.S. antitrust law regime by seeking to prevent anticompetitive practices) & Federal Trade Commission Act (This commission was authorized to issue “cease and desist” orders to large corporations to curb unfair trade practices)

-tariffs: Underwood Tariff & 16th Amendment (re-imposed the federal income tax following the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment and lowered basic tariff rates from 40% to 25%)

-High finance (banks): Federal Reserve Act: (set up the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States of America, and granted it the legal authority to issue Federal Reserve Notes)

World War One

• The war starts in Europe (June 28th 1914) during Woodrow Wilson’s first term in office. The United States maintained a policy of non-intervention.