8. AMERICA BUILDS AN EMPIRE

AMERICA’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Foreign Policy consists of a country’s policies towards other nations.• The Spanish American War marked the

beginning of the USA’s involvement in world conflict.

CAUSES OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

• Cuban War for independence because of Spanish harshness on the Cuban people.• “Yellow Journalism”: The sensationalization

of events by American newspapers• DeLome Letter: Spanish official called President

McKinley weak and indecisive.• U.S.S. Maine: mysterious explosion occurred in

Havana Harbor. Many Americans blamed the Spanish• President McKinley asked Congress to

intervene for Cuba

WAR WAS FOUGHT IN THE CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC

• U.S. Fleet defeated the Spanish at Manila Bay.• Theodore Roosevelt’s volunteer “Rough Riders”

joined U.S. TROOPS IN Cuba.• Other forces captured Guam and Puerto Rico.• The U.S. emerged from the war as a world power

with victory and gaining control of Spanish colonies (Cuba, the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico.)• Turning Point in US foreign policy: Spanish

colonial empire in Americas ended and US emerges as a world leader.

IMPERIALISTS

• Imperialism is control of a weak nation by a stronger one.• It provided raw materials and market for U.S.

industries• Nation’s prestige in the world community grew.• Americans could compete with other major

powers• Allow US missionaries to spread Christian ideals

and culture

ALFRED THAYER MAHAN

• Leading imperialist and an historian• Wrote The Influence of Sea Power upon History• A nation’s greatness was based on its naval

power.• US needed to build large navy & merchant fleet• Wanted colonies to serve as coaling stations and

markets for trade.• US must build and protect its colonial interests.

ANTI-IMPERIALISTS

• Opposed the acquisition of colonies by U.S.• Argued that imperial rule over others violated the

American Spirit of democracy.

WINNER OF THE DEBATE

• The Imperialists.• America annexed the Philippines, Puerto Rico,

and Guam as colonies.• Cuba became a protectorate.• Annexed Hawaii, Samoa and Midway in the Pacific

Ocean• In Hawaii American plantation owners overthrew

the queen. • Sandford Dole became Hawaii’s president and

later the first governor.

PANAMA CANAL

• Spanish-American war showed the need for a canal through Central America to reduce travel time.• Roosevelt negotiated with Colombia for the right

to build a canal through Panama.• Supported an uprising by Panamanians against

Colombia in exchange for a strip of land known as the Panama Canal Zone.• Construction lasted ten years.• Tropical climate presented challenges with heat,

excessive rains and yellow fever.

U.S. INTERVENTION IN CARIBBEAN

• Became known as an “An American Lake”.• Roosevelt asserted the right to intervene in

South America under his Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine.• US wanted hemispheric security.• Big Stick Policy: Talk softly and carry a big

stick.

OPEN DOOR POLICY (IN ASIA)

• Announced by Secretary of State John Hay.• To protect U.S. trade in China• European powers had carved out “Spheres of

influence”• U.S. also intervened to help crush the Boxer

Rebellion in China.• U.S. was first power to open Japan to foreign trade.• Japan industrialized and emerged as a leading

military power in Asia• Japan defeated China and Russia in two separate

wars.

TAFT’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Called “dollar diplomacy” • Investment in Latin American countries would

replace military force to influence policy there.

WILSON’S LATIN AMERICAN POLICY

• Called it “Moral Diplomacy”.• Wanted to separate himself from the “bullying”

tactics of the two former presidents.• Wound up sending troops into Haiti, Nicaragua,

Dominican Republic and Mexico despite promise