history american presidency

The Great White Fleet (Roosevelt foreign policy)

USA needed a powerful navy to protect its economic and strategic interests in the Far East e.g Philippines. Roosevelt was a former assistant navy secretary, convinced congress to approve additional battleships and men enlisted in the navy. December 1907 16 battleships were sent on a world tour to show off Americas Naval strength, returned in February 1909. US Navy doubled in size between 1901 and 1909

Panama Canal (Roosevelt foreign policy)

In 1903 Columbia agreed to lease the land surrounding the canal later that year a revolt broke out in Panama, by Roosevelt supporting a Panama revolt against Columbia and dispatching US warships to both coasts of Panama he was able to secure lease of land to build Panama Canal giving easier access between Atlantic and Pacific ocean

Roosevelt Collorary to the Monroe Doctrine (Roosevelt foreign policy)

Roosevelt added an addition to an existing policy that would help protect Latin American countries from European expansion, while ensuring Latin America paid their international debts, US would act as an international police force, it was a clear signal to European nations not to intervene

Ending the Russo Japanese war (Roosevelt foreign policy)

As the conflict dragged on between Russia and Japan Roosevelt offered to mediate between the two sides and acted like a diplomatic statesman. In August 1905 representatives from Russia and Japan met for peace talks in Portsmouth, hosted by Roosevelt, both sides keen for peace, they signed the Treaty of Portsmouth to end the conflict, he was the first US president to play a major role in international affairs. For doing this he was awarded the nobel peace prize

Secretary of Commerce and Labour (Roosevelt domestic policy)

March 1903 this body was set up to allow federal government to intervene with interstate businesses (trusts/monopolies). Allowed government to examine financial records of business and take appropriate action.

Roosevelt Trust Busting

Northern securities was a massive railroad trust controlled by JP Morgan, McKinley failed in his legal actions against the trusts. He failed to inform his own cabinet about his plans to challenge the trusts. President used the Sherman anti trust act to introduce a lawsuit against the Northern Securities company. In; March 1904 the supreme court ruled in Roosevelt’s favour and ordered his powerful trust should be dissolved.

Roosevelt Square Deal

In Pennsylvania May 1902 a major strike broke out between coal miners and powerful mining companies. Over 140,000 members of the United Mine Workers demanded higher wages and shorter working hours. Mine owners refused and Roosevelt called a conference in October 1902 at the White House warning employers that he would appoint an arbitration commission and if they refused he would allow the govt to take over coal mines. They agreed and the miners went back to work in spring 1903 with both wages increased and hours cut

Roosevelt Conservation

Roosevelt believed he needed to preserve the nations wilderness regions from development e.g blocking plans for industrial development of Alaska. He moved the forest service from the department of interior to the department of agriculture. In 1906 he signed the Antiquities act protecting 18 national monuments such as the Grand Canyon, created five national parks and set aside over 200 million acres for 150 national forests and 51 wildlife refugees. In June 1908 he set up the National Conservation Commission.

1914 Nobel Peace Prize (Foreign Policy)

Roosevelt regulated peace between Russia and Japan (treaty of Portsmouth) and helped develop prestige of president in world affairs, he developed this further by facilitating a peace between France and Germany over Moscow in 1905