1. America’s New Empire,

3. Modern Imperialism – Characteristics
Global scale
Industrial technology and economy
Extensive economic exchange
Not primarily settlement-driven
Colonial rule by foreign minority
Some collaboration with indigenous majority
Informal and formal empire
Highly interdependent colonies

4. Modern Imperialism – U.S. Variants
Formal or direct empire:
Annexation – Hawai’i, 1898-present
Semi-annexation – Puerto Rico, 1898-present
“Protectorate” – Philippines,
Informal or indirect empire:
Client state – Cuba, (or -59)
Colonial economic relationship –
Caribbean nations, 1898-?
Regular military intervention –
Central America, Caribbean, 1904-?

6. America’s “New Empire”
U.S. a latecomer to overseas expansion
Even later than newly-industrialized Japan
Expansion as economic opportunity
1893: “The Great Depression”
One factor: saturated national markets
Expansion to solve overproduction problem?
Overseas trade  national security

7. “New Empire” “End of frontier” anxiety Rest of world as the frontier?
Manifest Destiny redefined to include overseas
Teddy Roosevelt and cultural/gender anxiety:
War, empire (and the outdoors) to restore “manly vigor”
Humanitarian impulse
Colonies = missionaries = progress = civilization
Sincere, not just a smoke screen
Nationalism/national unity
“Politics end at the water’s edge.”

8. America’s “New Empire”
“Great Power” idea
U.S. to join an exclusive club
Maturity, “manly” responsibility from empire
Kipling, “White Man’s Burden,” 1899
National pride  overseas empire
International status for U.S. foreign policy
First “Ambassador” rank: 1893
Previously: “Minister”
First professional American diplomats

14. America’s “New Empire”
Overseas expansion NOT by accident
Ex.: U.S. Navy wish list starting in 1840’s:
good natural harbors in weak hands:
Puget Sound
San Francisco
San Diego
Pearl Harbor (Hawai’i)
Pago Pago (Samoa)
Manila Bay (Philippines)
Caribbean island port, e.g., Guantánamo Bay
[By 1900: all under U.S. control]

15. America’s “New Empire”
New strategic viewpoints – U.S. Navy
Alfred Thayer Mahan,
The Influence of Sea Power on History, 1890
Professionalization within military
Naval War College, est. 1882
Contingency plans, war games, class projects
Annual question:
“Who is the most likely enemy in next 10 years?”
Annual answer, : Spain
Response: plan for war with Spain

16. “Liberty Calls Cuba,” 1897

17. Spanish-American War, 1898 Overwhelming U.S. victory over Spain
“Splendid little war” – 6 months
Battle of Manila Bay
Sunk entire Spanish Pacific fleet
U.S. Navy w/ one fatality
From heat stroke
Battles in Cuba
High casualties, lack of preparedness
Spanish w/ better ammunition
Teddy Roosevelt’s fame machine – Rough Riders
9th and 10th Cavalry (“Buffalo Soldiers”)

18. Spanish American War Result: Spain lost all major colonies
U.S. occupies Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam
Cuba  client state
Congress decided during war NOT to annex Cuba
Cuba’s Constitutional convention supervised by U.S. Army general
Platt Amendment to Cuban Constitution
U.S. w/ the right to intervene in Cuba
U.S. acquires Guantánamo Bay (by exclusive lease)

20. Allegorical photograph “Cuba Reconciling North and South” 1898