chapter 20 the united states looks overseas. key terms for the chapter isolationism – avoiding...

Chapter 20The United States Looks Overseas

Key Terms for the Chapter

• Isolationism– Avoiding involvement in other countries’ affairs

• Imperialism– Building empires by imposing political and

economic control over peoples around the world

The Turner Thesis

• Frederick Jackson Turner– Created idea that western frontier defined

American History• expansionists believed that overseas was the

new frontier and would bring new riches and power

Economic Growth

• Expansionists argued that future prosperity depended on building up trade

• U.S. had a powerful industrial economy and produced more than Americans would buy

Economic Growth

• There was a fear that if U.S. did not expand it would be shut out of global markets and denied raw materials

• Alfred T. Mahan stated that the key to strong trade was a powerful navy

United States Looks Overseas

• Purchasing Alaska– 1867 The United States purchased Alaska from

Russia for $7.2 million (about 2 cents an acre)– Alaska was full of resources (gold and oil)• Alaska Gold Rush of 1897-1898

Spreading American Values

• In the late 1800s many Americans believed that Americans of the “Anglo-Saxon race” were superior to “lesser races” in other nations

• Argument was Americans had a divine duty to spread Christian values and western civilization around the world.

Gaining Foothold in the Pacific

• Expansionists had interest in various Pacific islands, and saw them essential for expanding influence and trade

• Samoa

Gaining Foothold in the Pacific

• Samoa– U.S. had interest in Samoa to use as coaling

stations for ships• Other European countries also wanted Samoa and

Britain, Germany, and the U.S. almost went to war

– In 1899 the U.S. and Germany divided the islands • People in Samoa had no say in the matter.

Gaining Foothold in the Pacific

• Hawaii– U.S. saw Hawaii as a military outpost in Pacific– 1893 American planters and 50 U.S. Marines

overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. • President Grover Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii

because the revolt had been illegal

– on July 7, 1898 Hawaii became a territory of U.S. when it was annexed by President William McKinley

• Hawaii

Carving Up China

• Late 1800s China lost a war and European powers wanted to take advantage of China’s weakness– European power and Japan started dividing China

into spheres of influence (areas where another nation has economic and political control)

Carving Up China

• At first, U.S. were not part of the activity, but U.S. officials feared they would be excluded from trading with China– Secretary of State John Hay called on nations to

keep an “open door” policy in China.

Carving Up China

• Boxer Rebellion– A secret Society called Righteous and Harmonious

Fist was formed to try and combat foreigners in China• Became known as Boxers because of their ceremonial

exercises that resembled shadowboxing

– In spring of 1900 the Boxers began a rebellion to expel foreigners

Carving Up China

• The boxers attacked and killed westerners and Chinese Christians.

• European powers and the U.S. sent in 18,000 troops with modern weapons and crushed the rebellion

The Spanish-American War

• Cuba had been under Spanish control since 1492

• After Centuries of being under Spain’s harsh control Cuban’s started to rebel– First rebellion started in 1868 and lasted 10 years,

but was unsuccessful

The Spanish-American War

• Cubans started another rebellion in 1895• To stop the revolt the Spanish began a policy

of reconcentration (movement of large numbers of people into detention camps for military or political reasons)– 200,000 Cubans would die in these camps due to

poor sanitation and starvation

The Spanish-American War

• Cubans, led by Jose Marti, asked for help from the U.S.– Marti was a leader of the rebels, but was killed in

Cuba before he was able to see Cuba free from Spanish rule

The Spanish-American War

• Many Americans wanted to help the Cuban rebels, but U.S. government was resistant to send troops

• Americans wanted to help Cuba to protect their investments– Americans had over $50 million in sugar

plantations, railroads, and iron mines

Yellow Journalism

• yellow journalism- A sensational style of reporting that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news

The Spanish-American War

• Newspapers swayed public opinion towards war by using Yellow Journalism– Led by Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and

William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal

The Spanish-American War

• U.S. declares war-February 15, 1898 the Maine sinks and the United

States declares war on Spain

Spanish-American War

• The U.S. Goes to War– April 20, 1898 the U.S. declares war on Spain– The first main battle of the war took place in the

Philippines • May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a small

fleet of ships to Manila Bay and sank the entire Spanish squadron• The U.S. did not lose a single ship or life

Spanish-American War

• The Filipinos were also fighting for independence from Spain– Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of the Filipino

rebels – Instead of giving independence to the Filipinos the

U.S. took control of the islands

Spanish-American War

• War in the Caribbean– Most of the fighting took place around Santiago

and at sea

Spanish-American War

• War in the Caribbean– U.S. troops were poorly trained, but eager to fight• One of the best known units was the Rough Riders,

which was led by Theodore Roosevelt• Roosevelt led a successful charge up San Juan hill,

which became the most celebrated event of the war

Spanish-American War

• Once Spain surrendered Cuba, American troops invaded and quickly took control of Puerto Rico

Spanish-American War

• December 1898, a treaty was signed– Cuba received its independence– Puerto Rico, Philippines, islands of Guam, and

Wake islands became territories of the U.S.

The United States and Latin America

• Panama Canal– The Isthmus of Panama was chosen because it

was only 50 miles wide– perfect location to shorten trips from the West

Coast to the East Coast

The United States and Latin America

• U.S. offered Columbia $10 million and $250,000 yearly rent to build the canal– Columbia did not accept the deal

The United States and Latin America

• Panamanians started a revolution against Columbia– U.S. sent gunboats and Marines to support

Panama– Panama gains its freedom and the U.S. received

the land to build the canal

“Gun Boat Diplomacy”

The United States and Latin America

• Fighting Disease– First obstacle to building the canal was

overcoming diseases• Malaria and Yellow Fever (carried by mosquitoes)• William C. Gorgas

The United States and Latin America

• Constructing the Canal– Construction involved three main tasks• Cut through a mountain• Dam a river• Build locks

The United States and Latin America

• Canal Was finished August 15, 1914 (six months ahead of schedule)

The United States and Latin America

• Wielding a “Big Stick” in Latin America– Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine• It was the job of the U.S. to protect the Western

Hemisphere from European nations• When neighbors of the U.S. got into disputes with

foreign nations, the U.S. had the right to intervene and restore order

The United States and Latin America

• William Howard Taft believed in dollar diplomacy– Taft wanted bankers and businesses to invest in

Latin America– Dollar Diplomacy led to many military

interventions because the U.S. had to protect its investments

The United States and Latin America

• Relations With Mexico– 1911 Mexico entered into a violent revolution– President Woodrow Wilson believed U.S. foreign

policy should support democracy throughout the world, and hoped Mexico would develop its own democratic government

The United States and Latin America

• The United States had trouble staying out of the conflict– 1914 an incident in Tampico, Mexico led to U.S.

sailors being arrested– Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa) kept entering New

Mexico and raiding towns. (Killed 18 Americans in one raid)