America’s First Steps Toward Global Superpower

I. Motivations for Intervention A. Economic: Industry Desires Resources and Markets

How would the U.S. benefit from controlling land in Latin America and the Pacific? Sandford Dole and other plantation owners in Hawaii overthrew the Hawaiian government in 1893 Created their own government with Dole as the president

What was the cost for people who lived in Latin America and the Pacific?

B. Humanitarian: To Civilize and Christianize Missionaries tried to convert Pacific Islanders to Christianity Spread U.S. civilization, morals, and ideals to “less fortunate” peoples

What arguments did Anti-Imperialists make against the U.S. as a civilizing force?

C. Racial: “Little Brown Brothers”

What does this suggest about the reason for white Americans helping people of color?

D. National Pride & Global Competition Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that U.S. needed a large, powerful navy to become a world power. Also needed colonies to protect trade and provide resources. The Berlin Conference ( ) split Africa between European countries. Mahan argued that America needed to take the Pacific in order to compete with Europe.

What does this say about how the U.S. might see the new territories?

An American Puppet: Cuba & the Platt Amendment “The government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty….”

E. Politics & Yellow Journalism The Maine was accidentally sunk, but reporters blamed the Spanish

III. The Philippine-American War ( )

A. Spain Sells the Philippines Treaty of Paris gave the Philippines to the U.S. after the Spanish-American War.

B. Filipino Resistance & Guerilla Warfare Filipinos fought against the U.S. for independence

C. “The Wolf by the Ears”: 50 Years Until Independence

The U.S. in Latin America: Good Neighbor or Imperialist?

A. Puerto Rico as Permanent Colony Given to U.S. after Spanish- American War Annexed as colony in 1900 U.S. chooses delegates for one legislative house, popular vote chooses the other.

B. The Roosevelt Corollary Allows American Intervention in Latin America Monroe Doctrine (1823): Europeans cannot have new colonies in the Western Hemisphere Roosevelt Corollary (1904): U.S. can act as an “international police power” in Latin America to protect countries against Europe Also called the “Big Stick Policy”

B. Panamanian Independence & The Panama Canal U.S. needed a way to move ships from the Pacific to the Atlantic Easiest place to build a canal was Panama (owned by Colombia) Roosevelt supported Panama’s independence if the new country gave the U.S. control of the Panama Canal Zone (10 miles where the canal would be built)