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The Imperialist Vision Imperialism – economic and political domination of a strong nation over a weaker one Became popular with countries in Europe
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Becoming a World Power
1872 - 1912
The Imperialist Vision
Imperialism – economic and political domination of a strong nation over a weaker one
Became popular with countries in Europe
Imperialism (cont)
Protectorates – countries under the guidance and guardianship of an imperial power
New sources of raw materialsNew trade marketsAdvantages over rivals
Imperialism (cont)
“Anglo-Saxonism” – the idea that English speaking nations were superior to others and destined to dominate the planet
Imperialism (cont)
Americans wanted to develop overseas markets
Make money & keep economy strongSocial Darwinists believed that nations were also competing and only the strongest would survive
Imperialism
Some feared existing resources in U.S. might eventually dry up.
Overseas markets a possible safety valve for U.S. internal pressures.
Imperialism
Late 1800s - Products and Natural Resources the U.S. imported: (1) sugar from Cuba and Hawaii (2) coffee from Latin American countries (3) silk from China (4) minerals and rubber from Southeast Asian countries
Imperialism
Foreign trade becoming increasingly important to American economy in late 19th -- Americans considered acquiring new colonies to expand markets further.
Desire to compete with Europe for overseas empires.
Imperialism (cont)
Captain Alfred T. Mahan –published The Influence of Seapower Upon History, 1660-1783
A large navy was essential to protect tradeOverseas territory was necessary for naval bases
Imperialism
Imperialism (cont)
1852 – Commodore Matthew C. Perry negotiates a trade treaty with Japan
Through Gunboat DiplomacyJapan opens two ports to American trade
Imperialism (cont)
The United States had an interest in Hawaiian sugar industry
Strips the king of much of his powerU.S. builds naval base at Pearl Harbor
Imperialism (cont)
Queen Liliuokalani comes into power in 1891
Tries to restore power to her throne
American planters resist and depose her
Petition to be let into the U.S.Became a U.S. territory in 1900
The Spanish-American War
Cuba – was a Spanish colony which mainly exported sugar
1868 – Cuban rebels attempted to gain their independence but failed
Cuba
The Spanish-American War (cont)
José Martí – writer, poet & leader of the Cuban revolution
Attempted to raise money and support for Cuba’s independence
1895 – Martí starts a second, more successful rebellion
Gains control of eastern Cuba
The Spanish-American War (cont)
Yellow Journalism – sensational, biased, and often false reporting for the sake of attracting readers
U.S. newspapers began to influence American opinion about Cuba
The Spanish-American War (cont)
Enrique Dupuy de Lôme – Spanish ambassador to the US, wrote a letter describing President McKinley as weak
New York Journal printed the letterAmericans become angered
The Spanish-American War (cont)
1898 – U.S.S. Maine, mysteriously explodes
266 American sailors are killedAmericans blame Spain
The Spanish-American War (cont)
The U.S. fights the war on two fronts:April 1898 – US navy blockades CubaMay 1898 – US navy, led by Commodore George Dewey, attacks Spanish fleet in Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines
The Spanish-American War (cont)
US army was poorly trained and equipped
More died from disease and mishaps than battleOne fourth of the soldiers fighting in Cuba were African American
June 1898 – American troops advance toward Santiago in Cuba
Battle of San Juan Hill – Charge of the “Rough Riders,” led by Colonel Leonard Wood and Theodore RooseveltAugust 1898 – Spain surrenders
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing”
The Spanish-American War (cont)
Treaty of Paris (Dec. 10, 1898) – Cuba gains independence, U.S. gets Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines
U.S. paid $20 mil for Philippines
The Philippines
Emilio Aguinaldo‘s troops attacked American soldiers
America set up reconcentration camps to separate guerrillas from civilians• Thousands died from disease
and starvationWilliam Taft introduced reforms in education, transportation, and health care
Hostilities stopped by 1902
Puerto Rico
Foraker Act (1900) makes Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory
1917, Puerto Ricans were made citizens of the U.S.1947, Puerto Rico was allowed to elect its own governor
Cuba
The Platt Amendment to the Cuban Constitution specified:
could not make a treatiesU.S. can buy or lease naval stationsdebts had to be kept low U.S. allowed to protect Cuban independence and keep order
Influence in China
1894 – Japan and China went to war over control of Korea
Japan won and gained ManchuriaWar proved that:• China was weak• Japan had successfully
adopted western technology
China (cont)
Russia, worried about Japan’s rising power, forced Japan to give Manchuria back to ChinaSphere of influence – an area owned by one country but controlled by another foreign power
China (cont)
Open Door Policy – all countries should be allowed to trade with China
America sent notes to all countries with influence in China, asking them to keep ports open to all nations
China (cont)
Boxer Rebellion – a secret Chinese group tried to end foreign control in China
More than 200 foreigners were killed or taken prisonerAn international force stopped the rebellion in 1900
America as a World Power
Sept. 6, 1901 – McKinley is shot and killed
Theodore Roosevelt is the youngest person to become president• Wanted the U.S. to
become a world power• Duty to shape the “less
civilized” parts of the world
“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
World Power (cont)
Russo-Japanese WarRoosevelt negotiated peace and won Nobel Prize in 1906Relations between Japan and US worsened, they both wanted influence in ChinaBoth agreed to uphold Open Door Policy
World Power (cont)
The Great White Fleet Roosevelt sent 16 U.S. battleships to sail around the world as a show of the country’s military mightDid not help relations with Japan
World Power (cont)
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901) – gave U.S. exclusive rights to build and control a proposed canal through Central America1903 – Panama declares independence from Columbia
Supported by America
World Power (cont)
Construction on the Panama Canal began in 1904 and took 10 years to complete
50 miles long27,500 workers died during constructionShortened distance from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean by 8,000 miles
World Power (cont)
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine – U.S. would intervene in Latin American affairs when necessary to maintain stability in the Western Hemisphere
First applied to Dominican republicLatin America resented America’s growing influence
World Power (cont)
Dollar Diplomacy – Taft believed if American business leaders supported Latin American and Asian development, everyone would benefit
Increase tradeAmerican businesses increase profitsLatin American countries would rise out of poverty and social disorder
