C H A P T E R 1 8

AMERICA CLAIMS AN EMPIRE

IMPERIALISM

Between 1876 and 1915, a handful of industrialized nations seized vast areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America• By 1922…Great Britain

controlled 1/5 of the worlds population and 1/4 of the world’s territory

• “the sun never sets on the British Empire”

IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA

IMPERIALISM & AMERICA

• The quest for colonial empires• Military Strength• desire for power• desire for prestige

• New Markets• desire for foreign trade• need for raw materials

• Cultural Superiority• spread Christianity • influence “civilization”

SEEKING A FOOTHOLD IN THE PACIFIC

• 1856 – U.S. claimed a number of small, uninhabited islands strewn across the pacific• Annexed Midway Islands in

1867…no attention because mostly uninhabited• Naval Base granted in

Samoa• Instability causes Britain,

Germany, U.S. share

• U.S. granted protectorate of American Samoa in 1899.

U.S. IMPERIALISM BEGINNINGS…

• In 1867, a trial run when the U.S. purchased the huge territory of Alaska from Russia.

• 49th state in 1959• William Seward claimed

that• Russia, Union ally during the

Civil War, needed the money• U.S. needed more land for

expansion• Britain, controls Canada,

needed to be warned off the continent

• “Seward’s Folly”

NAVAL BUILD UP

• The Civil War Experience• Congress authorizes a build up• All steel, steam driven battleships• Long-range artillery

• The Influence of Sea Power on History• Alfred Mahan• National greatness is based on naval

strength• Britain has it…

• Results• Between 1889 and 1893 navy grew

from 15th to 7th largest in the world

HAWAII

• 2000 miles west of California

• Good place to build naval bases and coaling stations for merchant ships traveling to and from Asia

• Some viewed Hawaiians as uncivilized…need to be introduced to modern industrialization and Christianity

• Becomes a U.S. territory in 1900; 50th state in 1959

WAR WITH SPAIN

SPAIN

CUBA & PUERTO RICO

CUBA & PUERTO RICO

• Just 90 miles from the Florida coast

• American interest in sugar cane plantations

• Cuba and Puerto Rico tried to free themselves from Spain’s rule

• Spain exiled leaders of the independence movement

• Americans sympathize…why?

INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA

• William Randolph Hearst • New York Journal• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=otzmmr8iidI

• Joseph Pulitzer's • New York World

• Both used “sensational” tales of Spanish atrocities to attract the readers and sell more papers…what is the term called?

• Pressed for U.S. intervention in Cuba

THE DE LOME LETTER

• President McKinley resists the calls for war• “I have been through one war, I have seen the dead

piled up, and I do not want to see another”• The Journal published a letter written by Spain’s

minister to the United States, Enrique Dupuy de Lome that had been intercepted by Cuban spy and sold to Hearst• Ridicules McKinley as a “weak, and a bidder for the

admiration of the crowd.”• Americans were outraged…”the worst insult in United

States history”

THE U.S.S. MAINE INCIDENT

• Over the edge…• McKinley had ordered

the U.S.S. Maine to Havana, Cuba• Why? Protect U.S. lives

and property? To prepare for war? To intimidate Spain?

• Debated by historians

• On February 15 the Maine blew up, killing 260 sailors

• “Remember the Maine!”• War supporters rally cry

CONGRESS DECLARES WAR

• Spanish officials agreed to a U.S. proposed peace plan…but it is too late• McKinley had asked

Congress to intervene in Cuba• “in the name of humanity, in

the name of civilization, and on behalf of endangered American interests.”

• On April 25, 1898 The Spanish-American War had begun

WAR WITH SPAIN

• April 10, 1898, Congress recognizes Cuba’s independence and voted to use U.S. military force to help Cuba attain it• Teller Amendment –

stated that once Cuba won it’s independence from Spain, the U.S. would “leave government and control of the island to it’s people”

TWO THEATRES

PHILIPPINES

FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES

• First battle fought in the Philippines• American attacked the

island• Small Spanish fleet easily

defeated• Filipino patriots fighting

for independence help• Spanish forces surrender

FIGHTING IN CUBA

• Went back to fight in Cuba, but victory not as easy• Not well trained, not proper

uniforms• Rough Riders (college

athletes, American Indians, cowboys, and ranchers) under the command of Teddy Roosevelt

• No horses…charged on foot under fire

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmD-J-oBPPM

• Spain eventually loses

TREATY OF PARIS

• Spain grants Cuba independence• Gives the U.S. Puerto

Rico, Guam• Sells the Philippines…

U.S. gives them $20 million• U.S. becomes and

imperialistic nation• U.S. lost 5400 soldiers

GOVERNING

Cuba

• Constitution that limited Cuba's independence• Platt Agreement• No treaties with others• Must lease land to the

U.S.• Cannot go into debt• U.S. will protect Cuba,

but can intervene in their affairs

Puerto Rico

• Rules the island like a territory• Self governing but a

U.S. territory• Foraker Act• U.S. appoints the

governor and the upper house of the legislation

• Puerto Ricans would nominate the lower house

UPROAR OVER THE PHILIPPINES

• Few Americans knew where the Philippines were located….even President McKinley• Initially could not locate the islands “within 2000 miles”

• Pro Annexation• Business looks at it as another market• U.S. should bring democracy• Keep out of European powers• Education/Christianity

• Anti Annexation• Already Christian• Violates democratic ideals• Race relations at home are poor• Competition for jobs

PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njOE_2xeOjY&index=4&list=PL7BC34479998B28D5

CHINA

CHINA

• Begins to trade with other countries, but always under constant threat of being taken over• Spheres of influence –

different countries have exclusive rights over things…mines, railroads, and trade

• In China – France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Russia

CHINA

• Boxer Rebellion – Chinese resentment of foreigners…a group up rising that killed more than 200 Western traders and missionaries• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4QdEKjEg88

CHINA

• Secretary of State John Hays and the Open Door Notes• U.S. economy relies on exports to ensure growth• U.S. has the right to intervene abroad to keep foreign

markets open to it• U.S. survival was threatened by the closing of an area to

American products, citizens or ideas

• Open Door Policy – gives all nations equal access to trade and investment in China

JAPAN

JAPAN

• Isolated from the rest of the world until 1854!• President Fillmore sends someone to convince

Japan to open up trading…brings them gifts ( telegraph transmitter and model train)• Not long, they become an industrial power and

build up their army and navy….then BAM!!!• Invade China in 1894…become a rival of the

United States for influence in China and the Pacific

THE PANAMA CANAL

• Treaty drafted in 1903…99 year lease on a 6 mile strip of land, U.S. pays Columbia $10 million dollars and $250,000 yearly rental…BUT they turned it down• Rebellion…U.S.

recognizes the new government and wow…the Canal Zone is ours

ROOSEVELT’S “BIG STICK” POLICY

• Monroe Doctrine (1823)• United States is the protector of

the western hemisphere

• 1904 – adds the Roosevelt Corollary to the doctrine• the U.S. will now use force to

protect its economic interests in Latin America

• Dollar Diplomacy • U.S. guarantee loans made to

foreign countries by American business people. Used to justify keeping European powers out of the Caribbean

“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”

WILSON’S “MISSIONARY” DIPLOMACY

• The U.S. has a moral responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin American government it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests.

MEXICO

MEXICO

• U.S. intervenes in the Mexican Revolution• Taft and Wilson tried to find a Mexican candidate

who could take care of American business…but always too ruthless or too ineffective, and things would turn violent• Mexico stays unstable