“Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary...combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.”

“But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.”

(Both/neither Isolationist and Interventionist because the US is strong and has the military power, but only if they need it -- they don't have to be a police presence.)

“We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety.”

“If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation”

The US has the right to intervene and prevent European powers from disrupting the stability of their nation if necessary.

“hereby disclaims any disposition of intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people.”

“the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the Treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the Government of Cuba.”

Background:

The Civil War ended in 1865 and the effect on the US's economy is that because the North ramped up industrial production to win the war, they built railroad tracks and factories to build armaments. After the war and up until 1900, the US became the leading industrial power in the world and that was one of the main reasons why immigrants flooded to the US at that time. However, the US wasn't really recognized as a military power because number one was England. None of the nations of Europe thought of the US as a an important power in the world so they weren't interested. Nations of Europe were such important world powers because of their own investment in imperialism. From about 1880-1900, the powers of Europe competed with each other to take over territories in the world. And those nations had a lot of natural resources but couldn't compete with European powers. In the mid-19th century, there were explores going through Africa and they found diamonds, gold, and rubber and tea in India. So in 1880s and 1890s, Europeans sought for territorial control of Africa. The Europeans really wanted the colonies abroad because they could take their natural resources for European industrial production. The Europeans also wanted markets and they think the US should join in because they want to expand the frontier.

On February 15, 1898, in Havana Harbor, there was an explosion that destroyed an American battle ship killing 266 men. As a result, President William Mckinley asked congress to declare war on Spain. So US forces landed in the Philippines and Cuba and the war lasted 13 weeks. Spain surrendered after the US navy destroyed the Spanish fleet. After, the American army entered Santiago de Cuba as liberators, while the Cuban rebel army was forced to wait outside the city. It's told in America that the Cubans are a lot like Americans where they are trying to free themselves from an oppressive colonial power (they're imagining them as white). But Cuban allies are mostly Black so they say they are no longer fit for self government. On December 18, 1898, representatives of US and Spain negotiate the end of the war and the spoils of war. But the people whose destinies would be determined didn't have a voice in those discussions. So as a result, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and The Philippines were then under US control.

Along with that, in 1890, Alfred Mahan published a book called The Influence of Sea Power Upon History. His thesis was that all the great nations of history had gotten their greatness through a domination of the seas. He says that if the US wants to be a world power, they will need to make serious investments in their navy. So they'll need to build a very powerful naval fleet and put a canal somewhere across Central America so it's easier for ships to get to the Pacific. Along with that, they'll need friendly ports all over the world so the navy can dock, refuel, and get supplies. Lastly, they'll need good harbors: Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The US therefore listens to Mahan and in 1890- 1914 the US increases their investment in the navy by a power of 7. Starting in 1890, they put $22 million into the navy and by 1914, there was $140 million a year into navy.

During his speech, he summarized the values of democracy. However, the speech was 11 months before the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The purpose of the speech was to symbolize the pursuit of peace in a postwar world.