1. AMERICA CLAIMS AN EMPIRE

2. Vocabulary Big Stick Expansionism Imperialism Open Door policy
Panama Canal
Philippines
Platt Amendment
Yellow Press
Roosevelt Corollary
Spanish- American War
Teller Amendment
Treaty of Portsmouth (1905),
Jose Marti
Ostend Manifesto
William Randolph Hearst
U.S.S. Maine
Rough Riders
San Juan Hill
“White Mans Burden”
Monroe Doctrine
Dollar Diplomacy
Puerto Rico
Anti-Imperialist League

3. IMPERIALISM AND AMERICA
Throughout the 19th century America expanded control of the continent to the Pacific Ocean
By 1880, many American leaders felt the U.S. should join European nations and establish colonies overseas
Thus began America’s foray into Imperialism – the policy in which stronger nations extend control over weaker nations

4. WHY IMPERIALISM?
1) Desire for Military strength – Mahan advised strong navy
2) Thirst for new markets – to spur economy & trade
3) Belief in Cultural Superiority – a belief that Anglo-Saxons were superior

5. U.S. Imperialism: Arguments for Expansion
Expand business interests-US economy boomed. Companies built overseas factories. Need new markets to prevent financial panics.
Military interests–International competition for colonies would leave America behind funding approved for 3 battleships (US becomes 2 ocean navy). International navy needs coaling ports.
Social Darwinism- US must expand to survive. Whites are superior race. Must spread superiority
Spread Christianity-All nations should be Christian. Bring values to “backward” people
American Frontier Closed - US pioneer spirit looks towards foreign interests. Expand or explode

6. United States Foreign Policy 1890-1914
Just Say No To Empire: The Anti-Imperialist League
Background-Most of America were part of the contiguous United States (minus Alaska and Hawaii). The Philippines were a distant tropical island chain with a different culture. Main goal of the Anti-Imperialist League was to fight the McKinley administration’s expansionist policies. Prominent leaders included Mark Twain and Andrew Carnegie.
Anti-Imperialist Objections-Declaration of Independence and the Constitution state it is the right of the people to choose their form of government. Imperialism was against America’s anti-colonial policy. Imperialism would be too costly. Annexation would pull the US politically and militarily into Asia (okay to be pulled economically). 6

7. THE U.S. ACQUIRES ALASKA
In 1867, Secretary of State William Steward arranged for the United States to buy Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million
Some thought it was a silly idea and called it “Steward’s Icebox”
Time has shown how smart it was to buy Alaska for 2 cents an acre
Alaska is rich in timber, minerals and oil
Alaska

8. U.S. TAKES HAWAII
Hawaii had been economically important to Americans for centuries
To avoid import taxes (tariffs), sugar growers pleaded for annexation
The U.S. knew the value of the Islands – they had built a naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1887
Led by Sanford Dole, American annexed Hawaii in 1898 and it formally became a state in 1959

9. SECTION 2: THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
America had long held an interest in Cuba
When Cubans unsuccessfully rebelled against Spanish rule in the late 19th century, American sympathy went out to the Cuban people
After Spain abolished slavery in Cuba in 1886, Americans invested millions in Cuban sugar
Cuba is just 90 miles south of Florida

10. CUBA’S SECOND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE
Anti-Spain sentiment in Cuba soon erupted into a second war for independence
Led by poet Jose Marti, Cuba attempted a revolution in 1895
Marti deliberately destroyed property, including American sugar plants, hoping to provoke American intervention
Marti

11. WAR FEVER ESCALATES
Newspaper publishers William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) exaggerated Spanish atrocities and brutality in “Headline Wars”
Yellow Journalism
Political cartoon: Pulitzer (left) and Hearst escalating and instigating war between the U.S. and Spain

12. U.S.S MAINE EXPLODES
Early in 1888, President McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba in order to bring home American citizens in danger
On February 15, 1898 the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana
More than 260 men were killed
Before
After

13. The Maine Explodes
Unknown artist , 1898
Notice the men flying dramatically through the air

14. WAR ERUPTS WITH SPAIN
There was no holding back those that wanted war with Spain
Newspapers blamed the Spanish for bombing the U.S.S. Maine (recent investigations have shown it was a fire inside the Maine)
“Remember the Maine!” became a rallying cry for U.S. intervention in Cuba

15. Check for Understanding

16. A CALL FOR INTERVENTION IN CUBA

17. THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines-Admiral Dewey told to attack the Spanish fleet in the event of war. 5/1/1898 Dewey’s surprise attack defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. 8/13/1898 American troops with Filipino insurgents led by Emilio Aguinaldo capture Manila (America will regret asking Aguinaldo for help)

18. THE WAR IN THE CARIBBEAN
Cuba-Decisive battle at Santiago. 7/1/1898 Rough Riders (supported by 2 black regiments) fight at San Juan and Kettle Hills. 7/3/1898 the Spanish, trapped by US naval blockade and US Army, Spain surrendered.
Results-Few casualties (400 to bullets; 5,000 to malaria, typhoid fever, dysentery). War only lasted 113 days. America gained respect and prestige. Closed the North-South divide. US gained an empire that they couldn’t defend (Philippines in WWII). 18

19. U.S. WINS; SIGNS TREATY OF PARIS
The U.S. and Spain signed an armistice on August 12, 1898, ending what Secretary of State John Hay called “a splendid little war”
The war lasted only 16 weeks
Cuba was now independent
U.S. receives Guam, Puerto Rico, and “bought” the Philippines for $20 million
Treaty of Paris, 1898

20. SECTION 3: ACQUIRING NEW LANDS
Puerto Rico-Ceded to the US as payment for war costs. Foraker Act (1900) granted Puerto Rico limited government. American citizenship granted (1917). Still a US possession (neither a state nor a territory).
Cuba-Teller Amendment (1898) promised Cuban independence. However US didn’t want Cuba taken over by Germany or other imperial power. Platt Amendment (1901) US could intervene to preserve Cuban independence. US kept land for a naval base (Guantanamo Bay)
Cuba had become a “protectorate” of the U.S. 20

21. United States Foreign Policy 1890-1914
What to do with the Philippines-
Give the islands back to Spain (misrule).
Leave the islands and not give them any help (irresponsible and Germany or Japan would seize them resulting in another war).
US annexation.
McKinley opted for annexation
(US Senate approved the treaty by one vote)
Bitterness and Rebellion-Filipinos
wanted independence. 2/4/1899 Emilio Aguinaldo
led insurrection against the US. US responded by sending 126,000 troops. 21

22. U.S. troops fire on rebels
FILIPINOS REBEL
Rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo vowed to fight for freedom and in 1899 he led a rebellion
Results-Fighting lasts until ,234 Americans killed. 600,000 Filipinos killed. The 3-year war claimed and $400,000,000 (20x the price the U.S. paid for the land). Philippines not granted independence until July 4, 1946.
U.S. troops fire on rebels

24. Check for Understanding

25. United States Foreign Policy 1890-1914
America in Asia: China and the Open Door
Open Door Policy-China is a weak country in the 1890s. European powers had basically split China into spheres of influence. (1899) Secretary of State John Hay urged European leaders respect Chinese rights
and fair competition (this is the Open Door).These policies reflected American
beliefs in the importance of exports, the
right of America to intervene to keep
foreign markets open, and the belief that America’s survival depended on access to foreign markets
Results-Gave all nations equal trading access in China. Guaranteed that China
would not be taken over by a foreign power. 25

26. SECTION 4: AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER
Two events signaled America’s continued climb toward being the #1 world power
1) Roosevelt negotiated a settlement between Russia and Japan who had been at War – his successful efforts in negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth won Roosevelt the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize
2) Construction of Panama Canal
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually

27. THE PANAMA CANAL
By the early 20th century, many Americans understood the advantages of a canal through Panama
It would greatly reduce travel times for commercial and military ships by providing a short cut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
“The shortcut”

28. BUILDING THE PANAMA CANAL 1904-1914
The French had already unsuccessfully attempted to build a canal through Panama
America first had to help Panama win their independence from Colombia – which it did
Construction of the Canal stands as one of the greatest engineering feats of all-time
Cost- $380 million Workers– Over 40,000 (5,600 died) Time – Construction took 10 years

29. This view, provided by NASA, shows the thin blue line (canal) cutting across the middle of Panama

30. Almost 1,000,000 ships have passed through the canal, which became sole property of Panama in the year 2000

31. Theodore Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy: Carry a Big Stick
Roosevelt Corollary-Preventative intervention. US would intervene in Latin America to keep European powers out of the Western Hemisphere.
Corollary Results-Used to justify all interventions. US Marines will be sent multiple times to Latin American countries. Latin American countries views this as American oppression.
Roosevelt in Action-Roosevelt was not afraid to flex American muscle. Roosevelt acted as mediator in Russo-Japanese War (won Nobel Peace Prize in 1906). Sent the US Navy to protect the Panamanian revolt (1903). (1907) ordered the Great White Fleet on highly visible voyage around the world (show off American naval power). 31

32. Check for Understanding

33. William H. Taft’s Foreign Policy: Dollar Diplomacy
Background-Federal government encouraged Wall Street bankers and other major US corporations to invest in foreign countries that were of a strategic concern to the US. The dollar would replace Roosevelt’s big stick.
Dollar Diplomacy in the Caribbean-Main area of US strategic importance. US pumped money into this area to keep other countries out and to uphold the Monroe Doctrine. Policy failed when civil distress broke out in Cuba, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. President Taft had to send in the Marines to protect American investments. 33

34. Woodrow Wilson’s Foreign Policy: Moral Diplomacy
Background-Wilson hated Roosevelt’s big stick and Taft’s dollar diplomacy. Wilson believed that the US would be the world’s conscience. Goal of American foreign policy would be to spread democracy and promote peace.
Wilson in Action-Sometimes spreading democracy required military action. Wilson sent the Marines to Haiti ( ) and the Dominican Republic ( ). (1916) Jones Act granted the Philippines territorial status and promised independence
America’s Mexican Adventure-American companies invested billions of dollars in Mexican oil, railroads, and mines. (1913) Mexican people rebelled. (1914) Wilson sent the Navy to capture the port of Vera Cruz. (1916) Wilson ordered General Pershing to break up Pancho Villa’s group. (1917) US withdrew because threat of war with Germany increased. 34