1. THE AGE OF U.S. IMPERIALISM
“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
- T. Roosevelt

2. IMPERIALISM - definitions
1. Imperialism = the quest to build up a
territorial empire.
2. Imperialism = control by powerful nation(s) over a less advanced or less civilized area.

3. POWERFUL NATION USUALLY CHARACTERIZED BY Advanced Economy (Industrial)
Strong Government
Considerable
Military Strength

4. The “Less Advanced” Area
CHARACTERIZED BY
Primitive economy (pre-industrial)
Underdeveloped natural resources
Weak government
Limited military power
*Imperialism has also been called Colonialism

5. BACKGROUND - Imperialism
US. Imperialism – response to European Imperialism
1. Fundamental Cause: Industrial Revolution
Industrialized nations desired colonies to provide:
a) cheap supply of raw materials
b) a market for the mother country’s goods
c) large profits w/ minimum risk on investment

6. 2. Other Causes:
Used NATIONALIST arguments to gains support for EMPIRE BUILDING.
a) gain glory & achieve a “place in the Sun”
b) secure essential military bases & war materials
c) provide an outlet for surplus population
d) provide safety - missionaries spread Christianity
E) bring to the backward areas the “blessings of the civilized culture” of the West [Europe & USA]

7. This “Duty” of the West Labeled by RUDYARD KIPLING as
The “White Man’s Burden”

8. REASONS for U.S. turn to IMPERIALISM
1) Industrial Revolution
2) Closing of the FRONTIER – leads investors to look elsewhere for economic opportunity

9. 3. EXAMPLE of other Nations (Imperialist)
a. British Empire controlled over ¼ of World’s
territory and population

10. 4. American NATIONALISM

12. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)
Causes of the War:
1. Despotic (Absolute Rule) Spanish rule over Cuba
A. Spain denied civil liberties & political rights
B. Levied heavy taxes – restricted foreign trade
C. Ruthlessly suppressed rebellions
D. Spain finally abolished slavery in 1886
E. Economic depression brings another
revolt for INDEPENDENCE

13. 2. American Humanitarianism & sympathy
A. Sympathized with desire for independence
B. Outraged when over 200,000 Cubans died in
concentration camps of hunger and disease

14. 3. ECONOMIC INTERESTS A. American merchants traded with Cuba to the
amount of $100 Million a year
B. American investors placed $50 million in
sugar and tobacco plantations.
C. Banana Republics were a term coined by an American writer O. Henry to describe countries in Central America that were politically unstable and whose economies were largely dependent on exporting limited-resource products.

15. 4. “Yellow Journalism” A. William Randolph Hearst – NY Journal
B. Joseph Pulitzer – New York World
C. Both Newspapers sought to increase
circulation by sensationalized news stories.
3) Hearst’s Journal printed the Delome Letter
Spanish ambassador calls McKinley “weak”

16. William R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer

17. Pulitzer vs. Hearst

18. De Lome Letter – talked down about President McKinley. Called him weak
De Lome Letter – talked down about President McKinley . Called him weak. Yellow Journalists exposed the letter and Americans were furious .

20. 5. Sinking of the Maine – Feb 1898
A. American battleship visiting Cuba blown up
260 Americans killed
B. Cause: probably fire in a coal bin
C. But, American public goaded on by the
Yellow Press – blames SPAIN

21. Sensationalism – Yellow Journalism

24. Outbreak of the War
McKinley demands Spain ends camps and negotiate with Cuban rebels
April 11, 1898: McKinley asks Congress to use American armed forces in Cuba
Congress approves on 4-20, and recognizes Cuba’s INDPENDENCE from Spain
Congress adopts Teller Amendment which stated that the United States would not….

25. Teller Amendment [1898] Made PRIOR to Sp-Am War
U.S. could NOT ANNEX Cuba
US must “leave control of island to its People”
Superceded by PLATT AMENDMENT

26. CONDUCT OF THE WAR Battle Cry = “Remember the Maine,
to HELL with Spain!”

27. George Dewey Victorious Admiral at Battle of Manila Bay
[Philippines] *First battle of Spanish American War.

31. Rough Riders – San Juan Hill
Roosevelt’s Rough Riders stormed San Juan Hill, Cuba on July 1, This was one of the final battles of the Spanish American War.

33. Buffalo Soldiers
African Soldiers who also helped during San Juan Hill

34. Treaty of Paris Dec 1898
Ended 16 - week war

35. Terms - Treaty of Paris - 1898
Spain agreed
1) CUBA independent
2) Puerto Rico and Guam “given” to USA
3) Philippines sold to USA for $20 Million

36. Platt Amendment - post-war
Followed Sp – Am War
Cuba must accept for US to withdraw
Cuba could not allow foreign powers to control it
USA could lease land for naval base – Guantanamo Bay

37. Protectorate Cuba becomes a Protectorate of USA
Protectorate = a country whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger nation

38. Annexation Debate - Philippines
ANTI-Annexation
Violated the
Declaration of Independence
Denied Self-Government to the new territories
Introduced more racial problems
PRO-Annexation
Educate Filipinos
Uplift Filipinos
Civilize Filipinos
William Howard Taft,
Governor of Philippines

39. The “Bolo War” Lasted 3 years Guerilla War
AKA the Filipino Rebellion
AKA Philippine-American War
Lasted 3 years
Guerilla War
Filipinos fight for independence
Led by Emilio Aguinaldo

40. Meiji Restoration – Japan late 19th C
Movement to modernize Japan
Begins w/Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit –Marked the beginning of trade with Japan
Japan begins to adopt Western ways
Built up navy

41. GREAT WHITE FLEET- Popular nickname for the US Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe. US was now seen as a Naval Power

42. Alfred T. Mahan Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power upon History.
Book argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy.

43. Spheres of Influence
Ports or regions where a foreign nation retains exclusive rights over trade, mines, rails, etc.

44. Open Door Policy John Hay – Sec. of State
Called for open access to all of China’s ports

45. Boxer Rebellion
Violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China between 1899 and 1901

46. Isthmus Isthmus – narrow strip of land connecting two land masses
The Isthmus of Panama

47. Nicaragua Original site planned for canal to be built
French attempting to build a canal in Panama
Eventually went bankrupt

48. PANAMA Originally part of Columbia Broke away with help of USA’s navy
Gave USA permission to build canal

49. Flag of Panama
Materials bought in USA

50. The PANAMA CANAL - 1914 Reduced NY – San Francisco trip over 50%
From 13,000 miles to 5,200 miles

51. CAPE HORN

52. Panama Canal 51 miles long Avg. width 492 ft. 6 locks
27,500 workers died
Most from disease
10 mile canal zone

53. Built during the TR years

54. Throw Back – Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine had been sought to prevent European intervention in the Western Hemisphere.

55. Roosevelt Corollary Put some “teeth” into the Monroe Doctrine-
USA will use
military to
enforce the
Monroe
Doctrine
Claimed right
to “police” the
W. Hemsiphere

56. GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY
Pursuit of a nation’s interests with implied use of force

57. DOLLAR DIPLOMACY Dollar Diplomacy = using a nation’s
economic power to influence
other countries.
Associated with Taft & subsequent presidents

58. Moral Diplomacy
Form of diplomacy proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson in his 1912 election. System in which support is given only to countries whose moral beliefs are similar to that of their nation.

59. Annexation of Hawaii
Spurred by nationalism aroused by Spanish-American War, the US annexed Hawaii in 1898 at the urging of President McKinley.
The main reason besides nationalism was to protect American business interests.

60. Annexation of Midway Islands
Served primarily as a naval refueling and repair station.

61. Jose Marti Consider the “Father of Cuban Independence”
Died in 1895 leading independence uprising against the Spanish.

62. Frederick Remington - artist
Sent to Cuba by Wm. R. Hearst to draw pictures of Cuba’s fight against Spanish.
Wm. Randolph Hearst Frederick Remington
You supply the pictures and I’ll supply the war!