1. Chapter 20: America and the World
United States History
Chapter 20: America and the World

2. Imperialism
Imperialism – the desire to colonize – gripped the United States in the late 1800s
It was justified by the need to stay economically viable and maintain military strength
As a result, the US and many other countries of the world colonized much of Africa, Asia Latin America and the Pacific
The United States also felt they had the duty to spread our way of government, life and religion to “uncivilized” peoples of the world

3. Hawai’i
The Hawaiian Islands were lucrative because of their tropical climate and they were a good resupply area on the way across the Pacific Ocean
Americans invested heavily in the sugar, eventually forcing King Kalakaua to let the US take over the islands for economic and military purposes
In 1891, the king died, opening the throne to his sister, Liliuokalani
She tried to rid the islands of US influence, but was overthrown in 1893
Samuel Dole became president, but the gov’t refused to annex Hawai’i until 1898, becoming a territory in 1900

4. China and Japan
China had been fought over by several nations for years
Much of their land had been carved into spheres of influence, areas that were controlled by particular nations
In 1899, the United States called for an Open Door Policy with China
This would open trade with all nations and allow the Chinese to collect tariffs and benefit from trade
However, a group of Chinese against foreign intervention known as the Boxers, organized a rebellion in 1900, attempting to drive foreigners out
Eventually, the rebellion was quelled and trade resumed, but China had to pay millions to European nations for the damages of the Boxer Rebellion
In 1854, Matthew Perry sailed to Japan to open trade
Quickly, Japan became and industrial power
This led to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 in a squabble over Chinese lands
The war ended in 1905 after President Roosevelt intervened

5. Spanish-American War
Cuba and Puerto Rico, just south of the US, were Spanish colonies in revolt as of the late 1800s
The US had great economic interest in both areas
The Spanish rounded up thousands of Cubans into concentration camps, killing over 200,000
William Randolph Hearst reported the atrocities in American newspapers
Americans became sympathetic to the Cuban cause
He also reported a letter from Spain that called President McKinley weak, outraging Americans
Finally, after the USS Maine mysteriously blew up in Havana harbor, Hearst made headlines read that Spain had caused the explosion
On April 25, 1898, at the urging of McKinley, the US declared war on Spain

6. Spanish-American War The US recognized Cuban independence
Authorized force to uphold independence
Passed the Teller Amendment, vowing to leave Cuba to themselves after the war was over
The first battles were fought in Spanish controlled Philippines
Started May 1, 1898
Eliminated the Spanish navy quickly with overpowering firepower and the help of a Filipino rebel group
Fighting ended August 14, 1898
Fighting in Cuba was much more difficult
Fighting began on July 1, 1898
Theodore Roosevelt resigned his post in the gov’t to become leader of an army group known as the Rough Riders in their conquest of San Juan Hill
Over the course of a couple of weeks, the Spanish army suffered great losses and their navy was destroyed in Cuba and Puerto Rico

7. Spanish-American War The war was very costly for Spain
Gave up Cuba and recognized independence
Ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the US
Gave the Philippines to the US for $20 million
The US lost 5,400 men in battle during the short war, but gained a great deal of new territory
The new territory expanded trade, allowed for military bases around the world and showed American might as a world power
The Philippines fought the Americans after the war for their own independence, with thousands dying by 1902
Slowly, the US granted government powers to the Filipino people, but did not grant independence until July 4, 1946

8. Cuba and Puerto Rico
After the war, the United States set up military gov’ts in Cuba and Puerto Rico
Cuba was forced to agree to the Platt Amendment, a promise to not agree to treaties with other countries and allow the US to intervene at any time
Today, Cuba is independent with no ties to the US after the Communist takeover in 1959 by Fidel Castro
Puerto Rico was ruled as a territory, with people becoming US citizens in 1917
Today, Puerto Rico is self governing, but is US land, with American benefits
In both places, the US took steps to rebuild, eliminate disease and protect from outside interventions

9. Panama
To make trade easier, the French tried to build a canal across Panama in the 1880s, but failed
Panama was a part of Columbia at this point
In 1903, a treaty was organized to give the US access to build a canal, but Columbia refused to ratify
Roosevelt was furious and organized a Panamanian revolution
The US military stood on hand to assist Panama if needed, but did not participate in the revolution
The US very quickly recognized the newly independent Panama
Panama gave the US control of a 10 mile wide strip across the nation to build the canal
Building began in 1904, but was hampered by yellow fever and malaria
After eliminating the diseases, work resumed and the canal was completed in 1914
The first ship to use the canal did so on August 15, 1914

10. Panama Canal

11. Latin America
The Monroe Doctrine (1823) promised intervention if European powers tried anything in Latin America
The Roosevelt Corollary was added in 1904 to ensure Latin American countries that the US would use force to protect them
This was also to protect American interests in those nations
Protests were common but the US continued to intevene
President Taft implemented a new policy of helping nations called dollar diplomacy
Instead of European banks loaning money, he encouraged American investment in Latin America
This allowed for American business to thrive and the military to intervene when they saw fit
President Wilson ended dollar diplomacy, but he encouraged democratic government, and used the military to enforce democratic government

12. Mexico
Mexican president Porfirio Diaz used corruption to rule Mexico, but was overthrown in the Mexican Revolution
However, fighting continued between the new democratic government and rebels such as Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata
Eventually, the US intervened, landing troops at Veracruz to stop arms going to the rebels
The new president, Victoriano Huerta resigned and fled to Spain in 1914
At this point, Mexico was nearly lawless, but the new president, Venustiano Carranza, promised to protect Americans, so the US recognized the new government
Pancho Villa was outraged at this recognition
He crossed into New Mexico, killing 17 Americans as retaliation
President Wilson sent the army into Mexico to find Pancho Villa, but that only escalated a potential war with Mexico
Finally, in 1917, a new Mexican constitution went into effect, calming the nation