Imperialism to the First World War

AP US History Period 71880-1920

New Imperialism

• American foreign policy: Monroe Doctrine & Isolationism– Continentalism– Consent of governed– Avoid military entanglements, appropriations,

absorbing alien races– Occupied with domestic growth– Obsolete navy– Geography (oceans and weak neighbors)

• Some attempts– Purchase of Alaska, acquisition of Hawaii,

Caribbean islands– Annexation of Santa Domingo & Canada proposed– Naval stations in Samoa & Haiti

• Numerous Foreign Affairs– Pan-American Conferences, Seal slaughter in

Pribilof Islands, Italian Lynching, Chilean Crisis, Venezuela Crisis, Samoa, Hawaii

New Imperialism

• Impulses towards New Imperialism– Closing of the frontier– Panic of 1893– Reform & protest– Growing exports– World pressure– Darwinian philosophy– White Man’s Burden– Political philosophy– Yellow Journalism– Strong navy (Alfred T. Mahan)

New Imperialism

• 1898 – Cuba & Puerto Rico remain as Spanish colonies in Western Hemisphere

• Cuban nationalism threatens Spanish rule– Rebels follow scorched earth policy– Spain build reconcentration camps to hold villages

prisoner• Yellow journalism feeds fire (Hearst and

Pullizter)– “You supply the pictures, I’ll supply the war”

Spanish-American War

• Events leading to war– DeLome Letter 2/9/1898– Battleship Maine explodes2/15/1898

• Unlcear who caused it, American think Spain, Spain thinks its an accident

• “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!”

– War declared 4/21/1898• Teller Amendment– No imperiliastic motive, Cuba would get

independence if US won

Spanish-American War

Spain vs USA

• Spain has larger military, larger navy• Spainish navy is old, US navy new• Poorly organized war effort by US– Too many troops, wrong uniforms,

• Teddy Roosevelt resigns Navy job so he can fight in war– Creates Rough Riders (cowboys, convicts, polo

players)

Spain vs USA

• Battles of San Juan Hill & El Carney– Spain struggles to get soldiers in battle, – Roosevelt makes name for himself through exaggerated tails of

heroism– Puerto Rico is easily captured– Only major battles of war, US wins easily

• 8/12/1898 Treaty of Paris (1899)– Cuban independence as promised; Puerto Rico now US territory– Philippines acquisition dilemma

• For: White Man’s Burden, economic benefit• Against: self-government, alien race incorporated into America

Significance of Spanish American War

• Showed US was world power• Increased prestige• Advantages of naval power• Lessened leftover tension from Civil War• Showed need for isthmanian canal

Post-War Issues

• Election of 1900 - McKinley (R) vs Bryan (D)– Roosevelt as McKinley’s VP– McKinley the safe choice over Bryan the unknown

• Foreign Policy– Open Door Policy• Sino-Japanese War 1894 showed China was weak• European nations began incursion into China for

economic benefit, US wanted in too.• Concern about aggressive Germany

• Boxer Rebellion – Society of Harmonious Fists– 1900 – anti-foreign feelings develop in China– Riots occur against foreign delegations

• Assassination of McKinley– Roosevelt becomes president– Aggressive, egotistical, energetic and loves people– “speak softly and carry a big stick”

• Panama Canal– US needed to move its navy from one ocean to the other quickly– Hay-Pauncefote Treaty

• Roosevelt Corralary– Any threat to peace in the West was a threat to the United States– US would intervene in Latin American affairs if there was a threat to the US

involved

Post-War Issues

Foreign Policy

• Alaskan Boundary Dispute– Klondike gold rush leads to dispute over boundary with Russia– Roosevelt says he will use troops if needed to settle boundary

• Morocco– Contention over anti-French speech given by Germany; war possible– Roosevelt says US will get involved in Europe if war there might

threaten the US• Russo-Japanese War

– Japan & Russian seek influence in China; US praises Japan for use of surprise attack at Port Arthur

– Treaty of Portsmouth 1905 splits land, gets Roosevelt a Noble Prize, and angers both Russia and Japan

Foreign Policy

• Japanese Immigration restricted• Root-Tarahira Agreement 1908– Maintains status quo in Pacific– Chinese territory guaranteed

• Great White Fleet– 16 battleships travel the world, showing off US

strength– Reflects bullying attitude of Roosevelt