imperialism
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America Spreads its Wings (and its beliefs, politics, business, etc). Imperialism. Imperialism. The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories. Three Roots of American Imperialism. US Acquires Alaska. William Seward - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ImperialismAmerica Spreads its Wings(and its beliefs, politics, business, etc)
Imperialism The policy in which
stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories
Three Roots of American Imperialism
Industrial and Agricultural Overproduction • Need for raw materials and new
marketsMilitarism• Need to expand military to protect
lands & interests outside the USCultural Superiority• Anglo-Saxons have a responsibility to
expand and spread their religion and civilization
US Acquires Alaska William Seward
Secretary of State under Lincoln & Johnson
Purchased Alaska from Russia 1867 (statehood 1959) $7.2 million
“Seward’s Icebox” or “Seward’s Folly” Turned out to be rich in
resources
US Acquires Hawaii
Hawaii economically important to US Trade stop American-owned sugar plantations
▪ Account for 3/4ths of wealth Population
By 1920, Hawaiians made up less than 20% of population
Military Importance Pearl Harbor
US Acquires Hawaii King Kalakaua
Amend Hawaii’s constitution—only wealthy landowners vote
Queen Liliuokalani “Hawaii for Hawaiians” Business interests
organize a revolution▪ New government under
Sanford B. Dole
US Acquires Hawaii
President Cleveland recognizes Republic of
Hawaii under Dole
1898—Congress declares
Hawaii a US territory
1959—Hawaii becomes a
state
The Spanish-American War
Causes of the Spanish-American War
US wants control over Cuba Close to home Business interests
▪ US businesses invested billions in sugar cane plantations
Cubans rebel against Spain (1868-1878) Some Americans were
sympathetic & empathetic to the Cuban people
Causes of the Spanish-American WarSecond War for Independence
José Martí (1895) Guerilla campaign—destroyed
property▪ Trying to provoke US intervention by
attacking American owned sugar mills and plantations
American opinion split: Free Cuba! Protect our business!
Yellow Journalism Sensational style of
writing that exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers
William Randolph Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer “You furnish the
pictures, I’ll furnish the war”
Yellow Journalism Spanish General Valeriano Weyler
Nicknamed “Butcher” Creates civilian concentration camps in Cuba
▪ Prevent people from aiding the rebels, or freedom fighters
300,000 in camps – horrid conditions Over 10,000 die 1/4 of the Cuban population
▪ Destroys their economy and countryside Yellow journalism – he’s poisoning rivers
& feeding children to sharks
De Lome Letter
NY Journal published a leaked letter From Enrique Dupuy
de Lôme—Spanish minister to US
Calls McKinley weak American hostility
toward Spain grows
Explosion of the USS MaineHavana Harbor, Feb. 15, 1898
“Who Sank the Maine” ActivityNEW YORK JOURNAL NEW YORK TIMES
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“Awake United States!”
This song was rushed into print between the sinking of the Maine on February 15, 1898, and the declaration of war on April 25, 1898.
Eagle soar on high, and sound the battle cry!
And how proudly sailed the warship Maine, a Nation’s pride, without a stain!
A wreck she lies, her sailors slain.By two-faced butchers, paid by Spain!
Eagle soar on high,And sound the battle cry
Wave the starry flag!In mud it shall not drag!
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Newspaper Headlines
Remember the Maine!To Hell with Spain!
War with Spain US declares war on April
20, 1898 US declares war on Spain First battle: Manila,
Philippine Islands Commodore George
Dewey’s troops destroy the Spanish fleet and take Manila
Filipinos supported the US Filipino rebels led by Emilio
Aguinaldo help fight
Philippines & Caribbean
War with Spain War in the Caribbean
US naval blockade in Cuba Blocked Spanish fleet in
Santiago Bay When they tried to escape
blockade, US Navy destroyed Spanish fleet
Now clear - US navy was superior to Spain’s
Navy heads to Puerto Rico
War with Spain
US Army The US army, however, mainly consisted
of inexperience and ill-prepared volunteers
Clothing too hot Weapons are old Minimal training Officers telling battle stories from Civil
War
Rough Riders
Volunteer cavalry under Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt Roosevelt gave up job as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy to lead the Rough Riders
San Juan Hill (near Santiago) Rough Riders’ earlier victory at
Kettle Hill cleared the way Minor role in second victory
▪ Roosevelt = hero of San Juan Hill!
Rough Riders
End of the War
Call a cease-fire in August to negotiate
Meet in Paris – sign Treaty of Paris
John Hay calls it a “Splendid little war” 15 weeks long America now has an
Empire!
Treaty of Paris Ended the Spanish-American War Results:
Spain frees Cuba US gets Puerto Rico & Guam Spain sells the Philippines to the US for $20
million These outcomes create huge controversies
in the US surrounding issues of:▪ Political▪ Moral▪ Economic
Treaty of Paris—Debate Some questioned the US’s right to annex the
Philippines McKinley claimed God wanted the US to take the
islands▪ BUT most Filipinos were Christians
Other issues:▪ Violates Declaration of Independence▪ We need to focus on race issues at home (Booker T.
Washington)▪ Filipino immigrants might come take American jobs (Samuel
Gompers) February 6, 1899 the Senate approved the
treaty and the US annexed the Philippines
America: An Empire
What should the US do with…
Puerto Rico? Puerto Rico occupied by US troops during the war
▪ Treaty of Paris gives PR to US—What do to after?▪ Foraker Act – ends US military rule and sets up civilian
government PR is strategically important in Caribbean
▪ Protect future of canal in Panama PR eventually becomes a commonwealth
▪ People elect lower house of legislature (now elect both)▪ 1917—US citizenship
▪ Can come & go in US▪ Can’t vote in presidential elections▪ Rejected statehood
What should the US do with…
Cuba? US Teller Amendment: US would not take over Cuba Treaty of Paris: guaranteed Cuban independence However, US troops occupied Cuba at the end of
the war▪ Same leaders (from when Spain ruled) were in charge▪ Good and bad—Cuba was not fully independent, but the
US troops provided▪ Food▪ Clothing▪ Help to farmers▪ Improved sanitation—Eliminate Yellow Fever▪ Schools
What should the US do with…
Cuba? 1900 – new Cuban gov’t creates
constitution Unclear relationship with US
1901 US adds — Platt Amendment▪ Protectorate—Partially controlled by stronger
power▪ No treaties that limit independence▪ No foreign power to control Cuba▪ US can intervene▪ No debt with other countries that can’t be paid
back▪ US can buy/lease land for naval & refueling bases
Why maintain control in Cuba? US business interests:
Sugar Tobacco Mining Protect railroad and public utilities
US Intervention in Latin America
What should the US do with…
The Philippines? Treaty of Paris calls for annexation How did the Filipinos react?
▪ Angry? Outraged!!▪ Remember Emilio Aguinaldo? We fought
side-by-side.▪ Vows to fight for their freedom from the US▪ Use guerilla warfare again
▪ US becomes like Spain▪ Puts rebels in camps—poor sanitation, starvation, diseases, thousands die
American-Philippine War From 1899 to 1904 White US soldiers looked at Filipinos as inferiors –
high racism 70,000 troops – many African American – ironic given
racism prevalent in US Racism leads to brutality, atrocities Anti-imperialism movement publishes soldiers’
letters home to prove imperialism is wrong ▪ When war ends
▪ Philippines set up like Puerto Rico▪ On July 4, 1946, Philippines becomes independent
US Influence in China
Europeans set up “spheres of influence” China was a large potential market John Hay—Open Door Notes
▪ Share trading rights with US Chinese want “foreign devils” out
▪ Boxer Rebellion▪ Europeans and US put down rebellion
US Influence in China
More Open Door Notes: US safeguard “equal & impartial” trade
with China and world Reflects deeply held beliefs:
▪ US economic growth needs exports▪ US has right to intervene▪ Any area closed to US products, people, ideas
threatens US survival Policies strongly favor US interests over
other foreign countries.
America: A World Power
Teddy as President
With the assassination of McKinley (1901), Teddy Roosevelt becomes president
As president, Teddy… Negotiates the Treaty of Portsmouth
(1905)▪ Ends the Russo-Japanese War▪ Nobel Peace Prize
Helps get the Panama Canal built Adds his Roosevelt Corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine…
The Monroe Doctrine
Issued in 1823 by President James Monroe Demanded that European countries stay
out of the affairs of Latin American nations ▪ Trying to keep European powers out of our
hemisphere Roosevelt was worried because
many Latin American nations were going in debt to European banks
Roosevelt Corollary Roosevelt added his corollary
to the Monroe Doctrine Not only should Europe stay out
of Latin America, but the US would use force to protect its own interests there
Based on his philosophy: “Speak softly and carry a big
stick”▪ Whatever you say, you must be
willing to back up with force if necessary
Dollar Diplomacy
Used under Taft: Policy of using the US government to
guarantee loans made to foreign countries by American businesspeople
Use economic power to influence other countries
Nicaragua
1911 rebellion nearly bankrupts the country
President Taft arranges US banks to make loans to pay off debts
In exchange, bankers are repaid by collecting the country’s customs duties.
Bankers also take control of the gov’t-owned railroads & National bank
People revolt against this, and US sends Marines – they stay until 1933
Missionary Diplomacy Under Woodrow Wilson US had a moral
responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin American government it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to US interests Not just recognizing any
government that controlled the nation anymore
Mexican Revolution
Porfirio Díaz—military dictator who ruled Mexico Friend of the US
Uprising by Mexican people against Díaz General Victoriano Huerta
takes over government▪ Wilson & US government won’t
recognize him
Mexican Revolution Wilson & the US wait for an opportunity to
intervene in Mexico 1914—Group of American sailors arrested in
Tampico▪ Released quickly, but it was the excuse we were waiting
for US occupies Veracruz
▪ Now US and Mexico near war While the US and Huerta cannot come to an
agreement, Huerta’s regime collapsed and he was replaced by Venustiano Carranza Wilson recognizes Carranza’s government
Mexican Revolution But not all Mexican people
support Carranza Francisco “Pancho” Villa Emiliano Zapata
Villa threatens US when they recognize Carranza’s government Villa shot American engineers
traveling to operate mines in Mexico
His followers cross into New Mexico and kill 17 Americans
Pursuing Pancho John J. Pershing sent to Mexico
with 15,000 soldiers to capture Villa Searches for over a year Military clashes with Mexican
troops▪ War seems imminent
Finally called home Carranza rules until 1920
when he is eventually replaced by a more moderate leader & the Mexican Civil War ends
Panama Canal
Panama Canal
Need for a canal through Central America Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)
Two choices: Nicaragua Panama
French attempt (late 1800s) Philippe Bunau-Varilla US buy’s France’s claim--$40 million
Panama Canal
Panama was Columbian territory Panamanian rebellion—supported by US
Agreement with Panama $10 million Annual rent of $250,000 for canal zone
Building the Canal
Very difficult terrain Disease
Yellow Fever Malaria
5,600 died Total cost: $380 million
Opens August 15, 1914
