Foreign Policy of Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson
Directions: After our discussion you must use the information below to fill in the Venn Diagram to compare and contrast two foreign policies. Then you will use your Venn Diagram to write a compare and contrast essay.
Theodore Roosevelt, Geo politician 1901-1909 Republican
Foreign Policy 1. Believed that Americans were superior people destined for supremacy in economic and political affairs. In order for this to happen, Americans had to strive for greatness, cultivate mental fitness, build military force, and prepare to fight. 2. International relation expert: understood that U.S. can not rule every portion of the globe through military or economic reforms. Believed in a balance of power among the industrial nations through negotiation rather than war. Such a balance would enable each imperial power to safe guard its key interest and contribute to world peace and progress. 3. Had little patience with claims to sovereignty of small countries or the human rights of weak people. In his eyes, the peoples of Latin America, Asia (with the exception of Japan) and Africa as racially inferior and incapable of self-government or industrial progress. 4. Wanted to dominant Western Hemisphere. Warned European powers from interfering in U.S. interest (Monroe Doctrine).
William Howard Taft, Dollar Diplomat 1909-1913 Republican
Foreign Policy 1. Had experience in dealing with imperialist rivals such as Japan as Roosevelt’s secretary of war, but lacked Roosevelt’s grasp of balance of power politics and capacity for leadership in foreign affairs. 2. Taft’s secretary of state, Philander Knox lacked diplomatic expertise. His conduct of foreign policy focused on expanding opportunities for corporate investment overseas (Dollar Diplomacy). 3. Taft believed that