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Dollar Diplomacy
In order to help the American foreign policy and political interests abroad president Taft encouraged bankers to invest surplus dollars into foreign areas of strategic concern to the U.S. Much money was taken to China's Manchuria and to the areas surrounding the Panama Canal and the Caribbean. -
Nicaragua
Mid-year, in 1912, the Nicaraguan republic requested American aid in surpressing an impeding revolution. This was during the era of Dollar Diplomacy and the U.S was not hesitant to land 2500 troops on the shores. Upheaval started in 1909 when conservative forces who were supported by the U.S. rebelled against the president. The transfer of power was sucessful but fear of another insurrection surfaced so American troops were stationed there to keep peace and remained for 13 years. -
Anti-Dollar Diplomacy
After only a few days of being in office, president Wilson made it clear that he was not fond of imperialism. He quickly proclaimed that the government wouldn't give any more support to American investors in Latin America or China. American bankers would soon pull out of the six-nation loan to China -
Japanese Land Owning
By 1913 tension in California was growing with the Japanese and whites. California passed legislature focussed on disallowing Japanese to own property and seeking to rid the state of Japanese settlers. Japan protested this and William Jennings Bryan help compromise with the California legislature to ease tensions. -
Mexico
After a series of revolutions in Mexico a man named Victoriano Huerta seized power. In 1913, after this had happened, president Woodrow Wilson refused to recognize the government under Huerta reflecting his Missionary Diplomacy policies. -
Neutrality in WWI
When World War I broke out in the Balkans president Wilson proclaimed America's neutrality. While at one time Americans were torn as to which side to take on their own, there soon became little sympathy for Germany. Most Americans were decided after hearing about the attack on neutral Beligum by the Central Powers and after finding out about secret plans for industrial sabotage in America. -
Repealing of Panama Canal Tolls Act
President Wilson called for congress to repeal the Panama Canal Tolls Act of 1912 in early 1914. Prior, this act exempted American coastwise shipping from tolls. The Tolls Act was always under protest from Europe, especially Britain. -
Haitian Turmoil
In 1915, the Haitian president was killed in upheaval and marines were sent to Haiti to protect Americans and American property although Wilson was not one to intervene. Soon Haiti was under American financial support and the marines remained there for 19 years. -
Post-Lusitania Policies
In 1915 the British cruise liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat killing over 100 Americans. Even after this horrible act of aggression the general public had a strong distaste for hostile retaliation including president Wilson. He was able to get the Germans to agree not to attack passenger and merchant ships without warning. War was eventually waged soon after the Germans brok their agreement and announced unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Jones Act
As a democrat and an anti-imperialist, president Wilson worked with William Jennings Bryan and others for the Jones Act of 1916. The Jones Act promised that one day the Philipines would be independent some day when it could maintain its own government. It wasn't until 1946 that the Philipines did become independent.
