The Rise of American Imperialism Hawaii, Cuba, the Philippines, and Latin America

Major Presidents During Imperialism William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William H. Taft

Anti-Imperial Sentiment  From the Civil War until the 1890s, most Americans had little interest in territorial expansion:  Imperial rule seemed inconsistent with America's republican principles.  The US did not welcome people with different cultures, languages, and religions.

Acquisition of Alaska  An exception to the rule was Alaska. In 1867, Sec. of State William Seward arranged to buy Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million. Rich in natural resources (timber, minerals, and oil), Alaska was a bargain at two cents per acre.

European Imperialism  By the mid-1890s, a shift had taken place in American attitudes toward expansion. Why? Between 1870 and 1900, the European powers seized 10 million square miles of territory in Africa and Asia. About 150 million people were subjected to colonial rule.

Fear of Competition  In the U. S., 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.

Belief in Darwinian Struggle  A belief that the world's nations were engaged in a Darwinian struggle for survival, and that countries that failed to compete were doomed to decline, also contributed to a new assertiveness on the part of the U. S.

The White Man’s Burden  The late 19th century saw growing support for the idea that the U. S. had a special mission to uplift "backward" people around the world  Anglo-Saxonism: idea that English-speaking nations were superior in character, ideas, and government, and were destined to dominate the planet.

Dependency on Foreign Trade  By the late 19 th Century, the American economy was increasingly dependent on foreign trade. A quarter of the nation's farm products and half its petroleum were sold overseas.  Tariffs had reduced trade between industrialized nations, so companies looked elsewhere for new markets.

A New Assertiveness  During the late 1880s, American foreign policy makers began to display more assertiveness on the world stage, wanting Europeans to know that the U.S. was the dominant power in our region, which included Latin America.

A Desire for Sea Power  Alfred Thayer Mahan, author of The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, argued that national prosperity and power depended on control of the world's sea- lanes. "Whoever rules the waves rules the world.”  Congress authorized construction of a modern navy and quickly became a top naval power by late 1890’s

Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan To open trade with Asia, four black ships commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry anchored at Edo (Tokyo) Bay in The Japanese had never seen ships steaming with smoke and so heavily armed. The Japanese government, in no position to defend itself, signed a trade treaty with the U.S. that opened up two ports to American vessels, and allowed American ships to buy coal and other necessary supplies in Japanese ports. No longer allowed to be isolationist, Japan began to “westernize”. By 1890s, Japan had built a powerful navy and set out to build their own empire in the East.

The Annexation of Hawaii  In 1893, a small group of sugar and pineapple-growing businessmen, backed by the U.S. military, deposed Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani, seized 1.75 million acres of land, and conspired for U.S. annexation of the islands (achieved in 1898.) Hawaii became a state in 1959.

Spanish-American War (1898)  The Spanish-American War was a conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin America.  The victorious United States emerged from the war a world power with a new stake in international politics that would soon lead it to play a determining role in the affairs of Europe.

Origins of Spanish American War  The Tariff of 1894, which put restrictions on sugar imports to the U. S., severely hurt the economy of Cuba, which was then a Spanish colony. Angry nationalists began a revolt against the Spanish colonial regime.

The USS Maine  The US, which had many businessmen with investment interests in Cuba, became concerned and dispatched the USS Maine to rescue US citizens who might be endangered by the conflict.

The Effects of Yellow Journalism  On February 15, 1898, the Maine mysteriously blew up and the US blamed a Spanish mine.  When the American public was stirred into an anti- Spain frenzy by the yellow journalism of newspaper men like Hearst and Pulitzer, President McKinley gave the OK for war. 

Effects of Yellow Journalism  Yellow journalism is exaggerated or biased writing disguised as news, often used for political, social, or economic gain.  “You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.” William Randolph Hearst

Teller Amendment  Congress agreed to war, but only after adopting the Teller Amendment that made it clear that the United States did not harbor imperialist ambitions and would not acquire Cuba.

Manila Bay  What Happened at Manila Bay? 20 Surprise naval attack sunk the crumbling Spanish Navy in the Philippines Made Americans feel very confident

Rough Riders  Who were the Rough Riders? 21 Teddy Roosevelt resigns as Asst. Sec. of the Navy to lead a volunteer “Cowboy Calvary” that served with the 17,000 soldiers that landed in Cuba TR’s popularity from this leads to his becoming V.P. and President

Rough Riders  What famous Battle did they participate in? 22 San Juan Hill (near Santiago) African Americans also helped but get no credit

Teddy Roosevelt 23

Spanish-American War The fighting lasted only 4 months (April- July.) By the Treaty of Paris (Dec. 10, 1898), Spain renounced all claim to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S., and ceded the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million. Treaty of Paris

“A Splendid Little War” John Hay, Secretary of State, 1898 Results: 25 US defeats Spain after 144 days and 3,300 deaths to become a world power. Teddy Roosevelt elected Vice President in 1900 and becomes President in 1901 when McKinley is shot. Treaty of Paris: Cuba is granted independence, but it becomes an American protectorate. The U.S. acquires former Spanish possessions of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

The Platt Amendment  After the US defeated Spain, it passed the Platt Amendment, which gave the US the right to intervene in Cuba to protect "life, property, and individual liberties.”

The Philippine-American War  To suppress Filipino insurgency, the American military forcibly relocated or burned villages, imprisoned or killed non- combatant civilians, and used torture techniques (including the water cure) on suspected insurgents.

Philippine Independence  During the war, more than 4,000 U.S. soldiers, about 20,000 Filipino fighters, and an estimated 200,000 Filipino civilians died.   U.S. made improvements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Resistance ended by 1902  Filipinos received their independence in 1946.

China Open Door Policy  Spheres of Influence : area where a foreign power controls economic development.  European nations had divided up China for trading purposes  1899 John Hay (Sec. of State) called for  1. open access to all of China’s coastal ports to all countries  2. elimination of special privileges for any trading nations  3. maintenance of China’s independence

3 American Beliefs reflected in Open Door Policy:  1. Growth of American economy depended on exports  2. U.S. had the right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open  3. A fear that closing of an area to American products, citizens, or ideas threatened U.S. survival

The Roosevelt Corollary  In 1904, when Germany demanded a port in the Dominican Republic as compensation for an unpaid loan, Theodore Roosevelt announced the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. It stated that the U.S. would intervene in Latin American affairs when necessary to maintain economic and political stability.  This was a declaration that the U.S. would be the policeman of the Caribbean and Central America.

America As World Power  Panama Canal Panama Canal  Built to connect Atlantic and Pacific Oceans  Cut travel time of U.S. ships by half  Panama was province of Colombia, but TR helped Panama obtain its Independence to get Canal built  m/watch?v=Pv0upmpPw 3c m/watch?v=Pv0upmpPw 3c

America As World Power  Great White Fleet  New all-steel fleet of 16 battleships that TR sent around the world to show U.S. dominance.

Great White’s World Wide Tour, 1907

Roosevelt and Latin America  Gunboat Diplomacy Gunboat Diplomacy  Use force to accomplish goals in world, especially Latin America.  “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”  (Big-stick Diplomacy)

Taft and Latin America  Dollar Diplomacy Dollar Diplomacy  Plan to invest money into a country to help strengthen that country’s economy in hopes of preventing revolutions  U.S. corporations developed industries in Latin American countries, benefiting both.  “…substituting dollars for bullets.”

Interventions in Western Hemisphere  To enforce order, forestall foreign intervention, and protect economic interests, the U. S. intervened in the Caribbean and Central America some 20 times over the next quarter century ( in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.)

American Support of Dictators  Each intervention put into power a dictator supportive of American interests (Somoza in Nicaragua, Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, and Duvalier in Haiti). Somoza Trujillo Duvalier

Protection of American Interests  On the whole, U.S. actions in Latin America protected its commercial and strategic interests, but the goal of spreading democracy went mostly unfulfilled. The frequent use of military force also engendered widespread resentment in the region.