Imperialism: America Expands

Imperialism- - -The race to gain foreign territory -The effect a powerful country has in influencing the way people live in other nations. -Increasing a nation’s power by gaining control over other areas.

*By the late 1800’s, imperialism was a global trend. Britain, France, and Germany were all carving out their “spheres of influence” in Africa, China, and Southeast Asia. *Since the U.S. western frontier had disappeared, we began to look outside our borders.

Monroe Doctrine – Where it all began **President James Monroe‘s address to Congress in 1823 had a significant impact on the U.S. relationship with the rest of the Western Hemisphere countries. **Monroe’s message to European powers was loud and clear: no more European colonies in the Western Hemisphere. **More than 20 years passed before the doctrine was implemented by President James K. Polk to take Oregon from British and Texas from Mexico. Monroe Polk

Arguments for Imperialism 1. More raw materials for industry **There were two sides to this issue: those that backed expansion and those that favored staying here at home. Arguments for Imperialism 1. More raw materials for industry 2. More markets for trade 3. Military bases and fueling stations for Navy. 4. Duty to spread Christianity. 5. Duty to spread ideals of Democracy Anglo-Saxon race was a superior race. #4-6 are nationalism- -extreme pride in one’s nation. **The U.S. needed a strong navy to defend shipping lanes. By 1890 the U.S. had the 3rd largest navy in the world.

*By 1890, the U.S. had already made trade agreements with some Asian nations. China (1844)- -we trade iron and fur to the Chinese in exchange for tea, silk, porcelain and jade. Japan(1854)- -attempts to open trade are successful when Japan sees our steam ship - -Japan begins to adopt Western ways - -Built up navy and began to think of imperialism themselves Korea(1880’s)- -commercial treaties with Korea **Asia trade is important to us becoming world power.

Acquiring New Lands In 1867 Secretary of State William Seward helps the U.S. gain: -Midway Island in the Pacific located on trade routes with China and Japan. -Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (Seward’s Folly) **Alaska paid for itself many times over with its deposits of gold, copper, and oil as well as seal and whale trade.

U.S. takes Hawaii by force in 1893 and annexes it 1898. It remains a territory until 1959. -We already had American planters and missionaries there since 1875. -Already had naval base in Pearl Harbor since 1889 .

The Spanish American War of 1898 **Spain holds Cuba in the Caribbean and the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific during this time. -Cubans rebel -Spain sends General Weyler who sets up concentration camps -Some Americans die -Yellow Press condemns Spain’s handling of the rebellion -William Randolph Hurst and Joseph Pulitzer compete to sell the most papers by pushing the war. -McKinley resists intervention -Press exposes secret DeLome Letter -The U.S.S. Maine explodes off the coast of Cuba -Spain agrees to U.S. demands but we still fight

*Once war was declared, the U.S. fought on several fronts: -Philippines- -Commodore Dewey destroys the Spanish fleet at Manila . -Guam and other Pacific Islands -Puerto Rico in the Caribbean -Cuba- -Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders charge up San Juan Hill

*Soon after the charge, the Spanish fleet flees from Cuba. *On Dec. 10, the Treaty of Paris was signed: -We took Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines for colonies and liberated Cuba. The Spanish-American War only lasted 6 weeks and resulted in 325 American deaths.

After the War, the U.S.: -improved Cuban infrastructure and education. -forced Cuba to add the Platt Amendment to their constitution which gave us military base on the island (Guantanamo) -kept Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines as refueling stations for its ships. **These new American colonies were protectorates of the U.S. which meant they did not have the full rights as American citizens. **Many people of these colonies were upset as they expected to be liberated just as Cuba had.

Philippine-American War -1898 -bloodiest colonial war fought in Asia