American Imperialism Begins Hawaii & Alaska Jose Marti Yellow Journalism U.S.S. Maine Spanish American War Commodore George Dewey Rough Riders Treaty of Paris

Imperialism The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories America wanted to be more powerful Manifest Destiny fueled this desire Desired military strength New Markets Belief in cultural superiority

Alaska & Hawaii Purchased Alaska from Russia (1867) Hawaii $7.2 million Hawaii Took over Midway Island No one lived there American plantation owners in Hawaii wanted to be annexed so they would not have to pay duties on sugar they sent to the U.S.

Hawaii cont. Pearl Harbor Naval Base built in 1887 Hawaiian monarch was overthrown with help from U.S. Pres. William McKinley favored annexation 1898 Congress proclaimed Hawaii an American Territory

Cuba Americans had large investments in sugar plantations in Cuba U.S. once tried to buy Cuba from Spain Spain refused

Jose Marti Organized a revolution in Cuba in 1895 Deliberately destroyed American property U.S. sentiment on Cuba was split Spain sent in troops to quell the revolution Also set up concentration camps

Yellow Journalism Newspaper Wars William Randolph Hearst Joseph Pulitzer Both printed exaggerated accounts of life in Cuba Poisoned wells Children thrown to sharks Wanted to fuel a war between Spain and the U.S. Made a mountain out of a mole hill

DeLome Letter Spanish minister to the U.S. criticized Pres. McKinley calling him weak Spain was embarrassed U.S. was angry

U.S.S Maine U.S.S Maine was sent in to Cuba to bring Americans home who might be in danger and protect American Property Feb. 1898 there was an explosion aboard the Maine Some believed it was destroyed by the Spanish No real proof Probably an explosion from the forward magazine “Remember the Maine” became a rallying cry to war with Spain

Spanish American War Pres. McKinley asked for a declaration of war on April 11, 1898 Congress granted on April 20 War with Spain was not limited to Cuba Also attacked the Philippines America had a trading interest there China

Commodore Dewey Attacked the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay Dewey’s steel ships destroyed Spain’s wooden ships Had support from the Filipino's Filipino rebels and U.S. troops forced Spanish troops to surrender in August

War in Cuba 125,000 volunteered to fight in Cuba Troops were ill equipped Wool uniforms Lack of leaders Spanish fleet was blockaded in Santiago Harbor

San Juan Hill Infantry battle (July 1, 1898) Theodore Roosevelt was in charge of “Rough Riders” Voluntary cavalry unit Charged up San Juan Hill and won the battle Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were heroes in the newspapers at home

More War in Cuba Spanish Navy tried to get out of harbor and was destroyed U.S. then invaded Puerto Rico

Treaty of Paris Actual fighting only lasted 15 weeks Spain freed Cuba Turned over Guam, Puerto Rico, and West Indies to U.S. Sold Philippines to U.S. for $20 million Senate approve treaty Some people worried about imperialism Booker T. Washington- fix race problems at home Samuel Gompers-would new territories compete for jobs?