1. IMPERIALISTIC PRESIDENTS
Learning Target: Explain the foreign policy goals and actions of McKinley, T. Roosevelt and Taft.

2. William McKinley 1897-1901 Republican
Basic Info
elected at the end of a depression era
moral responsibility to spread Christianity
Presidency dominated by foreign policy
Yellow Journalism
portrayed unrest in Cuba as very violent
criticized for being weak and indecisive
public pressure forced McKinley to declare war on Spain
Spanish-American War
U.S. gains land at the end of the war
Cuba, Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico
U.S. Strength
gains from war moved U.S. amongst top imperialist nations
McKinley’s decisions during the war praised by journalists
military bases = military strength
trading ports = economic strength
Assassination
September 1901
Leon Czolgosz – anarchist, unemployed factory worker
executed October 29, 1901

3. William McKinley 1897-1901 Interesting Facts
First President to ride in an automobile while President………..it was an ambulance after he was assassinated!
First President to use a telephone to campaign
Commanding Officer during the Civil War was Rutherford B. Hayes who also later became President
McKinley’s wife Ida hated the color yellow so much she had everything yellow removed from the White House including the yellow flowers in the garden
McKinley’s portrait was featured on the $500 bill which was last printed in 1934
McKinley’s inauguration was the first to be filmed
McKinley loved carnations and wore them as a good luck charm

4. McKinley

5. Theodore Roosevelt Big Stick Diplomacy
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Big stick = military
International negotiations backed by threat of force
U.S. has moral responsibility to “civilize” weaker nations
Roosevelt Corollary (to Monroe Doctrine)
U.S. can use “international police power” in Latin America to prevent European nations from intervening
1901 – 1909

6. Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909 Republican
Basic Info
McKinley’s VP – took over upon McKinley’s assassination
Spanish-American War veteran
already had strong reputation with the people
“Speak Softly and Carry A Big Stick”
big stick = U.S. naval power Roosevelt had built up
naval power helped make Panama Canal a reality
U.S. Navy assisted Panama in gaining her independence from Colombia
Roosevelt Corollary
corollary – extension of an existing policy
large sums of money invested in Latin America by Europeans and Americans
high interest bank loans
Dominican Republic unable to repay debt
fear that Europe would use force to collect debt
Corollary stated the following:
American will intervene and use armed forces in Latin American affairs if necessary
if you mess with Latin America you mess with the United States
Roosevelt Corollary issued without approve from any Latin American countries
Roosevelt showed strength and power of the United States

7. Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909 Republican
Interesting Facts
Roosevelt was the first President to travel outside of the United States – Panama 1906
First American to win the Nobel Peace Price in 1906 for his role in the Russo-Japanese War
Most of Roosevelt’s education was homeschooling by his parents and tutors
Roosevelt was blind in his left eye – the result of a boxing injury
Roosevelt was known to go skinny dipping in the Potomac River during the wintertime
First President to fly in a plane in 1910 – 4 minute flight in a plane built by the Wright Brothers
Youngest President to assume office at the age of 42 – JFK youngest elected at 43

8. Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy

9. William Howard Taft 1909-1913 Republican
Basic Info
very different ideas than Roosevelt
did not believe in stretching his Presidential powers
Dollar Diplomacy
promote American economic interests in other countries
use that economic power to achieve American policy goals
suggested U.S. buy out European loans in Latin America
wanted to invest 1.6 billion in Latin American mines, railroads, banana and sugar plantations
Taft investments resented by the Latin American people
Latin America feared too much U.S. economic intervention and control

10. William Howard Taft 1909-1913 Republican
Interesting Facts
Taft weighed over 330 pounds – largest President – got stuck in the White House bathtub
Taft was the only President ever to have been both the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and President
First President to throw the first ball of baseball season in 1910 – Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators
First President to own a car – converted the stables into a garage
Last President to keep a cow at the White House for fresh milk – Pauline
Referred to the White House as the “loneliest place in the world”
Argued for the construction of the U.S. Supreme Court building
First President to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery – JFK also buried there

11. Taft and Dollar Diplomacy