Three Diplomacies in Latin America

Catch Up… Puerto Rico & Cuba 1900: Foraker Act- est. gov’t in Puerto Rico Prez appt governor, part of legislature; the rest elected 1917, Wilson signs Jones Act that granted Puerto Ricans more citizenship rights, gave islanders greater control over their own legislature. But, do not enjoy al of the same rights as Americans. Must pay taxes on goods sold in the US…

1902: Platt Amendment- brings Cuba within US sphere Ex: can’t sign foreign treaty w/o US approval Ex: US has ‘right to intervene’ to preserve order Many Cubans really disliked Platt Amend, but the only way the US would end its military occupation of the island. US unwilling to risk Cuba becoming a base for a hostile power.

Theodore Roosevelt- “Big Stick Diplomacy” “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far” Need strong military to achieve goals

A MAN A PLAN A CANAL PANAMA US needed consent of Colombia’s gov’t Panama part of Colombia TR sent navy to support Panamanian rebellion…. Panama decl. independ. (1903) US buys Canal Zone, builds canal Idea didn’t begin with TR… but he engineered its creation Late 1800s: French company tried to link Atl  Pac across Ishtmus of Pana, failed. Eventually, company convinced US to buy its claim for $40 million But… US needed consent of Colombian gov’t Colombia wanted more money than the US was willing to provide… Apperance of US navy convinced Colombians not to suppress the uprising, so Panama soon declared its independence

Roosevelt Corollary Updated Monroe Doctrine Economic focus US would assume role of police power in W. Hemisphere (beyond just keeping it free from European intervention) If Latin American countries guilty of ‘chronic wrongdoing’…. US would act as police power, intervene, restore order, etc. So beyond M.D. which said European powers shouldn’t intervene…. Now US is giving itself the right to intervene for the ‘good’ of the hemisphere. Resented by many Latin Americans- disagreed, thought Latin Americans could police themselves

Taft- “Dollar Diplomacy” “Substitute dollars for bullets” Incr. US investments in businesses, banks Ex: plantations, mines, oil wells, railways, etc…. Sometimes ‘big stick’ still needed… Ex: Nicaragua, 1909 & 1912, protect pro-US gov’t Sometimes

Wilson- “Moral Diplomacy” Promised no more expansion by conquest…. Focus on human rights, opportunity, national integrity Still used military to guide Latin America… Ex: 1915, Haiti- protect US investments; DR; Mexico “We must prove ourselves [Latin America’s] friends and champions upon terms of equality and honor… We must show ourselves friends by comprehending their interest, whether it squares with our own interest or not… Comprehension must be the soil in which shall grow all the fruits of friendship… “I mean the development of constitutional liberty in the world.” - Oct. 1913

Wilson & Mexico Gets involved in Mexican Revolution Long story short…. Wilson sends troops to prevent military dictator Huerta from getting/ keeping power (MORAL diplomacy) New ‘reform’ gov’t, led by Venustiano Carranza, had enemies…. Pancho Villa

Wilson Hunts Pancho Villa Villa raids US town Wilson sends 10,000 troops under General John Pershing to hunt Villa Did not catch him…. Withdraw for WWI