The document discusses several international events involving Theodore Roosevelt and his assertive foreign policy: 1) After the Spanish-American War, Secretary of State John Hay issued the Open Door Note to prevent European powers from dividing China into spheres of influence and to maintain equal trade opportunities. 2) Roosevelt helped broker an end to the Russo-Japanese War and gained international prestige for the U.S. in doing so. 3) Tensions arose in California due to increasing Japanese immigration, but Roosevelt resolved the crisis through the Gentlemen's Agreement which restricted Japanese immigration without openly insulting Japan.

3. “LITTLE BROWN BROTHERS” in the PHILIPPINES
Explain why Filipinos were angry enough to
wage a rebellion against the U.S. in 1899.
Were the Filipinos justified? Who led the
insurrection?
How did this conflict differ for America
from the recent victory over Spain?
After the insurrection was defeated, what
was McKinley’s strategy? Did it work?

4. HINGING the OPEN DOOR in CHINA
Following China’s defeat to Japan, the imperialistic European powers began to tear away
valuable leaseholds and economic spheres of influence from the Manchu govt. Why did
this alarm the U.S.?
Secretary of State John Hay was given the responsibility of safeguarding American
interests in China. Britain offered assistance, but political complexities forced Hay to
refuse open British assistance.

5. Economic interests aside, churches worried about their missionary strongholds.
Missionaries felt a sentimental affection to the poor and exploited Chinese.
In the summer of 1899, Hay responded with his Open Door note. Explain this assertive
American policy. How effective was the Open Door policy?

6. To what policy does this cartoon refer?
What is the main idea of the cartoon?
How might the Chinese interpret the
situation?
How might the Japanese view the
situation?

7. Responding to the foreign exploitation, a
super-patriotic group of Chinese, known as
boxers, went on a rampage, targeting
missionaries and other ill-fated whites.

8. What was the American role in the international rescue force? And why was it
significant? After the Chinese defeat, how were they treated? After the Boxer
Rebellion, what was Hay’s concern? Explain his next move and its significance.

9. IMPERIALISM or BRYANISM in 1900?
In the presidential election of 1900, William
Jennings Bryan (D) ran against incumbent
President McKinley (R). Why was it
McKinley’s election to lose?
Explain how Teddy Roosevelt found himself
as McKinley’s running mate. What was his
role in the campaign?

10. What was Bryan’s main issue? Why wasn’t
it galvanizing enough?
Further alienating Bryan from the electorate
was his passionate opposition against
increasing American imperialism.
In the end McKinley won the election by a
large margin – was his victory a mandate?

11. TR: BRANDISHER of the BIG STICK
President McKinley had scarcely served six
months of his second term when, in Sept.
1901, he was assassinated by a deranged
anarchist.
TR became president at age 42, the
youngest thus far in American history.
Explain TR’s personal background and
identify how TR was a living
contradiction.
Above all, TR was a direct-actionist. He
believed that the president should lead;
and although he made mistakes, he made
progress.

13. COLOMBIA BLOCKS the CANAL
The Spanish-American War had emphasized
the need for the long-talked about canal
across the Central American isthmus. TR,
amongst others, saw this canal as vital to
American national security.
Initial obstacles in the path of the canal
builders were legal rather than
geographical. Explain how the Clayton-
Bulwer Treaty (1850) could have been an
obstacle for the U.S.
Explain the significance of the Hay-
Pauncefote Treaty (1901). Why did the
British sign this concession?
Why was Panama selected as the site for
the canal? Which other site was hotly
debated?

14. What does the cartoon depict? Comment on the man shoveling the dirt. How would you
interpret the cartoon if you were Colombian? Briefly summarize the purpose of the
cartoon.

15. UNCLE SAM CREATES PUPPET PANAMA
In 1902 Colombia controlled Panama. A treaty highly favorable to the U.S. was
negotiated between Washington and a Colombian govt. agent. Describe the main
provisions of the treaty. Why did the Colombian govt. balk at the treaty?

16. What do you think is the main
point of the cartoon?
How does the posture and
position of “Uncle Sam” in the
cartoon influence your reaction?
Why is the world globe on the
side of Uncle Sam?
Could this cartoon be used
today? Why or why not?

17. How did TR secure the canal
zone?
Did this enhance America’s
image?
Would this episode have the
potential to create problems
in the future between the
U.S. and Panama?

18. COMPLETING the CANAL and APPEASING COLOMBIA
The so-called rape of Panama marked an ugly
downward lurch in U.S. relations with Latin
America.
TR was put on the defensive for his actions,
but he remained unapologetic until the end.
Politics most certainly played a role in TR’s
actions. TR had his eyes set on the upcoming
1904 presidential election.
In 1914 Americans finally succeeded where the
French had failed. The canal was completed at
a cost of $400 million.

19. The design and sheer size of the great
Gatun Locks remain an engineering
marvel to this day.

21. TR’s PERVERSION of MONROE’S DOCTRINE
Latin American debt defaults created the conditions for further Rooseveltian involvement in affairs
south of the border. Describe the “Roosevelt Corollary” and the circumstances that precipitated
it. How did TR attempt to legitimize this intervention in Latin America?

22. What is the significance of the title of the cartoon? To what U.S. policy does this
cartoon refer? How did that policy differ from the earlier Monroe Doctrine? Summarize
the main idea of the cartoon. How was the “Big Stick” policy extended by Dollar
Diplomacy? How might a Venezuelan cartoonist view Big Stick diplomacy differently?

23. Explain how Roosevelt’s rewriting of Monroe’s doctrine had its dark side. America’s
perceived “Bad Neighbor” policy toward Latin America would endure until FDR won the
White House.

24. What is the main point of this
cartoon?
Do you see any similarities with
President Reagan’s position in this
cartoon & President Roosevelt’s in
Cartoon A?

25. Politically sensitive to critics, TR consistently denied any intentions to annex any
struggling Latin American countries, but his policies spoke louder than words for many.

26. ROOSEVELT on the WORLD STAGE
What event allowed TR to shine on
the world stage?
Explain his role and how the nation
paid a price for it.
For TR, what did he gain from the
Portsmouth Conference?

28. JAPANESE LABORERS in CALIFORNIA
The population of America’s Pacific Coast population was directly affected by the Russo-
Japanese War. Numerous Japanese laborers, with their families, began to pour into the
spacious valleys of California. Explain the events culminating in a showdown with
Japan in 1906. How did TR resolve the crisis? (the “Gentlemen’s Agreement”)

29. TR worried that his intervention between California and Japan might be interpreted in
Tokyo as prompted by fear of the Japanese. Accordingly, he sent “The Great White
Fleet” on a worldwide journey to impress the Japanese with the heft of his big stick. The
by-product of the tour was the Root-Takahira Agreement (1905) – explain the primary
provision.