1. America Claims an Empire

3. Imperialism Goals Imperialism Three Goals
Policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories
Three Goals
Desire for military strength
Thirst for new markets (money)
Belief in cultural superiority

4. Military Strength
Leaders in America pushed for a stronger military in order to compete
America concentrates on developing a stronger navy
U.S.A. develops 9 steel cruiser warships between including the U.S.S. Maine

5. Thirst for New Markets
New technology produced goods at a much faster rate than Americans could consume such goods.
Pursuing foreign trade would satisfy the want to continue to sell these goods

6. Cultural Superiority Social Darwinism
Belief that free market competition would lead to the survival of the fittest
Belief in racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons
Belief that the United States had a responsibility to spread Christianity and civilization to the world’s inferior people.

7. U.S.A. Acquires Alaska
In 1867 United States buys Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million
Created a lot of argument over its usefulness
Alaska proved to be very rich in timber, mineral, and OIL.

8. U.S.A. Takes Hawaii
Hawaii was first used as a break point on the way to China and East India
Merchants set up schools and churches on the Islands
Sugar planters on the islands sold most of their crops to the United States.

9. U.S.A. Takes Hawaii continued
America builds a naval base at Pearl Harbor
Sugar plantations accounted for a ¾ of the island’s wealth
A tariff threatens to create competition for Hawaiian sugar farmers
Imperialist President McKinley allowed congress to proclaim it an American Territory.

10. Spanish-American War

11. U.S. Wants what Spain has
Spain has control over the Philippine, Island of Guam, Cuba, and Puerto Rico
Cubans rebel against Spain
Continually fight against slavery
U.S.A. interested in Cuba
Geographically close to U.S.A.
Provides rich resources especially sugar crops

12. War Fever Escalates Yellow Journalism The De Lome Letter
Type of writing that exaggerates news to lure and enrage readers
‘Cuban children thrown to the sharks’ was an example of the type of reporting that brought sympathy for the Cuban rebels.
The De Lome Letter
A letter written by Spanish leaders criticizing President McKinley
Americans grew angry over the insult of their President
U.S.S. Maine Explodes
Days after the letter, McKinley ordered the ship to return from Cuba in order to protect American property, but it suddenly explodes
Still a mystery on why it exploded, the newspapers claimed the the Spanish were responsible.

13. War Begins Despite Spanish concessions, War begins
U.S.A. invades Philippines
Surprise attack because the Spanish thought America would invade Cuba
Easily wins, and the Philippines claim independence from Spain
War in the Caribbean
The naval forces formed a blockade of Cuba and sealed up the Spanish fleet
Rough Riders
While the naval forces proved superior, the ground forces lacked adequate training, supplies, and leaders
One group, the Rough Riders, were lead by Teddy Roosevelt, and were responsible for taking a strategically important location known as San Juan Hill.

14. Treaty of Paris The war only lasted 15 weeks Terms of war
Spain freed Cuba
Spain turned over Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States
Spain sold Philippines to the United States for $20 million.

15. Acquiring New Lands

16. Puerto Rico
America contemplated statehood for Puerto Rico, but decided to make them a commonwealth, which makes them citizens, but denies them the right to vote in presidential elections
America needed Puerto Rico for future access to a canal and to maintain a presence in the Caribbean.

17. U.S.A. in Cuba
American soldiers occupied Cuba even though they were considered independent
U.S.A. Army would not withdraw unless they adopt the Platt Amendment
Platt Amendment
Cuba could not make treaties
America reserved the right to intervene in Cuba
Cuba was not to go into debt that it could not repay
United States could buy or lease land on the island for naval stations and refueling stations

18. Philippine-American War
Filipinos revolt because they felt United States assumed the same role as Spain
Filipinos resort to guerrilla tactics, and American military forced them to live in designated zones where they were thousands were killed by starvation, disease, and sanitation
It took 3 years, 20,000 Filipion lives, 4,000 american lives, and $400 million to bring down the rebellion.

19. Foreign influence in China
Open Door Notes
A policy created by then Secretary of State John Hay, to ensure trading rights with China.
China had been weakened by war, and America was worried they would be taken over by European powers
Boxer Rebellion
Angered by a strong European presence in China, secret societies such as the ‘Boxers’ formed and killed hundreds of foreigners
Combined infantry from Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and the U.S.A. shut down the rebellion within months.

20. America as a World Power

21. The Panama Canal
Greatly reduced travel time for commercial and military ships by providing a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
In order to build it, the United States had to get permission from Colombia, which controlled Panama at the time.
The United States helped Panama gain independence with a a dozen U.S. warships present the day Panama declared independence.
United States paid $25 million to Colombia for compensation of lost territory

22. Construction of Canal
Ranks as one of the world’s greatest engineering accomplishments.
At the height of construction 43,400 workers were employed, with 5,600 of them dying from accidents or disease.
Total cost = $380 million
Construction ran from
More than 1,000 merchant ships passed through in its first year

23. Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy
The use of military threat to protect America’s interest
Roosevelt was worried that European nations might intervene on Latin American countries because they would not be able to pay their loan back
In attempt to protect the control of Latin American countries, Roosevelt reminded European nations of the Monroe Doctrine, and stated that the U.S. would use force to protect Latin America.

24. Dollar Diplomacy Initiated by Taft
Essentially was a tactic that involved the U.S. paying the debt of Latin American countries
In return the U.S. would gain control of their national banks, infrastructure, and most importantly would keep out European influence.

25. Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy
Another expansion of the Monroe Doctrine
The act of denying recognition of a government based on their hostility towards American interests.
The American government denied recognition to governments that were oppressive, or undemocratic.

26. Revolution in Mexico
Wilson’s policy was put to the test when a revolution in Mexico threatened to American business in Mexico
With a series of governmental changes, the two countries almost came to war until the revolution ended.
Finally Wilson withdrew troops and recognized Mexico’s government