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WOODROW WILSON AND MORAL DIPLOMACY

 Woodrow Wilson, the candidate from the Democratic Party, won the Presidential Election in 1912. As part of his campaign, he promised to handle foreign affairs with a moral approach, known as Moral Diplomacy, to right the wrongs of the Dollar Diplomacy and Theodore Roosavelts 'Big Stick' policy.

Moral Diplomacy was first used in: The Philippines: Wilson passed the Jones Act of 1916 which guaranteed territorial status, gave them a bill of rights, gave Filipino male citizens suffrage, and promised independace once a government was established. Puerto Rico: All inhabitants were granted U.S. citizenship and provided a limited self-government. Panama Canal: Congress repealed the act that exempt American ships from paying the canal toll. This act greatly pleased the British who were in objection to the previous act.

The whole idea behind Moral Diplomacy was that the United States would influence the economics of Latin American countries. They would support the countries that were democratic, however if the country was not democratic, their econimics would suffer greatly and would have no choice but to cave to what the United States wanted them to do.

When examineing whether or not the Moral Diplomacy policy was effective, it is plain to see that there are both good and bad consequences. On the posative side, America's power, economic interest, and advancement of human rights increased in Latin American countries. On the downside, eventually the United States would have to use their military power to force new government upon the Latinoes and would be using overprotective business policies.

Sources: [|This Website] AMSCO text book Google Images