Was Roosevelt's foreign policy a success or failure

 One success of Roosevelt’s was the ‘Spanish – American’ war. America defeated a weakening Spanish army fairly easily after 10 undefeated battles and this gave them a strong reputation.

Furthermore, in getting the Spanish out of Cuba they gained themselves the control of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and trade with South America. This gave them added influence in the Atlantic. They had large investments in Cuba: 50 million pound, 80% Cuban exports of sugar and tabocoo. Moreover, they gained Guantanmo Bay as a permanent American Naval base and later on they gained Pearl Harbour: this gave them safe sea routes and a safe place to keep their navy, as all world power needed a large navy. As well as gaining ports and harbours American also gained the Philippians which they bought for $20 million and then a further 7 million people to their population. This event is therefore seen as a strength as they gained influence, a greater population and harbours.

 Another failure of Roosevelt’s foreign policy is the building of the Panama Canal. Negotiations for a canal began in 1815 between Britain and America. The canal would be beneficial to America as it would allow them to travel from the East to the West coast without having to go around South America. However Britain pulled out on he grounds that it forbade fortification.

After all negotiations and meetings Roosevelt still faced many obstacles. Between 1881-87 a French company, led by Ferdinand De Lesseps had spent nearly $300 million and 20,000 lives to dig less than a third of the canal through panama. The French company now demanded $ 109 million for work to continue. Yet when the House of Representatives passed the go ahead for the construction of the canal in Nicaragua, where it would be cheaper, the French company lowered its price to $40 million. Though to have built the canal in Nicaragua would have been a disadvantage due to it being in an earthquake zone as well as this it would have made the canal longer.  During this time of negotiations Secretary Hay had been discussing with Thomas Herran of Colombia and in return for a canal 6 miles wide agreed to pay 10 million, $250,000 a year. However the Colombian senate held out for 25 million after hay Herran treaty of 1903 angered Roosevelt. Meanwhile in panama tensions were high at Colombia’s rejection of the terms especially as they had been in a long dispute with the Columbian authorities in Bogotá. Manuel Amador an employee of the company began a secrete plot with the companies representative Philippe Bunua-Varilla. Both visited Roosevelt informing them with apparent inside information and informed the conspirators that the U.S.S Nashville would arrive at Colon in Panama on November 2. The next day Amador staged a revolt and Colombian troops found American troops blocking the sea lanes. Roosevelt appointed Philippe as ambassador of Panama and sealed the deal. This could be seen as a failure as Roosevelt committed one of the greatest offences in foreign policy. America helped spark a spontaneous revolution to get what they wanted. It is morally wrong to meddle in other countries affairs.    

 Finally a second success of Roosevelt’s foreign policy was the role America played as an international policeman in Morocco. In March 1905 the French and British were criticised by the German Kaiser which aroused a diplomatic storm of dangerous proportions. Roosevelt felt that America could be affected in any sort of way, and so decided to intervene. He then called an international conference this was when The Act of Algeciras was signed in 1906, which was a way of ensuring independence for Morocco and the Americans managed to benefit as they were guaranteed open door for trade there. The Act of Algeciras provided training and control of Moroccan police by France and Spain. The United States senate ratified the agreement as one that may well have prevented a general war. This event was seen as a success because Roosevelt was appraised for avoiding a world war, and plus he rewarded morocco with independence.

Overall Roosevelt’s foreign policy was just as successful as unsuccessful. However during numerous situations such as the Columbian revolution Roosevelt made very serious mistakes which in turn resulted in America later on had to face grave dangers such as the attack at Pearl Harbour.