1.
American Imperialism

2. American Imperialism Supported
Shift in opinion
World wide economic and military competition
Cultural superiority  “Anglo Saxonism”
Developing protectorate

3. Areas of American Expansion
Pacific
Commodore Matthew Perry takes naval fleet to Japan
Trade negotiations are opened up with Japan
US acquires the Samoan Islands
US send the Marine Corp to help overthrow Hawaiian Queen
Provisional government was set up and 5 years later the U.S. takes full control of Hawaii
Latin America
The United States wanted to world to know that if was in control of the Western Hemisphere
Close economic and political relationship with many Latin American countries
Organization of American States (OAS) was formed
Spanish – American War led to acquisitions in the Caribbean

4. Spanish – American War Cuban Rebellion Begins
Cuba declares independence from Spain
Jose Marti help organize support from sympathetic Americans
Helped purchases weapons and train troops
United States and Cuba linked economically
American investments in mines, railroads and SUGAR!

5. Spanish- American War Cuban rebels gained large support from Americans
“Yellow Journalism” was responsible for support
Sensational reporting, exaggerated or even made up stories
William Randolph Hearst / Joseph Pulitzer competed to sell the most magazines
While some stories were exaggerated and made up, the people of Cuba did suffer many atrocities at the hands of the Spanish
Many Americans were calling for war

6. Spanish – American War: The Triggering Events
The de Lome Letter
Explosion of the USS Maine
Enrique Dupuy de Lome, Spanish ambassador to the United States
Wrote letter calling President McKinley weak in his negotiation with Spain
Indicated that Spain was not completely honest with the United States
Caused public outcry for action to be taken against Spain
American battleship sent to Havana Harbor in Cuba
Maine was sent to protect American lives and interest in Cuba
Spain was blamed for the sinking of the USS Maine
“Remember the Maine” battle cry of the United States public
April 19, 1898 United States authorizes the use of forces against Spain, declares Cuba independent nation.

7. Spanish – American War: Two Front War
Cuba - Caribbean
Philippines - Pacific
17,000 troops sent to Cuba
Among those troops was Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt was second in command of a unit called the “Rough Riders”
“Rough Riders” were responsible for the capture of San Jaun
United States also occupied the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico
Commodore George Dewey leads squadron into Manila Bay, Philippine
Decisive victory for the United States
20,000 troops assembled and sent to Philippines
Armed forces seized the island of Guam on the way
Taking control of Philippines would cause much debate back in the United States

8. Spanish – American War Comes to an End
Treaty of Paris 1898
Cuba becomes and independent nation
United States becomes a protectorate of Cuba (Platt Amendment)
United States acquires Guam (Pacific) and Puerto Rico (Caribbean)
United States pays $20 million to Spain for the Philippines

9. United States Imperialism and Cuba
The United States wanted to acquire new territories with out looking like an imperialistic giant to the rest of the world
Teller Amendment (passed before the Spanish American War)
US would not annex Cuba, even if it won the war against Spain
Platt Amendment (passed after the Spanish American War)
Cuba becomes and independent nation but there are four conditions that are put into the new Cuban Constitution
Cuba will not have the power to make treaty’s with any other nation
United States will be allowed to build naval bases in Cuba
Cuba will not be allowed to go into debt with any other nation
United States can intervene at anytime to help keep Cuba independent

10. President Roosevelt and the New American Diplomacy
Open Door Policy - All nations will have access to trade with China
Great White Fleet - Modern U.S. Navy….traveled around the world to show off American strength
Big Stick Diplomacy – “Walk softly but carry a big stick.”
This idea was concerned with diplomacy in the Caribbean and Latin America
Let the rest of the world know that the U.S. was in control of the Western Hemisphere
Roosevelt Corollary
This was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine
United States would intervene in Latin American affairs when necessary to maintain economic and political stability in the Western Hemisphere

11. Roosevelt and the Panama Canal
One of Roosevelt’s most dramatic actions
Panama Canal was vital to the United States becoming a world power
Canal would save both time and money for both commercial and military shipping
United States had to support and Panamanian revolt against Columbia
U.S. sent the Navy to support the revolution
Panama gained its independence in less than 2 weeks with US help
The new government in Panama quickly sold the canal rights to the United States