on the verge of empire: american motivations at the turn of the century mr. phipps u.s. history
TRANSCRIPT
On the Verge of Empire:American Motivations at the
Turn of the Century
Mr. Phipps
U.S. History
The Imperial grab-bag, a free-for-all for all world powers.
California State Standards
11.4 Students trace the rise of the United States to its role as a world power in the twentieth century.
11.4.1. List the purpose and the effects of the Open Door policy.
11.4.2. Describe the Spanish-American War and U.S. expansion in the South Pacific
11.4.4. Explain Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy, William Taft's Dollar Diplomacy, and Woodrow Wilson's Moral Diplomacy, drawing on relevant speeches.
Arguments For Expansion: EconomicOverproduction of Goods:
American industrialization created more raw materials and manufactured goods than could be sold (supply exceeded demand)
Mass consumption evident in chain stores, mail order, and department stores
Required new markets to sell goods
Labor
Rise of Organized Labor: AFL and Knights of Labor
forced higher wages and better working conditions
Cost of business increased
Labor unrest forced businessmen to find other labor sources
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The International Workers of the World, the Wobblies, was considered one of the most radical labor unions at the turn of the century, known for rioting.
Other Economic Considerations
Federal government increased regulation of business (anti-trust, most notably)
Overseas expansion was sound economic policy-begin pre-globalized companies
Recent recessions: Panic of 1893 indicated the need for economic regulation Picture of the Panic of 1893 as it would
have affected the New York Stock Exchange.
Ideological Arguments Manifest Destiny:
Advocated by vocal expansionists: F.J. Turner, Theodore Roosevelt, and Henry Cabot Lodge
The frontier was quickly vanishing (due, in part, to population boom, agricultural, and industrial expansion)
The frontier symbolized the democratic ideal of freedom and self reliance
International expansion must replace geographic barriers in North America
“Westward Ho” The angel of “progress leading Americans westward. The West, considered the Promised Land, brought millions in search of cheap land.
The White Man’s Burden
White Man’s Burden: Advocated by
missionaries like Josiah Strong
Derived from Rudyard Kipling’s poem intended to help the savages
U.S. must spread democracy, Christianity, and civilization throughout the world
Brought a sense of paternalism to colonialism
“The Cares of a Growing Family.” Paternalism, a condescending approach taken by imperialist
countries to the natives, implied that the civilized country should treat other countries like children.
American Nationalism Advocated in national elections America was destined to be the
most powerful protector of all things good: money to spend, food to eat, human rights, culture, etc
America must compete with rival imperial powers: Austria-Hungary, Germany, Britain, France, and Russia (all the powers involved in WWI)
America has the responsibility to share the right of self-determination, democracy, self-government and human rights
The power of the American eagle is clearly evident in its wingspan which covers the world. Note, also, that the light from the sun emanates from behind the bird. Incidentally, the national bird was originally proscribed, by Ben Franklin, to be the turkey.
Social Darwinism
Derived from science, eugenic, and pseudo-scienctific (racial) theory
All countries, in order to survive, must compete
The fittest (militarily, culturally, and economically) country and the one which can adapt, will prevail
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Eugenics, the 19th century study of racial genetics became the main justification for racial superiority. This, and phrenology, the study of the bumps on a
human head, explained group and individual psychology
Arguments For Expansion: Politics
Congress: Advocated by high-
ranking Senators Curry favor with lobbyists
President: Captured a new mood in
politics, shaped by individual
Advocated by popular presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson
Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy, a new approach in American foreign policy, clearly defined the role of the U.S. in the world. It indicates, not only the new power (technological and militarily) of the U.S., but the declining power of the European nations. This corresponding decline resulted from constant warfare, competition, and the cost of maintaining overseas colonies.
A Different Approach
“Big Stick Policy”-Theodore Roosevelt Protect American
interests abroad Be prepared to
protect/balance foreign interests
Use diplomacy, but exercise military strength, or threaten military A Congressman, Asst. Sec. of Navy, Lt. Col., Vice
President, and President, TR was also a naturalist, conservationist, rancher, explorer, prolific author,
and arbitrator. Roosevelt’s ego, zeal and charisma imbued everything he did.
Taft
“Dollar Diplomacy”-William Howard Taft Use “dollars instead of
bullets” Provide financial aid to
countries in order to ensure social/global harmony
Taft, considered to be the largest president in American history, is also considered to be a better trustbuster and Justice of the Supreme Court than a president. His foreign policy, of investing in foreign governments, did not keep the peace, but rather drained the American economy and forced dependence on American loans
Wilson
“Moral Diplomacy”-Woodrow Wilson Make the world “safe
for democracy” Help countries who
want to become “democratic”
Wilson’s unbending, unflinching, and uncompromising belief in American democracy and Christianity failed to
make foreign allies. Criticized as a bigot and egoist, Wilson failed to successfully mediate the Mexican
Revolution or ratify the Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI.
Strategic Arguments for Expansion
Based on Admiral Alfred T. Mahan’s Book, The Power of the Seas Claimed a fully equipped
modern navy would ensure domestic tranquility, economic control, and world peace
Becoming a superpower depended on a modern navy
Mahan’s treatise on naval control and supremacy set off the first arms race of the twentieth century. The race to mobilize a steel navy and develop new naval technology was first accomplished by the Germans, then the British in Europe. The Germans were the first to develop the submarine
Strategic Militarism Arms Race
Control of the seas depended on rapid buildup and construction of a steel navy
Control of the seas depended on the rapid deployment of the navy across oceans
German superiority in submarine technology resulted in their control of the Atlantic prior to the Great War
Control of foreign ports Including the Hawaiian port of
Pearl Harbor, the control of islands provided fuel, strategic protection, and a rest stop
American shipbuilding was a slow process, with shipyards primarily in the East Coast. It would often take over 240 days to construct and fit a naval ship. By World War II, Henry Kaiser cut the time it took to 22 days
Arguments Against Expansion: Economics
Vocalized by the Anti-Imperialist League, which included: Authors Mark Twain and William James Labor leader Samuel Gompers Industrialists Andrew Carnegie
Criticized that an imperialist foreign policy would be very expensive Building and maintaining a well developed army and navy Protecting cargo transport ships Subduing and convincing foreign governments Suppressing revolts and re-building foreign infrastructure
(nation-building)
Economics Federal government
didn’t have the money Would require private
contracts which would further corrupt government
Too much labor unrest, urban poverty, agricultural depression, and unemployment required focus on domestic spending Uncle Sam, ever the symbol of American
virtue (and vice) is here seen as a nonchalant guardian of the world. His posture is
unworried and his expression, unconcerned.
Ideological Arguments
Imperialism fundamentally opposed to American ideals of self-government, self-determination, and democracy
“Manifest Destiny” was an excuse for greed and gaining profit
“White Man’s Burden” was inherently patronizing and racist
Politics
The government had failed to ensure the right of democracy to African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, most immigrant groups, the poor, and all women
A Comparative Look: A Summary
Arguments For Expansion
Cheap resources and new markets
Manifest Destiny Social Darwinism Required ports Logical extension of
U.S.
Arguments Against Expansion
Expensive Difficult to maintain Anti-Democratic Racist Patronizing
In Short
The imperialist agenda won out Character of agenda depended on presidency
and key leadership Arguments in favor of imperialism outweighed
arguments against imperialism All superpowers, throughout history, have
succeeded on a balanced imperialist policy All superpowers, throughout history, have failed
if their policy overextended their ability and resources