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U.S. Imperialism

1880-1917

New American Imperialism was fueled by three factors

•  Desire for military strength •  Thirst for new markets •  Belief in cultural superiority

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Alaska •  In 1867 the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2

million. •  2 cents an acre •  Land was rich in timber, minerals, and oil •  1959 state

Hawaii •  Economically Important

–  Stop on the way to China and the East Indies

•  1820 missionaries established schools and churches. Their grandchildren became sugar planters who sold most of their crop to the U.S.

•  By the mid 19th century American owned sugar plantations accounted for about ¾ of the Islands wealth. –  Imported labor from Japan, Portugal, China. By 1900 foreign

& immigrant labor out numbered Native Hawaiians 3 to 1

•  1875 U.S. imported Hawaiian sugar duty free, for the next 15 years sugar production increased.

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•  1890 McKinley Tariff eliminated the duty free status for Hawaiian sugar.

•  American planters in Hawaii pushed for the U.S. to annex the islands to avoid the duty tax.

•  1887 U.S. military pressured Hawaii to allow the U.S. to build a naval base. (Pearl Harbor)

•  1891 Business groups with the help of the Marines helped overthrow the Queen.

•  Aug.12, 1898 President McKinley annexed Hawaii as a territory

•  1959 Hawaii becomes the 50th state.

Spanish-American War

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Spanish-American War •  American Investments in

sugar •  Revolution in Cuba against

the Spanish. They deliberately destroy American owned sugar plantations

•  Spanish put Cubans in large camps where they starved to death

•  U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana’s Harbor

•  April 20th 1898 McKinley declares war on Spain

Cause

Yellow Journalism (cause)

William Randolph Hearst – New York Journal

•  Joseph Pulitzer – New York World

•  Used sensationalized articles in their newspapers to increase sales. They exaggerated the news to lure readers.

Joseph Pulitzer William Randolph

Hearst

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•  Hearst sent artist Frederick Remington to Cuba

•  When Remington questioned if there would be war Hearst is reported to have said “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”

•  Hearst published the De Lome letters.

Effects

•  Spain frees Cuba •  U.S. gains control over

–  Guam –  Puerto Rico

•  Spain sold the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million

•  Great debate is sparked in the U.S. about imperialism

•  Annexation of the Philippines •  Cuba became a U.S. Protectorate

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