Foreign Policies of McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, & Wilson

Foreign Policies of McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, & Wilson Presidents’ Beliefs

William McKinley • Beliefs – Moral responsibility to Christianize and civilize those who were not – Main interest – • to secure the will and interest of the average working man • The “people” should get what they want

– Wanted to expand the frontier – continue “manifest destiny”

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

William Howard Taft • Wanted to expand American trade • Dollar Diplomacy – “Substituting dollars for bullets” – Maintain orderly societies abroad by increasing investments in foreign economies

• Main Goals – Maintain Open Door to China – Preserve Stability in Latin America

Woodrow Wilson • Wanted Foreign Policy based on principles rather than materialism • “Moral Diplomacy” – Hoped to spread democracy, condemn colonialism, and promote peace – 3rd Party Mediation of Conflicts • Nations would remain peaceful during mediation

– Hoped "to cultivate the friendship" w/ LA

• Help other nations achieve selfgovernment eventually – U.S. model (democracy)