The Empire and The People

By: Howard ZinnReviewed by: Nicolas Garcia

What We Will Go Over

The history of America and Imperialism

Where they started Where they ended up Learn about the chapter “The

Empire and The People” Discuss the imperialistic actions

after the Great “Philippine war” Review

American ImperialismTimeline

1823 Monroe Doctrine: US will not interfere in Europe (Washington); Europe will

not colonize or interfere in Americas

1857-8 US control of various Pacific islands

1869 US attempts to buy Dominican Republic from Spain

1875 Economic and military control of Hawaii through a series of treaties

Timeline 1893 Hawaii seeks

independence with new constitution. Put down by US, Hawaii annexed

1894 Hawaii repeals US annexation

1898 Spanish-American War: “yellow journalism:” Hearst and

Pulitzer “Remember the Maine and to

hell with Spain:” McKinley sends troops

TR and San Juan Hill: “A splendid little war” (10 weeks)

Dewey defeats Spanish fleet at Manila: “You may fire when ready, Gridley”

Timeline Dewey puts down Emilio Aguinaldo’s independence

movement. Aguinaldo imprisoned (1902) Treaty of Paris: Annexation of Philippines; $20

million to Spain US control of Guam US control of American Samoa and Wake Island 1900 Platt Amendment to Cuban constitution:

intervention to “protect” Cuban democracy Hawaiians gain citizenship (becomes a territory in

1912) Puerto Rico becomes a territory (citizenship, but not

statehood, in 1917)

Timeline 1903 Hay-Herran Treaty: Columbia to give 99 year

lease of Panama area to US in exchange for $10 mill. and $250,000/year. Not accepted by Columbian government.

TR supports (encourages?) Panamanian revolt by sending gunboats to aid Panamanians

US acquires canal zone from Panamanians (completed 1914)

US establishes Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba 1909-33 US troops in Nicaragua 1914 Panama Canal opens. Wilson pays Colombia

according to Hay-Herran, declaring “Moral Diplomacy

Summary of this Chapter The chapter discusses the young country

America and it’s involvement in the matters of the other countries around the world between the 1850's and early 1900‘s

America and its government pushed for more foreign trade to reduce the size of the surplus of goods as a result of overproduction in America, along with protesting, and to stabilize the country by uniting the government along with its people.

Summary Cont. America started to follow the open door policy.

America somewhat struggled when it came to making an empire as grand as the Europeans did, since after all they are more experienced

Americans got involved with other countries to keep the “door open” for trade and eventually be able to open new markets

Various number of groups wanted this kind of expansion especially military figures to politicians like William Appleman Williams one of the leaders of the Populist party. 

The Imperialism Continues  By 1890, the U.S. turned its eyes toward international expansion

since the Indian Wars were coming to an end The Hawaiian islands were annexed in 1898 Also in 1898 U.S. went to war with Spain over Cuba, Puerto Rico

and the Philippines Desire for expansion and new economic opportunities in markets

were partial cause But many believed that these territories were ripe for the picking

and fighting Future president Theodore Roosevelt, honestly believed these

conquests was an essential part of the American character.

Under What Circumstances In February, 1898, the U.S. warship Maine was

attacked and sunk in Havana harbor No evidence was found to blame the sinking of the

Maine President Mckinley convinced the country to go to

war with Spain on the basis of revenge and Cuban independence

The war was able to take much of Spain’s remaining colonies

U.S. got free reign in the Caribbean Lead to a bloody war to take the Philippines First with the Spanish second with the Filipinos who

wanted independence.

If We Can’t Win Then We Buy Since the U.S. could not annex Cuba we were able to

get access into Cuba and parts of Cuba We got such as rights to mining, fruit harvesting and

military bases, such as Guantanamo Bay Other former Spanish colonies were bought as simple

territories By 1900, America is a worldwide colonial power

Other Things We Should Know Howard Zinn is the author as well as

was an activist who made it his duty to reveal the hidden truths in America’s history amongst his fellow Americans.

Cited Work Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492-present.

New York: HarperCollins, 2003. Print. "ImperialismOfSevenRegions - 7. U.S. Economic Imperialism in Latin

America."ImperialismOfSevenRegions - home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

"Historical Political Cartoons About Hawaii Hawai'i Digital Newspaper Project." N.p., Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

"My American History Class Imperialism Notes." My American History Class Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

"TWO FRIENDS REMEMBER HOWARD ZINN."Desertpeace. N.p., n.d. Web.5 Nov. 2013.

"Dying Empire: US Imperialism and Global Resistance."Iran Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

Andrew Meyers. Imperialism Timeline (Part I) . November 5 2013. < http://projects.ecfs.org/fieldston57/survey/timeli

nes/ImperialismTimeline.pdf >