American Imperialism
Background By the 1890’s, America was bursting with opportunity, and ready to expand: • Manifest Destiny: The idea that the world was the United States’ for the taking; Manifest Destiny first emerged when the United States expanded its borders westward to the Pacific Ocean. The idea never died, and the next logical step was to plant the flag all over the globe. • Commerce: American industry was looking for more consumers, and workers were always looking for work and striking against cuts to wages and hours. Global trade was seen as an answer to both issues.
Near Wars • 1889: American and German navies nearly fight over territory in SAMOA. • 1891: 11 Italians lynched in New Orleans; US settles with Italy. • 1892: 2 Americans killed in a bar in Valparaiso, Chile. Chile pays a settlement to the US. • 1890’s: US and Canada nearly fight over seal-hunting rights near Alaska, which had become a US territory in 1867. • 1895: Britain and Venezuela get involved in a boundary dispute. US President GROVER CLEVELAND invokes the MONROE DOCTRINE to try to stop British from fighting over land.
Monroe Doctrine Introduced by JAMES MONROE, 5th President of United States, on December 2, 1823. Written by JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention. At the same time, the doctrine noted that the United States would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries. “The occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.”
‘Hey you…wanna fight?’ After 50 years without a fight against a foreign country (1848 – Mexican War), Americans might have been looking for a fight. Five “near wars” were not enough. Americans wanted the USA to seize territory and prove to the rest of the world that the country was ready to be a SUPERPOWER.
In the PACIFIC… America annexed HAWAII in 1898, but had been tied to the Island since the early 1800’s. America eventually engaged in war with Spain. The SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898) resulted in the United States gaining territory in both the Pacific and the Caribbean. • In the Pacific, the United States gained the Philippines and Guam as a result of the Spanish-American War. •The USA was also pursuing trade with CHINA and JAPAN
In the CARIBBEAN • USA gained Puerto Rico and was able to build a canal in Panama as a result of the Spanish-American War. • “Yellow Journalism” created dramatic news of atrocities where there were none, and led the American public to cry out for war against Spain.
Caribbean Conquest American forces were outnumbered by the Spanish, but the condition of the Spanish ships and military were poor at best, while the American battleships were still relatively new. Hostilities began after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor; 260 American sailors died in an explosion that many blamed on Spanish treachery. Amid public outcry, President WILLIAM McKINLEY asked Congress for permission to use force in Cuba. USA was not prepared for war. Luckily, Spain was even less prepared. US forces were outnumbered 7-1, but managed to win because of naval superiority and the actions of the famed “ROUGH RIDERS,” a group of ex-convicts, college students, and cowboys organized by Teddy Roosevelt. The TREATY of PARIS ended the war, and awarded the USA the PHILIPPINES and GUAM in the Pacific, and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. Cuba was granted independence, and Spain was paid $20 million for its losses.
Pacific Problems The American Navy scored a decisive victory over the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay during the Spanish-American war. This crippled the Spanish navy. This was about the only good thing that happened in the Philippines for the USA. After the Philippines were granted to the United States, a three-year rebellion was launched against the USA by Filipino rebels. It took 4000 American lives. Big issues for America included the fact that the Philippines and Guam were so far away, and they were culturally so different from the USA. Hawaii had been more familiar, so annexation of the islands was far easier for the USA.
The Aftermath America’s new empire meant new rules in Latin America: PLATT AMENDMENT (1901): Cuba was forbidden from entering any treaty that might endanger their independence. In addition, to prevent European gunboats from landing on Cuban shores, Cuba was prohibited from incurring a large debt. If any of these conditions were violated, Cuba agreed to permit American troops to land to restore order. Lastly, the United States was granted a lease on a naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Independent in name only, Cuba became a legal protectorate of the United States.
‘Speak softly and carry a big stick’ As President, TEDDY ROOSEVELT added the ROOSEVELT CORROLARY to the Monroe Doctrine. Basically said that the USA could become involved in the Caribbean or Latin America whenever it felt the need. Europe was to remain across the Atlantic, while America would police the Western Hemisphere. First test was in 1905 in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; USA invaded the island nation, seized its customs houses, and ruled the Dominican Republic as a protectorate when debt to European creditors became a problem until the situation was stablilized. Bred resentment toward the USA in Latin America By the end of the 20th century, USA had intervened 35 times in Latin America.