What was / is America

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11/8/10 What was / is Americas role in the world?
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Roosevelt Corollary The U.S. will react to
anything in the world that threatens its
interests.
Big Stick Diplomacy Walk softly, but carry a
big stick.
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Open Door Policy

• Imperialist nations had been carving out spheres
  of influence in China throughout the late 1800s
• America sent letters (Open Door Notes) to all
  those nations asking for equal trading rights in
  China for all nations

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Reactions
Chinas reaction
Our goal
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The reaction of other nations.
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In what ways is America involved in the world
today?
What are the obvious or potential negatives of
each of these?
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American Imperialism in Asia
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Background

• Burlingame Treaty of 1868 led to fair play
  between nations, unrestricted Chinese immigration
  to America (Central Pacific R/R) and no American
  interference in Chinese domestic affairs
• Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 suspended
  immigration from China for ten years

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• Chinese resented foreign influence in China
  this resentment grew after the Open Door Policy
  was announced.
• Chinese patriots (called Boxers) started a
  rebellion to rid China of foreign influence in
  1900 Boxer Rebellion
• A coalition of the Open Door nations put down the
  rebellion and forced China to pay reparations
  (money for war damages)

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"China never wanted foreigners any more than
foreigners wanted Chinamen, and on this question
I am with the Boxers every time. The Boxer is a
patriot. He loves his country better than he does
the countries of other people. I wish him
success. The Boxer believes in driving us out of
his country. I am a Boxer too, for I believe in
driving him out of our country." -Mark Twain
November 23, 1900
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Imperialism in Japan

• American whalers wanted to refuel in Japan and
  American traders wanted tea, silk, and other
  goods
• In 1852, Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to
  Japan with huge black warships (the warships
  terrified the Japanese)
• Japan opened trade with the west in 1854

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Russo-Japanese War

• Japan and Russia were fighting over Korea and
  Manchuria, China
• Both nations were too strong to lose, but too
  weak to win (stalemate)
• President T. Roosevelt negotiated a peace treaty
  for two reasons
• 1 he wanted Russia and Japan to uphold the Open
  door Policy
• 2 he feared that Japan would grow too strong
  and threaten America in the Pacific

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Great White Fleet

• President T. Roosevelt sent the U.S. Navy on a
  global cruise in 1907 to show that the USA could
  protect its interests by force
• The sixteen battleships were painted white and
  called the Great White Fleet
• The Great White Fleet was the embodiment of
  Roosevelts Big Stick Diplomacy