11/12/2015
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William McKinley #25
 1896 - 1901
 Began Imperialism for U.S.
IMPERIALISM
PRESIDENTS
 Spanish-American War
McKinley, T. Roosevelt, Taft & Wilson
 3rd president assassinated!
Theodore Roosevelt #26
 1901 - 1908
 Redefined Presidency
 Bully Pulpit = use prez. powers & popularity to influence media & push
thru prog. reform laws in Congress
 Believed it was fed. gov. responsibility for the welfare of peeps, IF the
states proved incapable
 Outdoorsmen
 Big game hunter
 Spared a bear cub on a trip = toymaker created a “teddy bear”
 Environmental Protector
 Need to conserve & protect nat. resources
 Set asides mil. of acres for preservation
 Vice President = T. Roosevelt
T.R. & the WORLD
 Wouldn’t allow Euro. to control
world’s politics & econ.
 Wanted influence in China
 Promoted U.S. as a strong but
respectful leader in world affairs
 Viewed U.S. as world’s police for
democracy
 Won Nobel Peace Price (1906) for
negotiated peace settlement in
Russo-Jap. War
 est. Yosemite Nat. Park - 1903
T.R.’S FOREIGN POLICY
 Roosevelt Corollary (1904) = U.S. would use force to protect its
econ. interests in Lat. Am.
 Built upon Monroe Doctrine (1823)
 Make U.S. major influence in Caribbean & Cen./Lat. Am.
 “Speak softly, but carry a big stick.” – W. African proverb T.R.
based his beliefs off
 Big Stick Diplomacy = Use words to achieve results w/the veiled threat
of force if results aren’t achieved
 Began construction of Panama Canal – 1904
 Gave U.S. 2-ocean navy
 Greatest engineering feat
 Left poor relations w/other L.A. nations
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1908 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
 T.R. doesn’t run for reelection
WILLIAM TAFT #27
 1908 – 1912
 Leaves presidency @ height of popularity
 Wins election due to T.R.
 Hand-picked William Taft to be Republican candidate &
his successor
 NOT a prog. reformer like T.R.
 Weak-minded & couldn’t handle challenges; didn’t
want people angry w/his decisions
 Everyone compared him to T.R.
** Taft wrote a letter to T.R. saying, “When I
am addressed as “Mr. President”, I turn to
see whether you are not at my elbow.”
TAFT’S FOREIGN POLICY
1912 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
 Dollar Diplomacy = U.S. gov. guarantee loans to other nations;
used to justify keeping Euro. powers out of Caribbean/Lat. Am.
 Republican party split over support for Taft for president
 Taft had U.S. banks loan Nicaragua $$$ to pay its debts
 U.S. bankers recovered loaned $$ by collecting Nic. custom duties &
gained control of Nic. RRs & nat. bank
 Nic. citizens revolted against Nic. gov.; not happy
w/U.S. involvement
 Taft sent 2,000 Marines to suppress revolt
 A graduated income tax
 17th Amendment = Direct
election of Senators 1912
 Landslide victory for Woodrow Wilson #28
 “New Freedom” = prog. reform program
WILSON’S FOREIGN POLICY
 Clayton Antitrust Act – 1914
 Prohibited corps. from acquiring the
stock of another if doing so = a
monopoly
 Legalized labor unions
 More effective than “Sherman” bill
 Federal Reserve Act – 1913  Federal Trade Commission –
1914
 Fed. gov. control $$ supply &
credit in econ.
 T.R. runs as Bull Moose candidate (a 3rd political party)
vs. Taft (R) & Woodrow Wilson (D)
 Focus on econ. (trusts & finance)
“NEW FREEDOM”
 16th Amendment = Federal
Income Tax – 1913
 Prog. Reformers angry over Taft undoing some of T.R.’s
reforms = urge T.R. to run again
 Biz “watchdog” for illegal activity
 Missionary Diplomacy = U.S. had moral responsibility to deny
recognition to any Lat. Am. gov. viewed as oppressive,
undemocratic or hostile to U.S. interests
 Pressured nations in West. Hem. to become democratic
 Believed in superiority of capitalistic democracy
 U.S. gov would extend this idea even thru armed intervention
 1913 Mexico – Wilson refused to recognize new gov. under General
Huerta who came to power by an overthrow & an execution; called
them a “gov. of butchers”
 After Huerta captured U.S. sailors, Wilson intervened w/Marines
 Huerta gov. collapsed & Wilson recognized new gov. in 1915
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