Since its creation after the War of IndependenceAmerica had never being viewed as much of a threat by the great powers of Europe, just a bunch of upstart colonials with a bee in their bonnet. To the ordinary people however America was the land of opportunity, where any man could reach the top. Taxes were low, government interference- minimal. In foreign affairs America followed the advice of Jefferson, "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none."
But just recently, America had being flexing its muscles. The Spanish-American war showed America could beat a European power but, as many commentators put it, it was only Spain. The Spanish-American war had a big consequence for world politics, the US annexation of the Philippines. Bringing America into the world stage beyond the Monroe doctrine, suddenly honest friendship with the Japanese became impossible. Then on October 11, 1907 the San Francisco school board decided that Japanese and Koreans must now attend “OrientalPublic School” along with the Chinese. Now, this greatly angered the Japanese parents, Japanese culture highly valued education and how dare these whites try to give their children sub-standard education. The event looked like it was going to get out of hand, and so Roosevelt stepped in. He promised an end Japanese immigration if the current population could attend private schools. It has being questioned why Roosevelt took this course of action. Many attribute it to the Treaty of Portsmouth.
As we know, Roosevelt was not happy at how the British took control of the peace negotiations and believed he never got credit for it. Perhaps he took uo the problem to try to score some bonus points. Thing is the Japanese were having none of it. The treaty of 1894 assured free immigration from Japan and equal rights for Japanese. Ironically there is strong evidence that Roosevelt was not as anti-Japanese as often portrayed, he wanted to stop the segregation of the Japanese students and thought a quiet compromise as the best option. But Japan’s all or nothing approach (possibly borrowed from the British during the Portsmouth Treaty) forced his hand. Congress passed a new law limiting the immigration of “East Asians”.
There was much outrage in Japan at this act, after all they were a great power, but there was little to be done. Rather than travel to America, the Japanese were forced elsewhere including the new territories and Europe. There was also movement to Korea which was reduced by the governor-general to prevent the rise in ethnic tensions. That’s not to say there wasn’t immigration to Korea, just that it was more slow and gradual than otherwise. However relations between the Empire of Japan and the US had crashed, with Britain in the middle.
France, always looking for a new ally against the Germans was on full charm mode hoping to capitalise on anti-German and anti-Japanese feelings in the population. Problem was the Americans were not too keen on the French either. Saying that, the revolution in Russia did not go unnoticed and Russia was seen as a potential counterweight to Japan, so an “understanding” wasn’t off the table. The main problems were the British, which many WASPs in powerful positions saw as natural allies and even kin. Yet recently Britain had being less than co-operative and trade decisions by the British parliament would sour relations further.
So while in Election mode America remained “strictly neutral” in world affairs, in reality they themselves were slowly being intertwined in the alliance web that Britain was trying so desperately to wiggle out of. Roosevelt would eventually be replaced by Taft. Taft is viewed by modern observers as a walking contradiction. A strong proponent of World Peace he aided in the US intervention across the America’s, both financially and militarily. While his attempts at reaching an understanding with Britain were noble and honest, his reactions to Britain’s trade policies were nothing short of over the top. Going into the new decade Taft would have alienated his own party and many other countries including the British Empire.
After the Russo-Japanese war Britain once again took up the mantle of splendid isolation. Receiving a cold shoulder from France, Britain signed an agreement with Germany over the Ottoman Empire which scared France back into some form of submission. The anti-British feelings in France after this were acute but there was little the government could do except force the British into Germany’s open arms, i.e. suicide. But the people in the British Foreign office were not stupid. Britain could very easily find itself alienating everyone soon since France’s worry about Anglo-German co-operation was a simple bluff. Britain really was fearful about German domination of the continent. Thankfully a solution was found which would strengthen the British just in case there really was a war.
The idea was not new but there was never any call for it among the majority of parliament. I’m speaking of course of imperial preference. At this moment the chief standard bearer was Chamberlain who was presently touring the country to rally up support. The Russo-Japanese war could not have happened at a better time for him as he spoke of how they didn’t need an alliance with the French since they had the Empire. It was enough to tip the scales and the Free Trade group in the party were put on the sidelines as the 1906 became a debate over Free Trade and Imperial Preference. The election was very close with the Labour party making great gains. But the Unionists held on for a narrow victory over the Liberals. Commentators noted the patriotism unleashed which portrayed the Unionists as defenders of the Empire, while the Liberals spoke on the price of bread.
It was a surprise victory all the same and it was only the strong will of the foreign office over the James and Doggar Bank incidents and the consequences that followed that gave them the Unionists the chance of victory. Chamberlain was now the embodiment of the unionists with all other factions on the sidelines. Over the next 5 years the Imperial Unionists would desperately try to pass the required legislation to strengthen the Empire including the removal of Free Trade. They would win over many as the full consequences of isolation from the German and French alliances became more apparent.
With the Liberal united over Free Trade and the Free Trade Tories still in parliament it required constant work and effort. Alas Chamberlain would not be directly involved with the passage as he suffered a stroke shortly after the election which left him paralyzed on the right hand side. But Free Trade remained after the 5 years because of the united opposition. In this time conditions for the workers had got progressively worse which strengthened the socialists to the detriment of the Liberals and the Unionists were able to unify more effectively (the inner division was a key reason the Tories didn’t do better in 1906). So after the 1911 election the Tories were able to use the socialist vote under the guise of job protection, to introduce imperial preference and in one fell swoop strengthen the British Empire and alienate America.