1. U.S. Imperialism abroad

2. U.S. First Contact with Japan: 1853
Begins w/Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit
Perry comes with “black ships” and forces Japan to open up trade with the U.S. or else force would be used
Japan quickly sees the technological gap as a threat
Begins to adopt Western ways via Meiji Restoration
Builds up a modern economy & navy by 1900

3. Seward’s Folly
Seward's Folly (Seward’s Icebox)-Secretary of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska for $7.2 million from Russia in That’s 2 cents per acre! However, the whole bargain was ridiculed by Congress and not held in high esteem by the public. With the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 however, Alaska will soon be seen as a valuable purchase.

4. 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, seized 1.75 million acres of land, and conspired for U.S. annexation of the islands, which was achieved in Hawaii became a state in 1959.

5. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)
Causes of the War:
1. Despotic 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.
Hearst’s Journal printed the Delome Letter
Spanish ambassador calls McKinley “weak”

9. William R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer

10. Pulitzer vs. Hearst

11. 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

12. The Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
To protect American citizens and interests in Cuba,
Pres. McKinley sends the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba
USS Maine
explodes in Havana harbor
Newspapers blame Spain
Congress declares war
on Spain, but will not
annex Cuba
(Teller Amendment)
“Remember the
Maine!”

13. Sensationalism – Yellow Journalism