The Spanish American War: Becoming a World Power From the Civil War until the 1890s, most Americans had little interest in territorial expansion. In 1867, however, the United States did purchase Alaska from Russia for $72 million. Before the mid-1890s, for the most part, American expansionism was about expanding westward (remember manifest destiny). Americans resisted expansion for two major reasons. One was that imperial rule seemed inconsistent with America's republican principles. The other was that the United States was uninterested in acquiring people with different cultures, languages, and religions.

As I hoped you discovered from analyzing this cartoon, by the mid-1890s, a shift had taken place in American attitudes toward expansion in hope of opening new markets (places to buy and sell products (mostly sell) to). This change in foreign policy was sparked partly by a European scramble for empire. Between 1870 and 1900, the European powers seized 10 million square miles of territory in Africa and Asia, a fifth of the world's land mass. About 150 million people were subjected to colonial rule. In the United States, a growing number of policy makers, bankers, manufacturers, and trade unions grew fearful that the country might be closed out in the struggle for global markets and raw materials.

What effect might the Monroe Doctrine have on the U.S. economy? Hands Off! MONROE DOCTRINE (1823) Before the 1890s, the United States followed an isolationist foreign policy position. The Monroe Doctrine (which you learned about in the last PowerPoint) however may be viewed as a little more on the interventionist side (i.e. getting involved in other countries) considering that the doctrine stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North and South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, “requiring U.S. intervention.” But the Monroe Doctrine had economic implications – to some extent, the doctrine limited America’s ability to expand trade. During the 1880s, American foreign policy makers began to display a new assertiveness – moving toward a more global presence and in time, a world power. * Notice the word “effect” starts with an e. When using the word as a noun (like special effects – use an e, when using the word as a verb (life the weather affected her mood – use an a.)

Fast forward to the year 1900 Fast forward to the year 1900. In addition to acquiring the future states of Alaska and Hawaii, the United States gained control over the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and numerous Pacific islands. Between 1870 and 1900, foreign trade had became increasingly central to the American economy. Exports more than tripled, from about $400 million in 1870 to over $1.5 billion in 1900. By 1914, American investments in Central and Latin America alone amounted to $1.26 billion. In 1898, 10% of all American products were sold overseas, amounting to a billion dollars. American trade exceeded that of every other nation in the world except England. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? (GOOD QUESTION)

What could these “selfish reasons” be? How did the United States become a world power? - Cuba was fighting for its independence from Spain The U.S. decides to get involved. WHY? To aid the suffering Cubans + Europe is violating the Monroe Doctrine OR The debate over America's global role intensified when Cubans began to fight for their independence from Spain in 1895. Americans were sympathetic to Cuba's struggle for independence, but were divided about how to help. For selfish (self-serving) reasons What could these “selfish reasons” be?

Why might the U.S. want to get involved in Cuba’s fight for independence? Open up new markets (i.e expand trade) Expand “freedom and democracy“

This is an example of yellow journalism (you will do an activity later to help you understand what this term means. Early in 1898, fighting broke out in Havana, Cuba’s capital. President McKinley ordered the battleship Maine to Havana harbor to protect American lives and property. On February 15, a great explosion sank the Maine and killed 260 men. With cries of “Remember the Maine,” Americans demanded revenge. War fever swept the United States. On April 11, 1898, McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain. Nine days later, Congress did so.

With the help of the U.S. – Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and other territories previously held by Spain won their independence. Or did they?

U.S. acquired - Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam In the treaty with Spain that ended the war… U.S. acquired - Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam U.S. forced Cuba to approve the Platt Amendment to the new Cuban constitution – which authorized the U.S. to intervene militarily whenever it saw fit. But after the United States defeated Spain, it set up a military government on Cuba and made the soldiers’ (American soldiers) withdrawal contingent (only going to happen if a condition is met) on the Cubans accepting the Platt Amendment. The amendment gave the United States the right to intervene in Cuba to protect "life, property, and individual liberties." The 144-day war also resulted in the United States taking control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Why did the United States do this?

“America has a duty to uplift and civilize the Filipino people and to train them for self-government” - William McKinley, U.S. President Like the Cubans, many Filipinos were in revolt against the Spanish. After the Maine blew up, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt saw the prospect of war growing. Roosevelt ordered U.S. ships to prepare for war in the Philippines. On May 1, a small fleet of American warships sank the entire Spanish squadron at Manila Bay, in the Philippines. Soon, the United States found itself in control of the Philippine Islands. As this quote from then President of the United States William McKinley (FYI the largest mountain in North America – Mt. McKinley in Alaska – is named after this man) indicates, during the late 19th century, the idea that the United States had a special mission to uplift "backward" people around the world also commanded growing support (think Rudyard Kipling’s White Man’s Burden).

When the United States took control of the Philippines, many Filipinos felt betrayed. Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, they renewed their fight for independence. In a three-year war, about 4,000 Americans and 20,000 Filipinos were killed. Finally in 1901, Aguinaldo was captured and fighting came to an end. Not until 1946 did the Philippines gain independence.

Remember this slide? Again, this is a map showing America’s empire in 1900. Now, hopefully you know how the United States came to acquire these landholdings in the Caribbean and the Pacific. But there is more to the story.

This time we mean business! To protect America’s interest in the Caribbean, Theodore Roosevelt (President of the U.S. after McKinley who btw was assassinated) issued the Roosevelt Corollary. took the Monroe Doctrine on step further – U.S. will exercise military force in Latin American countries to keep European countries out. Monroe was a wimp. This time we mean business!

Building the Panama Canal And, America's 1898 war with Spain made a canal seem essential. During the Spanish American War, the only way for U.S. battleships to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean was to make an 8,000 mile journey around Cape Horn at the tip of South America. Built at a cost of $387 million over a period of 10 years, the Panama Canal was a declaration of America's coming of age in the world.