Americas in the world — US expansionism

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A foreign policy of extending a country's power, territory, or influence beyond its own borders.

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A weaker state that is officially independent but is controlled and defended by a stronger power.

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Political factors, economic factors, social factors, and the role of ideology (e.g. Social Darwinism, Manifest Destiny).

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The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbour (Feb 1898); yellow press blamed Spain; USA declared war in April 1898 partly to support the Cuban independence struggle.

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Control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam; Cuba became formally independent but under heavy US influence (Platt Amendment, 1901).

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Theodore Roosevelt's addition to the Monroe Doctrine: the USA claimed the right to intervene in Latin American states to preempt European intervention over unpaid debts.

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Roosevelt's approach of backing negotiation with the credible threat of US military force — 'speak softly and carry a big stick'.

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William Taft's policy (1909-13) of using US financial investment and loans, rather than military force, to expand US influence in Latin America and Asia.

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Woodrow Wilson's policy (from 1913) of supporting only governments that were democratic and that served the moral interests of their people — though in practice he intervened militarily anyway (e.g. Mexico, Haiti).

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US industry was overproducing; expansionists argued new overseas markets and raw materials (like Cuban sugar) were needed to keep growing.

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His book on sea power argued a strong navy needed overseas coaling stations and colonies — this shaped the buildup of the US fleet and the push for bases like Hawaii and the Philippines.

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Roosevelt Corollary = threat/use of military force to justify intervention; Dollar Diplomacy = economic investment and loans used to gain influence without (in theory) needing troops.