1. American Imperialism

2. Political Reasons for Imperialism
Believed that we needed to push the United States’ boundaries further and create an empire
European countries had already done this, so we should too!
Believed we needed to control the seas

3. Economic Reasons for Imperialism
Believed we needed to dominate commerce (trade)
Needed places to sell products
1890s were a decade of crisis
Too many people to feed because of immigration
Economic depression
Depression caused by the failure of a British bank

4. Purchase of Alaska
The U.S. purchased the Alaskan territory from Russia in 1867
$7.2 million
586,412 square miles of new territory
Approximately $12.27 per square mile
Called Seward’s Folly (mistake)
Why wasn’t it?
(increased size of the U.S. by 20%) inflation = $119 million

6. Objectives
Content: Analyze evidence on the Maine explosion and determine which newspaper is more believable.
Language: Explain the 4 causes of the Spanish American War.

7. Causes of the Spanish American War
Protection of American business interests in Cuba (mostly sugar cane)
America wanted to help Cuban rebels gain independence from Spain
The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba
Yellow Journalism
Cuba was colonized by Spain.
• Cuban rebels had been fighting for independence.
• Spain was thought to be brutal in repressing the rebellion.
• U.S. had business interests in Cuba.
• President McKinley had sent the Maine to Cuba (Why? To protect
American interests? To prepare for war? To intimidate Spain? This
is debated by historians. . .).
• Maine explodes on Feb 15, 1898.

8. The Spanish American War
April 25, 1898 – December 10,1898
(8 months)
The United States declared war on Spain after the sinking of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba.

9. How do these headlines differ?
Search for Missing Bride Continues
Bride Missing! Groom’s Family Blame History of Mental Illness
What does each headline imply?
• If these were articles, which would you have wanted to read first?
• Which do you think would have been the most reliable story? Why?
• Why might different newspapers choose to present the same event so
differently?

10. Yellow Journalism and War
Newspapers resorted to headlines that exaggerated and sensationalized events in order to sell more papers.
This increased public support for the war

12. Objectives Content: Learning:
Predict why the United States acquired Hawaii.
Analyze a song about the consequences of annexation for Hawaiians.
Learning:
List the results of the Spanish American War.
List the three elements of the Roosevelt Collorary.

13. Timeline of Events Cuba desires independence from Spain
Sinking of USS Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba – February 15, 1898.
Both sides disagree who was at fault.
U.S. requests Cuban independence instead of war with Spain
War Declared on April 25, 1898.
U.S. blockaded Cuba to prevent Spanish reinforcements

15. Timeline of Events U.S. attacked Manila Harbor in Philippines.
U.S. offered a peace treaty to Spain granting independence to Cuba, giving the U.S. a port in Philippines, and annexing Puerto Rico – REFUSED
Battles fought in Cuba until July – Peace settlement reached in August relating to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Spanish American struggle over the Philippines continued until December when the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the war.

16. Results of the Spanish American War
The United States emerged as a world power
As a result of the Treaty of Paris of 1898
Cuba gained independence from Spain but became dependent on the U.S.
The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico

19. Annexation of Hawaii Summary
Hawaii – desirable because of resources and location
Order of events:
Missionaries tried to change the religion of the native Hawaiians
Sugar – U.S. provided a good deal to purchase sugar to start to influence the area but wanted more than just trade

20. Annexation of Hawaii
3. White planters overthrew the native Hawaiian government because they wanted less taxes on sugar and feared losing U.S. influence
4. U.S. starts us use as a refueling station in Spanish American War
5. Annexation of Hawaii because of strategic importance
Hawaii ‘78

22. Objectives Content: Apply Big Stick Diplomacy to the Panama Canal.
Language: Explain the 3 parts of the Roosevelt Corollary.

23. The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
The Western Hemisphere was no longer open for colonization
The political system of the Americas was different from Europe
The United States would regard any interference in Western hemispheric affairs as a threat to its security
The United States would refrain from participation in European wars and would not disturb existing colonies in the Western Hemisphere

25. Teddy Roosevelt Policies
Teddy Roosevelt’s most famous quote:
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”

26. Roosevelt Corollary
Drafted a policy known as the Roosevelt Corollary which expanded on the policies of the Monroe Doctrine with regard to European involvement in Central and South America
Had 3 main components
Asserted the United States’ right to interfere in the economic ($) matters of other nations in the Americas

27. #2
Claimed the United States’ right to exercise international police power

28. #3
Advocated “Big Stick” diplomacy

29. Big Stick Diplomacy The Panama Canal
The U.S. helped finance a group of revolutionaries in northern Colombia so that a new country (Panama) could sell the U.S. the rights to build a canal in Central America.

31. Big Stick Diplomacy
In 1903, The U.S. signed a treaty with Panama for the rights to build a canal that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Treaty included:
10 mile strip of land across Panama
U.S. would pay Panama 10 million dollars for a 99 year lease
U.S. would also pay an annual rent of $250,000

35. Panama Canal Panama Canal was completed August 15th, 1914
Cut 8,000 miles off the Sea voyage from New York City to San Francisco
United States could now quickly navigate between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

38. Objectives
Content: Analyze a set of political cartoons about American Imperialism and explain their meaning to the class.
Language: Read an excerpt of the “White Man’s Burden” and explain what Kipling was trying to say.

39. Stanza of White Man’s Burden Translated to everyday English
Take up the White Man’s difficult job-
Send the best you have-
Send your sons to a far away land
To serve other’s needs;
To work difficult jobs,
For others who are wild,
Your new sad people,
Who are unChristian and don’t know how to act.

41. Philippine-American War
Main fighting lasted from
February 4, 1899 Filipino forces led by Aguinaldo rebelled against American control of the Philippines.
The Filipino people wanted independence.

42. Philippine-American War
U.S. wanted control of the Philippines because:
Desire Asian business opportunities
Concern that the Filipino people could not rule without help
Concern that another country would just take over as soon as the U.S. left

43. Philippine-American War
Aguinaldo was captured and because the U.S. started granting more rights, there was less support for the war against the U.S.
Both sides occasionally attacked civilians thought to be helping the “enemy”
Violence, disease and food shortage killed about 200,000 civilians

44. Philippine-American War
4,200 American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants died in the conflict
conflict was over because the U.S. promised future independence (even though it did not happen until 1946)