The Path of an Empire

Many developments fed ambition for overseas expansion:

Factories and Farmers

Frederick Jackson Turner’s concept of the “closing of the frontier,” produced fears that natural resources would soon dwindle.

Other Countries Expanding. (Darwinism?)Senator Henry Cabot Lodge warned, “America must not fall out of the line of march.”

Captain Mahan’s book: The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1890), control of the sea was key to world dominance

Missionaries wanted to save souls in un-Christian lands. Namely, Rev. Josiah Strong pushed for imperialism in his book Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis.

Imperialist Stirrings

Mahan continued…Prerequisites for sea power: productive

domestic economy, foreign commerce, a strong merchant marine, a navy to defend trade routes- and colonies, which would provide raw materials and markets and could serve as bases for the navy. He advocated a canal across the isthmus of Central America, and to take possession of Hawaii and other Pacific islands.

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James Blaine, organizes the first Pan-American Congress (1889)

• Blaine encouraged peaceful relations within the Americas, and also advocated for American commercial expansion and increased naval power.

• Pan-American Union head-quartered in Washington

• Communication, trade, legal issues

• Background: Sec of State for Garfield (1880), pres. Candidate (1884), Sec of State for Harrison (1888), minor candidate 1892, died 1893.

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*Dispute b/t Venezuela and GB over the boundary b/t Venezuela and British Guiana(now independent Guyana). Sec. of State Richard Olney said Britain was violating the Monroe Doctrine.

Cleveland told Britain:

1. America is calling the shots in Western Hemisphere

2. They were flouting the Monroe Doctrine

3. If they didn’t submit to arbitration, there would be war

Monroe’s Doctrine and the Venezuelan Squall 1895

Britain thought it wasn’t America’s business

After talk of war, Britain

agreed to arbitration.

Monroe’s Doctrine and the Venezuelan Squall

Other squabbles…prior to SP-AM War

• Italy standoff occurred in New Orleans over lynched Italians. The U.S. made payments.• http://

query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20910F9395D15738DDDAC0994DB405B8185F0D3

• http://voices.yahoo.com/anti-italian-violence-1891-orleans-12355337.html

• US-Chile, Baltimore Incident, United States backing the ruling power during the Chilean civil war in 1891. A massive riot broke out, pitting US sailors against local residents in Valparaíso. US President Harrison poised for war, until Chile settled the dispute on US terms.

• A U.S.—Canada standoff occurred over seal hunting rights. It was settled in arbitration

• A U.S., G.B. German stand off over Samoa. Samoa is split. (1889) US keeps Pago Pago.

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America called dibs on Hawaii. James Cook (1778) first known European.

Americans had arrived in the 1790s (merchants, whalers, missionaries, and planters).

1875 America allowed Hawaiian sugar to enter the US duty-free.

Further tightened grip came a treaty with the native government that guaranteed naval-base rights at Pearl Harbor (1887).

Conflict with the McKinley Tariff (1890) against Hawaiian sugar, devastates the economy. Best route was for Hawaii to be annexed to the United States.

Spurning the Hawaiian Pear

Spurning the Hawaiian PearQueen Liliuokalani (1891) wanted to challenge growing American influence and refused to let Hawaii be annexed.

A small revolution was staged.

Harrison signs annexation agreement (1893) but the Senate (Dem) refused to sign and the term expired; Cleveland came to power.

Cleveland withdrew treaty and the debate continued until 1898 when the Republicans gained control again and approved the agreement under McKinley as a joint-resolution. Perfect timing…Sp-Am War

Introduction to Spanish-American War

“A Splendid Little War” John Hay, Secretary of State, 1898

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Background:Who?

• Spain vs. America

Where? • Puerto Rico, Philippines, Cuba

(Spain’s Colonies)

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Background:

The Philippines

CubaUSA

Cubans had resisted Spanish rule since 1868.

Sugar production crippled with the Wilson-Gorman tariff of 1894 which put high duties on sugar. (They were excluded from the McKinley Tariff 1890)

Cubans thought if they caused enough damage Spain would move out and the U.S. would come in to help.

Insurrectos (led by Jose Marti, after spending time in the US) torched cane fields and sugar mills, and even dynamited passenger trains.

Cubans Rise in Revolt

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Spain’s Concentration Camps

Spain was fighting a guerilla war and needed to separate “good” from “bad” guys

What?

Why?

• Civilians were forced into government run camps (with bad conditions)

• Ran by the Spanish General “Butcher” Weyler (El Carnicero)

• Made Spain look bad in American eyes; 200,000 Cubans died in camps.

• Cleveland was unwilling to help.

How did it lead to war?

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“Yellow Journalists”

•Make more $ if they keep you scared and interested

What?

Why?

• Newspaper created highly exaggerated stories. (William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer named after the “Yellow Kid” cartoon)

• Made Americans want war!How did it lead to war?

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“Yellow Journalism”

Joseph Pulitzer New York World

William Randolph Hearst

New York Journal

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“Yellow Journalism”“You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war William Randolph Hearst

Frederic Remington’s

Disrobing Propaganda

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Growing Cuban population in America

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• NY, FL, Philiadelphia, and Trenton, NJ.• Extensive support for the Cuban

Revolutionary Party• Helped publicize Jose Marti (killed 1895).• Clubs and organizations supporting Cuba Libre.

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American Economic Interests

•Protecting their economic interests

What?

Why?

• Many of Cuba’s sugar plantations were owned by Americans.

• $50 million in investments, $100 million in trade

• Made Americans more likely to help out Cuba. Cubans were burning plantations and destroying railroad.

How did it lead to war?

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McKinley is became president- 1897•Spain agrees to remove the “Butcher” and they give Cuba limited freedom•Cuba is not happy with this. •McKinley sends the USS Maine (January) to possibly evacuate American citizens.•February 1898 the NY Journal leaked a letter written by Spanish ambassador (Dupuy de Lome) to the US that called McKinley weak.

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Sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor

What?• USS Maine explodes in Havana, Cuba

Harbor. 260 US sailors die.

• “Spark” that started the war• McKinley still did not want war, he called for an armistice

but Spain wanted to be able to resume hostilities at any moment.

• “Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!”

How did it lead to war?

• Most Americans believe it was Spain’s fault, that’s how it was reported.

• 1976 US Navy analyzed the sunken ship, decided that the hull blew OUT not IN

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Slide Analysis: Headline of the Maine Explosion

Maine Explosion Caused by Bomb or Torpedo?2/17/1898 New York World

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Thinking Slide:

Which of these do you think was most responsible for the nation going to war?

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•Congress recognizes Cuba’s independence and authorizes force against Spain.•Teller Amendment April 20, 1898 Proposed the US use force to help Cuba gain independence.

• War is declared April 25, 1898

–

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Theodore RooseveltAssistant Secretary of the Navy in the McKinley administration.Imperialist and American nationalist.Criticized PresidentMcKinley as having the backbone of a chocolate éclair!Resigns his position to fight in Cuba.

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May 1, 1898 – US attacks Manila Bay, lasts 7 hours. Ordered by TR. Only one American died. George Dewey is a hero!

What Happened at Manila Bay?

• Surprise naval attack sunk the crumbling Spanish Navy

• George Dewey waits almost 2 months for troops to help invade the mainland.

.

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Dewey’s May Day Victory at Manila

The USS Olympia

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Dewey Captures Manila!

Conflict in the Philippines 1898-1902 200,000+ troops and 4,300 combat

deaths estimated 50,000 natives died Captured Filipino guerillas were

treated as murderers and executed. One American commander ordered

his troops “to kill and burn, the more you kill and burn the better it will please me…shoot everyone over the age of 10.”

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William H. Taft, 1stGov.-General of the Philippines

Great administrator.

Emilio Aguinaldo began attacking US troops, General MacArthur sets up concentration camps.

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Emilio Aguinaldo

Leader of the FilipinoUprising.

July 4, 1946:Philippine independence

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Guam• Captain Henry Glass, commander of the

cruiser USS Charleston, was on the way to Manila when he received orders instructing him to proceed to the island of Guam and wrest it from Spain.

• On June 20, Captain Glass and his anxious sailors arrived off the shore of Guam. When the Charleston got within range, it fired upon fortifications on the island from three of its port-side cannons. Shortly after the cannon explosions — with little harm done — a ship flying the Spanish flag approached the Charleston, its crew completely unaware of any war taking place. In fact, a Spanish officer climbed aboard the Charleston and asked for gunpowder to return what they believed to be a salute.

• Governor Juan Marina was then notified by an American courier from the Charleston that a state of war existed between the two countries. The Spaniards could not mount a serious defense; Governor Marina was compelled to surrender the island of Guam without so much as a murmur. Captain Glass flew the red, white, and blue off the coast of Guam as he made way for Manila

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Rough RidersWho were the Rough Riders? Who was their leader?

• Teddy Roosevelt, Leonard Wood was 2nd in command

• Voluntary Calvary Unit

• San Juan Hill, El Caney, and Kettle Hill.

Roosevelt, always active, got his regiment ashore quickly. "We disembarked with our rifles, our ammunition belts, and not much else," he remembered. "I carried some food in my pocket, and a light coat which was my sole camp equipment for the next three days."

On April 29, Spanish admiral Pascual Cervera left the Cape Verde Islands with four cruisers and three destroyers, turning up in Santiago de Cuba where the U.S. Navy put the Spanish fleet under a blockade.

Then a force of some 17,000 troops assembled at Tampa, Florida, under the command of General William Shafter.

The major land action of the Cuban Campaign occurred on July 1. About 7,000 Americans took the fortified village of El Caney from about 600 of the enemy garrison. While a much larger force attacked San Juan Hill, a smaller unit, including the dismounted Rough Riders, together with black soldiers from the 9th and 10th Cavalry, seized the enemy position atop nearby Kettle Hill.

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On July 3, Admiral Cervera made a run for it, but his ships were little more than sitting ducks to be picked off by a sturdy American navy. The casualties were as one-sided as at Manila: 474 Spaniards were killed and wounded and 1,750 were taken prisoner, while only one American was killed and one wounded. Santiago surrendered with a garrison of 24,000 on July 17.

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Buffalo Soldiers

• African Americans were called in mostly from the West. They faced discrimination in GA and FL as they traveled to leave the States.

• 9th, 10th Calvary Units and the 24th (served as a medic unit),and 25th Infantry Units.

• Tremendous effort, fighting alongside the rough riders.

• 25% of fighting forces.

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On July 25 a force under General Nelson A. Miles and his convoy of 3,300 soldiers and nine transports (escorted by the USS Massachusetts) moved into Puerto Rico against minor resistance — easily taking the island. The day after General Miles landed, the Spanish government sued for peace through the French ambassador in Washington.

August 12, 1898 Armistice Estimated 460 died in battle, but

5,200 died from disease.

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The Treaty of Paris: 1898Cuba was freed from Spanish rule.Spain gave up Puerto Rico and the island ofGuam.The U. S. paid Spain$20 mil. for thePhilippines.Was not approved by the

the Senate until 1899 due to opposition of the anti-imp.

The U. S. becomesan imperial power!

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Teller Amendment (1898)

Platt Amendment (1903-1934)1. Cuba was not to enter into any agreements with

foreign powers that would endanger its independence.

2. The U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary to maintain an efficient, independent govt.

3. Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for naval and coaling station.

4. Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt.

Cuban Independence?

Senator Orville Platt

*Treaty of Relations 1934 – America is no longer allowed to intervene.

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Puerto Rico1900 - Foraker Act.

§ PR became an “unincorporated territory.”

§ Citizens of PR, not of the US.§ Congress could pass whatever laws they

wanted. 1901-1903 the Insular (Island related) Cases.Does the Constitution follow the

flag?§ Constitutional rights were not

automatically extended to territorial possessions.

§ Congress had the power to decide these rights.

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Puerto Rico1917 – Jones Act.

§ Gave Puerto Ricans US citizenship.§ Removed tariff duties on PR goods

coming into the US.§ PRs elected their

own legislators &governor to enforcelocal laws (commonwealth).

§ PRs could NOT votein US presidentialelections.

Open Door Policy By 1900 England, France, Germany,

Russia, and Japan were carving up China

1898 McKinley made a statement, “asking only for the open door for ourselves, we are ready to accord the open door to others.” Sec. of State John Hay translated this to England, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, and Italy in what became known as the Open Door Notes.

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Open Door notes1. He asked he nation with a sphere of

influence in China to respect the rights and privileges of other nations.

2. China was to continue collecting tariff duties in all spheres.

3. Nations were not to discriminate against other nations in levying port dues and railroad rates within their spheres.

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The Boxer Rebellion Highly secretive martial arts group

with nationalist convictions led a revolt against foreigners.

All foreign diplomatic corps were sieged, countries had to send in forces to rescue diplomats.

China offers compensation for any damages due to the Boxer Rebellion.

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Modern Military System Elihu Root re-organizes the military. Increased the regular army from

25,000 to 100,000. Est. Federal command of the National

Guard Sparked officer training schools. Est. Joint Chiefs of Staff as military

advisors to the Sec of War.

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