What makes the US imperialism different from the European ones? I. The transcontinental expansion: the West Conquest… II. The US imperialist policy abroad What makes the US imperialism different from the European ones?

US sphere of influence - early 20th c A. US imperialism abroad: the continuation of the conquest policy US sphere of influence - early 20th c

THE LOGIC OF US EXPANSION WORLDWIDE USA JAPAN CHINA HAWAI CUBA THE PHILIPPINES PANAMA CANAL

B. US imperialism reflects two processes - The progressive control of margins around the US territory, like protective belts - The use of force when necessary, but not through a colonial form of domination : political, military and economic control were more efficient.

The 19th US diplomacy refers to… « America to Americans » (Monroe doctrine), 1820s « Speak softly and carry a big stick » (Above : Th. Roosevelt depicted as a policeman of the world)

The American way : another imperialist power, without official colonies. In 1901, the United States Investor (a Bostonian weekly newspaper) argued that capital should find “profitable development in tropical countries”, and said it was “an economic necessity”. It also explained that the “civilised countries should (not) build up manufacturing rivals in the undeveloped countries. (...) the logical path to be pursued is that of the development of the natural riches of the tropical countries” = the intention was to exploit and to rationalise the production of tropical resources. “what is involved is not a revolution in the habits and capacities of the peoples of the tropics, (...) but only rendering their territory productive”. = economic growth of the rich countries is the only challenge. “this will be attained by the stimulus of government and direction by men of the temperate zone” = the Western civilisation is the only one to exploit these areas with intelligence

A sense of superiority (a “civilized” nation, religion and power) legitimized the progressive control of foreign markets and resources. Human beings were not seen as partners, but as inferior collaborators, in a context of capitalist growth and rationalization.

C. The three waves of expansion of the US and the consolidation of its world sphere of influence

The Spanish-American war - 1898 The US supported the Cuban insurrections, forcing Spain to withdraw its troops and its naval forces.

Proximity with Asian trade routes, surveillance over Japan, The Philippines, a bone of contention The challenge ? Proximity with Asian trade routes, surveillance over Japan, competition wih Europeans. Japan Spain The US

The control of the Philippines ( 1898 - 1904) Local nationalist insurrection against Spain … orchestrated by the US In 1898, the US established a military government  the Filipinos resisted… An American military force (126,000 soldiers) was sent to repress the “insurrection against a lawful government”.

Casualties : US ranks = > 6,000 soldiers killed Filipinos = 16,000 soldiers killed + 250,000 to 1M civilians, who died of war, famine, or disease.

The control of the Panama Canal (1904-1914) The Canal zone had become a strategic passageway for the US, in the context of its expansion in America and the Pacific. The US bought the equipments from France, and completed the construction from 1904 to 1914. Military bases were settled and made this canal an «interior American  seaway ».

Retroceded in 1999 to Panama, the canal still remains under US influence : its ships are prioritary to pass through it ; the US still holds its military protection.

CONCLUSION

The US had become a world power : To historians, the notions of conquest and expansion are the basic trends of American culture and history : the will of a nation to achieve its predestined destiny, or its conviction it has a mission to expand its values, considered universal ; to others, it shows this population its audacity and movement. Either it expands, or it declines.