American Imperialism

Keeping Up With Other Nations

• By the Mid 1800’s many European powers had established empires.

• Imperialism- stronger nation dominates the weaker nation in some way(s).

• Economically- Taking over their business, out selling their products. China, Banana Republics

Keeping Up With Other Nations. continued• Politically- Controlling their government.

Philippines, Cuba- Platt Amendment• Culturally- Influencing them to take on

different customs, religions, manners. Native Americans, Philippines, Latin America, etc..

• Militarily- By use or show of force. Philippines, Banana Republics, Japan, Mexico, etc..

The Advance of Imperialism

Baby Steps…

• Washington warned, suggested, Don’t get involved…it just causes problems. Worry about just the US.

• Jefferson- Louisiana Purchase- What about the Native Americans?

• Manifest Destiny- It’s OUR (US) Destiny not our fault.

• 1853- Knock, Knock! Bang, Bang! Open up Japan. Commodore Perry gets Japan to open up trade with the US.

Commodore Perry in Japan 1853

Baby Steps… continued

• 1860’s- Had treaty set up with China, we get to have territory and bases, they get to buy our stuff.

• Monroe Doctrine- The US will protect the Western Hemisphere from Europe. Stay out. The US is in charge here.

• 1866- Sent troops to Mexico as “Back-Up” against French

China Claimed by the

European Powers

Baby Steps… continued 2• 1867- Seward’s Folly- Bought

Alaska from Russians. (Thought we were going to get Canada.)

• 1890’s Build the Great White Fleet. Macho Mahan- In the Navy! Fleet is the big deal.

Bring In the Dough.• 1867- 1890- What about all these

Pacific Islands? Hawaii, Midway, Samoa. I guess we’ll take them.

• 1880’s Hello Latin America- Gives us your bananas, and we’ll give you American stuff to buy.

• 1898- Hello World- Spanish American War. Splendid Little War. We get? Colonies. Guam, Philippines, Cuba

What has the United

States Fought For?

Bring In the Dough$$ continued.

• Guam- No Problem- it just a stopover for US Ships

• Cuba- We tried to help you, but I guess we’ll just take you over. Platt Amendment – Let us tell you how to run your government.

• Let’s go to Latin America- It will be our version of Africa or Asia

Bring In the Dough$$ continued 2.

• Philippine Insurrection- Tougher than the War- 3 years +3,000 dead and we still don’t control everything. Establish their government with a governor appointed by US President

Kill Every One Over Ten

Keeping the Peace or keeping a Piece?

• Cuban Revolution -Cubans were being mistreated by Spain. This was not news but became an issue when US sugar cane companies couldn’t get enough workers to their fields (reconcentration).

• Cuban exiles- (Jose Marti- wrote newspaper articles) Plead with President McKinley to help Cuban Rebels, say it just like France helping American Patriots back in 1776.

Keeping the Peace or keeping a Piece?

Continued 2• Yellow Journalism- Hearst and Pulitzer

compete with each other to sell more newspapers by telling exaggerated stories about what was going on in Cuba. Violence sells, people interested. Americans want to help rebels.

• Sugar Companies want American involvement- These Big companies pressure McKinley to assist Cuban Rebels.

The USS Maine Havana Harbor, February 16, 1898

Keeping the Peace or keeping a Piece?

Continued 3• Remember The Maine- McKinley sends

the USS Maine to protect American interests- Sugar companies and people. It’s mysteriously blown up in Havana Harbor. (Today we think it was an accident because of the boiler room problems.) Newspapers report it as a Spanish Attack! US wants revenge!

• WAR with Spain- Some small battles in Cuba that get a lot of press. The real battle will between the Navies.

Keeping the Peace or keeping a Piece? Continued 4• US Dominates- US Navy finds the Spanish

Navy in Manila Harbor the wipe out their old wooden ships with new American steel ships.

• War Over in 3 Months- US is a World Power – We are 1-0! US gets the Philippines, Cuba, Guam- But what do we do with them?

• Start an Empire-What Issues do we have this? What Problems will we encounter with administering an empire?