Imperialism (Expansionism)

Alaska Secretary of State, William Seward negotiated the sale in 1867 Bought it for 7 million dollars from Russia Some called it “Seward’s Folly” because they thought it was worthless But it became valuable because of gold and oil found there

Hawaii U. S. deposes Queen Liliuokalani—she wanted “Hawaii for the Hawaiians” Annexed July 7, 1898

Spanish-American War Cuba & Puerto Rico remained under Spanish Rule 1895 uprising by peasants in Cuba for independence—guerilla warfare Yellow press of William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World fired up Americans to side with Cubans against the Spanish

Spanish Commander Valeriano Weyler “The Butcher” put whole villages into concentrado camps and thousands of Cubans died Yellow press pushed for war, but President McKinley wanted peaceful policy 2 events prompted war: Hearst published DeLome letter written Spanish Ambassador insulting McKinley The Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, 260 sailors killed

Yellow Press pushed idea that Spanish did it April 11, 1898, Declaration of War May 1st, Commodore George Dewey attacked the Spanish in Manila Bay, Philippines

Sp-Am War -- Cuba Rough Riders under Teddy Roosevelt Supposed to be cavalry unit, but had to fight on foot in Cuba b/c army could not transport horses Black soldiers in Tenth Negro Cavalry under Commander John J. Pershing fought with Rough Riders at Battle of San Juan Hill Americans won Battle of San Juan Hill and next day destroyed or captured the Spanish fleet at Santiago Bay War lasted only 3 months

Treaty of Paris, 1898 Spain agreed to: Surrender all claim to Cuba Give up the Pacific Island of Guam & Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico & all of the Philippines U. S. agreed to: Give Spain $20 million

Teller Amendment guaranteed Cuba its independence 1901 – Platt Amendment made Cuba an American Protectorate (self-governing country subjected to influence of another country

Sp.-Am. war -- Philippines December 1898, McKinley announced that U. S. intended to govern the Philippines Filipinos resisted annexation—guerilla warfare March 1901, U. S. captured Emilio Aguinaldo and he took oath of allegiance to U. S.

Open Door Policy Secretary of State, John Hay, proposed policy that would give all nations equal trading rights to China Urged all foreigners in China to obey Chinese law and observe fair competition International army of Americans, British, French, German, Austrians, Russians, Japanese, & Italians put down Boxer Rebellion and kept Open Door open.

Panama Canal 1901, McKinley is shot and dies and Teddy Roosevelt becomes President Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine—police of the Western Hemisphere—”Speak softly and carry a big stick” U. S. encouraged Panama’s independence from Colombia, then negotiated treaty with Panama to build the canal

Dollar Diplomacy President Taft urged banks & businesses to invest in Latin America He promised that the U. S. would step in if unrest threatened investments