Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs IBDiP HOT-A

Essential Questions To what extent was the expansionist foreign policy of the United States consistent with prior U.S. policy? Why did the USA embark on a period of territorial expansion in the years 1880-1900? To what extent was there domestic opposition to this expansion?

Ideological Reasons for Expansion Monroe Doctrine: Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas had been replaced by new independent states during or soon after the Napoleonic Wars. The USA recognized these largely unstable countries by 1822. Policy was a product of the situation in Europe following the Congress of Vienna agenda to rebuild a balance of power following the fall of Napoleon. Russia returned as a dominate power with interest in North America. Europe was interested in a return to the status quo before Napoleon. Wanted to disempower nationalist independence movements in like those in Latin America and at home.

The defensive nature of the policy was expanded by TR in the 20th century to mean the US had the right to intervene to manage the independent states in Latin America.

Manifest Destiny Belief it was inevitable the U.S. would expand and eventually rule from coast to coast. John L. Sullivan first used the phrase as a justification for the annexation of Texas. Population growth of US was evidence of “natural law” and American exceptionalism and continentalism. So broad a term it can be used in many forms including geographic, racial, practical or social Darwinian.

Moral Duty Idea of moral justification and motive for expansion. Darwin’s scientific theory of evolution applied to social forms. Social Darwinism [Herbert Spencer] coined the term “survival of the fittest”. Success driven by “unfettered individualism.” View of some societies evolving from simple to complex. Evolutionary superiority of Anglo-Saxon race evinced by economy, population growth, geographical influence.

Divine Mission Josiah Strong, protestant minister and author of Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis, 1885. The Anglo-Saxon race, he wrote, was "of unequaled energy, with all the majesty of numbers and the might of wealth behind it." As possessor "of the largest liberty, the purest Christianity, the highest civilization," Strong argued that it was the Anglo-Saxons' duty to stretch its influence over all the earth. Saw economic strength as proof of superiority and need to civilize other peoples.

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History Alfred Thayer Mahan

Practical Necessity Mahan’s realist approach to expansion. What would it take to protect the economic growth and ensure future growth? Ships bring national greatness. Control of strategic waterways/water canal across Panama/big navy to protect trade/ports for ships to re-fuel across the ocean. Popular reading for Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, TR, and Henry Cabot Lodge.

Economic Expand for new markets and acquisition of natural resources. Competition for business and profit. Opportunities for financial investment.

Political Need for Expansion Transcontinental railroad opened the west coast up for trade in Asia. Growing trans-oceanic trade increased traffic and need for fueling stations for merchant ships & navy; need for strategic ports. ‘commerce follows the missionary’ increased plantations and business as well as non-native population on islands like Samoa and Hawaii.

Protectorates Samoa: USA, Britain, Germany interested in strategic location for navy. Strong commercial interest in the islands. Germany and US split protectorate of the island. [the island was nominally independent and under political/military protection of two nations] Hawaii: Pearl Harbor and strong sugar business. McKinley Tariff forced sugar growers to pay tax; save money and over throw the monarchy to be annexed.