American Imperialism

American Imperialism Period of American overseas expansion during the late 19 th century Complex causes behind overseas expansion Economic Political Cultural Consequences still live on in the 21 st century

American Imperalism Definitions Imperialism Colonialism Nationalism Chauvinism

American Imperialism The world by 1900 Impact of Industrialization Mass production Resources Energy supply Markets Cheap labor Immigration from South and Eastern Europe Unintended Consequences caused by Industrialization Nativism Urban blight Child labor Depression caused by speculation

American Imperialism Resurgence of European Colonialism 1870s and 1880s Factors  Industrialization  Rivalry between the United Kingdom and Germany  Scramble for Africa  Need for markets and naval bases Consequences  Wars to take blocks of territory  Lessened importance of France and Russia  Rise of socialism, Communism, and labor unions

American Imperialism The United States Isolationist Tradition Monroe Doctrine—stay out of Western Hemisphere Plenty of land between the Mississippi and California Internal politics between regions and parties Preoccupied throughout much of the 19 th century Turner Thesis—unique character because of frontier Settle West through war and purchase—no need to seek European alliances

American Imperialism Rise of New Foreign Policy Elite in the late nineteenth century “White Anglo-Saxon Protestants” (WASP) Who are they?  Nativist and Know-Nothings  Anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, anti-Black  Racist Jim Crow Laws since Reconstruction ended (1876)  Mostly rural, majority until 1900 Ambitions  Assimilation at best (Melting Pot); quotas and Jim Crow at worst  “Pull up by the bootstraps”  Republican control of North; Democrats in South  Form the middle class

American Imperialism Alfred Thayer Mahan American strategist—naval supremacy The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1890) Influence on foreign policy elite—gain the upper hand in Latin America and the Pacific

American Imperialism Cultural changes of the late 19 th century The Frontier declared “closed” in 1890 census—now where do we go? Industrialization—keep the edge in resources, markets and labor supply to outstrip Europeans giants (UK and Germany) “New immigrants”—South and East Europe ) Slavic, religiously non-Protestant, culturally different, poor peasants, illiterate

American Imperialism Cultural attitudes of the late 19 th century Darwin’s theory of evolution—a specie changes or dies out due to the environment Impact of Darwinism—social Darwinists say it applies to humans as well with some groups more “fit” than others to rule and breed Eugenics is not a science, but a justification for class and wealth Allows poor treatment of non-WASPs Links to Hitler’s Aryan racial theories

American Imperialism Anglo-Saxon-ism Origins Colonial Era—English settlements, Puritan ethic of hard work Settlement of the Scots-Irish in the “West” Heroism of American history Extension to UK: “the sun never sets on the British Empire” “The White Man’s Burden” Rudyard Kipling’s poem (he was and Englishman living in British India Describes the US “responsibility” to “civilize” his “little brown brothers” in the Philippines

American Imperialism American Expansion before the Civil War Mostly confined to the North American continent Peace of Paris to end the Revolution gave territory between the Appalachians and the Mississippi to the 13 states Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon of France extends from the Mississippi to the Rockies Mexican War gives territory from Rio Grande to the Canadian border Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Settles claims of the 13 states in the area north of the Ohio River as federal territory (slave free IN, IL, MI, WI) Divides 6 mile X 6 miles into townships Manifest Destiny—from “Sea to Shining Sea”

American Imperialism, American Expansion after the Civil War Goals Go beyond the continuous US (Mexico to Canada and Atlantic to Pacific) Supply Northern industries with resources and markets Bring American civilization and democracy to the world William Henry Seward—(Seward’s Folly)—buy Alaska from Russia Acquisitions Hawaii from a Revolution against its Queen Caribbean islands and the Philippines as spoils of the Spanish-American War (Puerto Rico, American Virgin Islands, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba)

American Imperialism Hawaii Formerly an independent kingdom Role of Missionaries Role of Economics Queen Liliuokalani Annexation Granted statehood in 1959

American Imperialism Queen Lilioukalani, last Queen of Hawaii

American Imperialism Cuba One of the last remaining colonies of Spain War of independence Role of American Media—Yellow Press and Jingoism, William Randolph Hearst

American Imperialism Cuba and the United States US Motivations Sugar plantations Cheap labor Foothold in the Caribbean Sea The Maine (US Ship) Who blew it up??? Why was it in Havana Bay? Remember the Maine is a good slogan (jingo)

American Imperialism The USS Maine arriving at Havana before its explosion

American Imperialism Aftermath of Maine explosion De Lôme Letter—referred to the President William McKinley as "weak and catering to the rabble and, besides, a low politician who desires to leave a door open to himself and to stand well with the jingos of his party."William McKinleyjingos Public outrage when printed in Hearst’s NY paper despite the letter was private and stolen from the Spanish portfolio (governor) of Cuba

American Imperialism/ The Spanish-American War Declaration of War—recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the Island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect. Teller Amendment enacted April 20, 1898, in reply to President William McKinley's War Message. It placed a condition of the United States military in Cuba. The U.S. could not annex Cuba but only leave "control of the island to its people." PresidentWilliam McKinleyWar MessageconditionUnited StatesmilitaryCubaannex

American Imperialism The Spanish-American War Public Opinion Strong pro-war supporters like Theodore Roosevelt and the Yellow Press Anti-Imperialists were intellectuals and liberals like Mark Twain Typical Volunteer Young, unemployed and African Americans Some were adventurers (cowboys and frontiersmen) Many were immigrants seeking citizenship

The cover of Puck from April 6, Caricaturizes an Easter bonnet made out of a warship that alludes to the gains of the Spanish-American WarPuckEaster bonnet 1900 Campaign poster

Segregated Troop of African Americans Detail from Charge of the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry and Rescue of Rough Riders at San Juan Hill, July 2, 1898 depicting the Battle of San Juan Hill.24th 25th Colored InfantryBattle of San Juan Hill

American Imperialism The Spanish-American War Theodore Roosevelt ( )--gung ho to prove his vitality; returns a hero; elected governor of NY, vice-President, and following the assassination of McKinley, the youngest US President Role in Spanish-American War—mostly sat out the war and wrote memoirs embellishing his role at San Juan Hill in Puerto Rico; he like others were quarantined for 30 days after the War due to Yellow Fever

Theodore Roosevelt (center) and the Rough Riders

American Imperialism The Spanish-American War Spain v United States US still used Civil War tactics Spain was backed by Europeans, but too far away to do much with colonies wanting independence in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guan and the Philippines Battle of Manila Bay May 1, 1898 Dewey defeated Montojo in less than 9 hours More fear were the Germans who cut in front of the US ships needing supplies, but the Germans backed down

George Dewey v Patricio Montojo

American Imperialism The Spanish-American War Outcome Spain lost the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the US The Philippines resisted US rule with a ghastly revolution Cuba gain independence (sort of) with Guantanamo Bay to the US forcing the PLATT AMENDMENT not allowing Cuba to have foreign alliances without the US’ OK Spain loses all but some African colonies US gets resources, markets, and an empire Treaty of Paris 10 December 1898 Spain gives in on US demands All but Cuba becomes US territory

American Imperialism Debate over the Philippines Arguments for colonial empire Arguments against colonial empire

American Imperialism The US ratified the Treaty of Paris in Feb 1899 Reaction of Filipinos—ethnic strife and revolution to oust US soldiers occupying the Philippines Set up the Tagalong Republic under President Aguinaldo, but counter-revolutions leave the US in control until 1946 (after WW II) Guerrilla war in the Philippines—atrocities on both sides especially among prisoners of war

President Aguinaldo Filipino revolutionary leader

American Imperialism The Larger Picture Philippines part of a larger strategy in the Pacific Rim China by 1900 Japan

American Imperialism Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy ( ) “Imperial Presidency”—speak softly and carry a big stick Anglo-Saxon-ism—Kipling’s White Man’s Burden

American Imperialism American Imperialism in Latin America Monroe Doctrine—Europe to stay out of the Western Hemisphere Roosevelt Corollary—it is the duty of the US to act as policeman for the Western Hemisphere

American Imperialism Panama Suez Canal Attempts to build canal Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, 1850 Hay-Pauncefot Treaty, 1901 Panama Canal

American Imperialism Dollar Diplomacy—WH Taft Example of the Philippines—buy goodwill and make them dependent on the US “Informal Imperialism”—cultural and economic imposition of US

American Imperialism The Anglo-American Rapprochement Diplomatic relations between US and Britain Venezuela Boundary Dispute Spanish-American War

American Imperialism Impact of Spanish-American War on US/British Relations Hay-Pauncefot Treaty (1901) Alaska Boundary Dispute (1905) The “Special Relationship” Cultural similarities between US and Britain Connections between US and Britain

American Imperialism Factors drawing Britain and the US closer together Economic European Diplomatic Situation US foreign policy elite Role of Anglo-Saxon-ism