how far was president theodore roosevelt responsible for the USA's move towards a more expansionist foreign policy?

treaty of portsmouth

-TR created it at the end of the Russo Japanesse war in 1905, for which he was awarded a nobel peace prize -it was a sign of the USAs growing importance in international affairs. -T.R played a huge role in bringing japan and Russia together.

panama canal

-he assisted in the panama canal -he promised that the USA gained control of the building and operation of the panama canal -this allowed ships to pass between the atlantic and pacific oceans -in both strategic and commercial terms, this added to the USA's global influence

guaranteed cuba was under US control

-he guaranteed cuba would effectively remain under US control by drawing up the platt amendment to the cuban constitution -USA was able to dictate cubas foreign policy and all its commercial activity -USA was also granted rights over key land on the island, including the navy base at Guantanamo bay

expansion of navy

-military controlled sea and trade routes

commercial/business

-profit was the number 1 reason for imperialism -us foreign investments increased largely

religion

-spread ideas of christianity and put it back in schools

the roosevelt collary

-the roosevelt collary and the platt amendment were combined to strengthen the USA's influence in the caribbean significantly. -it gave the USA the right to join in the region whenever it considered its interests to be at risk

alaska

-the us bought alaska from russia for 7.2 million dollars, which is very cheap. -russians regreted this decision -alaska eventually became a state and bc of this it became easier to trade w russia