Evaluate the extent to which the United States’ foreign policy fostered change politically and diplomatically from 1900 to 1941
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Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
A treaty between Britain and the US to enable the US to build the Panama Canal. This helps to prove the thesis because it shows foreign policy diplomatically changing the US. By being open to other countries, the US is able to benefit commercially. -
Roosevelt Corollary
This form of foreign policy, created by Teddy Roosevelt, made the US into the "police" of the Western hemisphere. It was added to the Monroe doctrine and it declared that the U.S. could pay off the Latin American counties' debts and keep European countries out of Latin America. -
The Start of Dollar Diplomacy
This was the foreign policy of William Howard Taft which encouraged Wall Street bankers to invest in foreign areas of strategic interest to the United States. This in return, strengthened not only the US economy, but US's diplomatic relations with Latin American countries. -
Tampico Incident
The dictator General Victoriano Huerta took over the country of Mexico. Americans ended up being captured by the Mexicans and Wilson sent the navy to get involved. This is a change from dollar to moral diplomacy. The US continued to enforce its role as "Police" of the Western hemisphere. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany was attempting to create a secret alliance with Mexico in case the US joined the war. The telegram was intercepted and seen by the US, causing them to enter the war. Their ideas behind "isolationism" were changed and the US became politically set for war. -
Fourteen Points
Wilson's fourteen points were extremely important to US diplomacy because its ideas had a long lasting effect on the world. The fourteen points were proposed before the end of World War 1 in attempts at addressing global trade, alliances, and the morality of the war. The US was a major power. This event later influenced the League of Nations. -
League of Nations
Although the US was never a part of the League of Nations, it was always one of President Wilson's goals for it to be created. It would consist of member of all the major powers and Wilson envisioned it as a way to prevent future world wars. This shows US foreign policy influencing other major nations. The US at this time was acting as a peace keeper of the world. -
Washington Disarmament Conference
Many of the main countries involved in World War 1 met at a conference led by William Harding. Treaties like the Four-Power, Five-Power, and Nine-Power Treaties were agreed on to help disarm many of the respective navies. US foreign policy showed itself ability to influence other countries and promote a safer world. -
Dawes Plan
The US proposed a plan to help Germany pay off it war debts to the Allied nations. The US would loan money to Germany, which they would then use to pay back the Allied nations like France and Britain, and those countries in turn, would pay back the US. This plan showed that America was now a main power that diplomatically could have some influence on the European flow of money. -
The Criminal Case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti
This took place during a time of antiforeignism. These two men were accused of murder and sentenced to death because they were prejudiced against because they were Italian, anarchists, and atheist. This political shift of fear of foreigners is in direct relation to the shift of America into isolationism as a result of the Red Scare. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Americans decided to call for the "outlaw of war." Under Calvin Coolidge's secretary of state, Frank. B. Kellogg, the pact was signed by 62 nations. This showed further efforts of the US foreign policy to promote safety throughout the world. -
Hawley-Smoot Tariff
This was a tariff that raised the American tariff 60%. European countries were outraged and did the same in return. This tariff deepened the depression that most countries were entering at this time and hurt the financial world globally. The effects of this tariff showed the extent of American influence on foreign nations. In efforts to help our own country through a type of isolationism, the US hurt its diplomatic affairs and economy. -
Stimson Doctrine
Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson decided to only diplomatically attack the Japanese instead of using major force. The doctrine states that the United States would not recognize any territory acquired by force (Manchuria). Despite Japan ignoring the doctrine, it showed the US's foreign policy influencing their diplomacy. -
Neutrality Acts
These occurred in the years 1935, 1936, and 1937. The acts stated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect. Americans would not sell weapons to countries in war and Americans could not ride on their ships. The US believed that democracy was most important and should be saved. In attempts to isolate themselves, they only made other countries more angry. -
Atlantic Conference
Churchill and Roosevelt met up to create the eight-point Atlantic Charter. This charter stated their goals of the war: that people would be able to decide on their own government and disarmament of the enemies. This further showed how foreign policy influenced the US's motivation and opportunity to preserve democracy.
