How successful was Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy

The Panama Canal
1. The USA was unusual among the Great Powers in being both a Pacific and Atlantic power
  1. as a result of the Spanish-American War, the US became a Caribbean power with its temporary acquisition of Cuba
    1. brought the long-discussed plans for a canal through the Isthmus of Panama much higher up the political agenda
2. Ferdinand de Lesseps (built Suez Canal) obtained a lease on Panama from the Columbium government but had gone bankrupt trying to get the canal built
  1. 1889- he offered the canal project to the American government for $109 million, but refused, partly because of price too high and partly because the British had an equal interest in the area under the treaty of 1850
    1. both issues were overcome
      1. Hay-Paunceforte Treaty 1901 gave America exclusive control of proposed area and, when Lesseps lowered the price to $40 million, the agreement went forward
3. 99-year lease was agreed with Colombian government in 1903
  1. but the Colombians delayed, wanting to negotiate new terms once De Lesseps agreement ran out in the following year
    1. USA government not prepared to wait and end up with less favourable terms
      1. Nov- a Panamanian revolution broke out against Colombian rule- 'revolution' organised by employee of the Canal Company, Philippe Banau-Varilla, helped and supported by Americans
        Roosevelt sent cruiser 'Nashville' to prevent the Colombians from re-taking Panama-control
        Americans recognised the rebel government and then negotiated with them for control of a strip, 10 miles wide, across the Isthmus of Panama
4. The USA granted control of the Canal Zone forever for $10million and $0.25 million rent per year
  1. work began in 1907
    1. 1914- Canal opened to traffic
5. Roosevelt boasted that he had taken the Canal Zone while Congress talked
  1. much support for his methods within the US, since there had been previous attempts by Panamanians to gain independence from Colombia
    1. But, in Latin America, the methods TR had used caused dismay and much mistrust
      1. this was not the last time the US would encourage trouble in Latin America for its own ends
The Roosevelt Corollary
1. with USA having a much greater interested in Latin American affairs through its possessions in Cuba and Panama, TR felt that he had the right to intervene in order to maintain stability in the area and protect US interests
  1. 1902- crisis came when the government of Venezuela defaulted on debts in Europe
    1. combined fleet from Britain, Germany and Italy blockaded the Venezuelan coast
      1. USA feared that Europeans would use this as an excuse to take bases/land in area
        fear heightened when Germany began to bombard Venezuelan ports
        any attempt by Europeans to establish themselves in Latin America would be a clear violation of the Monroe Doctrine
        TR went further and issued an amendment to the Doctrine- became known as 'Roosevelt Corollary'
2. In the 'Roosevelt Corollary' he stated that to preserve order the US had the right to intervene in the affairs of other countries on the continent in cases of 'chronic wrongdoing or impotence'
  1. Americans could manipulate this to suit themselves
  2. used to justify their taking over the finances of the Dominican Republic in 1905, when it defaulted on its debt
    1. 'wrongdoing' was also used to explain military intervention some years later in Nicaragua in 1912 and Haiti in 1918
3. far from being an isolationist power, America was now declaring to the world that the Western Hemisphere was a sphere of influence
  1. yet it would be misleading to equate this simply European empire-building
    1. it cannot be denied the US was interfering in the international affairs of sovereign nations for its own ends, but TR thought it was crucial to maintain stability in Latin America
    2. if some level of stability were not maintained European powers themselves might seek to interfere
    3. Although US marines remained in the Dominican Republic until 1924, and in Nicaragua and Haiti for a further decade, when they left it was because the American government withdrew them
      1. in many of Europe's colonies, imperial forces were only withdrawn after long and bloody fights for independence
        although the USA might interfere, TR had successfully preserved Latin American independence from Europe, and in several cases American involvement did improve financial stability

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How successful was Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy

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	Created by Bethan Stevenson about 11 years ago