America Claims an EmpireCh.10

American Expansionism• Imperialism

▫Policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker nations

▫3 factors fueled American imperialism• Military Strength

▫Admiral Alfred T. Mahan and other military men advised the government to build up the military to compete globally

• New Markets▫Needed both raw materials for factories and new

markets for goods• Cultural Superiority

▫Americans had a responsibility to spread Christianity and civilization

American Expansionism•Alaska

▫Sec. of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million in 1867

•Hawaii▫American sugar plantations had their product

imported into the U.S. duty-free until 1890▫Planters wanted the U.S. to annex the islands so

they wouldn’t have to pay the import tax▫In 1887, the U.S built a naval base at Pearl

harbor•Last Monarch

▫Queen Liliuokalani wanted a “Hawaii for Hawaiians” so planters organized a rebellion

▫Sandford B. Dole took over the government

Cubans Rebel Against Spain•American Interest

▫America was interested in acquiring Cuba from Spain

▫Cubans unsuccessfully revolted against Spain (1867-1877)

▫Americans began investing in sugar plantations once the Cubans forced Spain to abolish slavery

•Second war for independence▫Jose Marti, Cuban journalist in exile in New

York, launches a second revolt▫Tried to provoke U.S. intervention by

attacking U.S. owned sugar plantations

War Fever Escalates•Yellow Journalism

▫Exaggerated accounts of General Weyler’s efforts to restore order were printed to sell more newspapers

▫Hearst- “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”

•The De Lome letter▫Leaked letter from Spanish minister to U.S.▫Called president McKinley “weak” and a

“bid for the admiration of the crowd.”

U.S.S. Maine Explodes

•The Maine was in Cuba to collect U.S. citizens endangered by the fighting

•Feb. 15, 1898, the Maine exploded in Havana harbor

•U.S. newspapers claimed the Spanish blew up the ship

•McKinley asked Congress to declare war▫After a week of debate, they do (April 20,

1898)

War Erupts•The Philippines

▫Commodore George Dewey attacked the Philippines

▫American troops landed on the islands and joined forces with Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo

•Caribbean▫Naval blockade of Cuba▫Army was small and ill-prepared for war

Not enough equipment, poor training

War Erupts•Rough Riders

▫Volunteer Calvary unit▫Helped clear the way for an attack on San

Juan Hill▫Spain’s fleet was destroyed soon after

•Treaty of Paris▫Armistice signed in August ▫Cuba gained independence▫Guam and Puerto Rico were given to the

U.S.▫Philippines were sold to U.S. for $20 million

Debate Over the Treaty•Arguments centered on whether the U.S.

had a right to annex the Philippines•President McKinley wanted to “educate

the Filipinos, and uplift and Christianize them.”

•Others argued that the U.S. had violated the Constitution by not allowing the Filipinos to choose their own government

Ruling Puerto Rico•Military Rule

▫Began during the Spanish-American war▫Would continue until Congress decided on

statehood, self-government, or independence

•Civil government▫Foraker Act- set up civilian government▫President of U.S. to appoint governor and

upper house▫Puerto Ricans could elect lower house

Cuba and the United States•American soldiers

▫Retained the same government officials as Spain

▫Provided food and clothing to thousands of families; helped eliminate yellow fever

•Platt Amendment▫Cuba became a U.S. protectorate

•Business interests▫Business people were convinced that

annexing territory and imposing colonial rule was necessary to protect American businesses

Philippines and the U.S.•Philippine-American War

▫Filipinos were led by Emilio Aguinaldo▫U.S. used tactics they condemned Spain for

using in Cuba▫Ended after 3 years and 20,000 Filipino

deaths•Aftermath

▫Government was similar to Puerto Rico’s▫Philippines gradually moved to

independence in July 1946.

Foreign Influence in China•Open Door policy

▫Sec. of State John Hay sends note to leaders of imperialist nations proposing they share trading rights with the U.S. in China

•Boxer Rebellion (1900)▫Boxers killed missionaries and other

foreigners as well as Chinese converts to Christianity

•Protecting American rights▫John Hay issues a second series of notes to

safeguard trade in China

Impact of Territorial Gains•A majority of Americans supported

imperialism•Anti-Imperialist League

▫Grover Cleveland, Andrew Carnegie, Jane Addams, Mark Twain

Teddy Roosevelt and the World•Peacemaker

▫Negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth to end the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 Won a Nobel peace prize

•Panama Canal▫U.S. purchased France’s route for $40

million▫Opened in 1914; took 10 years to build

•Constructing the Canal▫Total cost- $380 million

Teddy Roosevelt and the World•The Roosevelt Corollary

▫Addition to the Monroe Doctrine▫Warned that disorder in Latin America

might force the United States to intervene▫“Speak softly and carry a big stick”

•Dollar Diplomacy▫Policy of using the U.S. government to

guarantee loans made to foreign countries by American business people

Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy•The Mexican Revolution

▫Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz was overthrown in 1911 by peasants led by Francisco Madero

▫Madero was overthrown 2 years later by General Victoriano Huerta whose government the U.S. refused to recognize

•Intervention in Mexico▫In April 1914, Huerta’s government arrested

some American sailors▫Though released, U.S. Marines occupied

Veracruz▫War did not occur and Wilson would recognize

Carranza’s government

Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy•Rebellion in Mexico

▫Rebel leaders Francisco “Pancho” Villa and Emiliano Zapata encouraged the peasants to join them against Carranza

▫Villa shot American engineers who were in Mexico to operate mines

•Chasing Villa▫General John J. Pershing was dispatched into

Mexico to capture Villa▫Wilson refused Carranza's demand that U.S.

troops be withdrawn▫U.S. troops were withdrawn in 1917 as the

U.S. prepared to go to war in Europe