Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Toward EmpireToward Empire

Can you answer these questions?1. What were several reasons for (some)

Americans wanting to build an overseas empire?

2. What did the Monroe Doctrine and the Grant nontransfer principle say?

3. How did the U.S. find itself in a war with Spain? How did it turn out in terms of our relationship with Cuba and the Philippines?

Reasons for expanding overseas

The end of the frontier reduced the possibilities for internal expansion.

Need for new markets – overproduction of goods Access to resources, new goods, coaling stations,

etc., and stepping-stones to trade with Asia. Interest in “civilizing” and “Christianizing”;

biogenetic law likened undeveloped regions’ people to children who needed supervision

“worldwide scramble for empire”

Alaska – “Seward’s Folly”

Alaska purchased in 1867 by William Henry Seward. What was his vision for American expansion?

In 1896 gold was discovered in the Klondike region and a gold rush reminiscent of 1849 began.

Resources - gold, fish, lumber, coal and copper (and later, oil)

Seattle connection

Nontransfer principle: “Hereafter no territory on this continent

[South America] shall be regarded as subject to transfer to a European power.” (Grant and his Secy. of State, Hamilton Fish)

Latin America and Grant

The Pan-American Union

Organized in 1889 by James G. Blaine, Secy. of State under Benjamin Harrison (and briefly under Garfield)

promotion of trade and exchange of info – political, scientific, cultural

led to more reciprocity with individual nations, supported by a provision in the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890

However, international trade nose-dived during the Depression of the 1890s.

Remember the Monroe Doctrine? The United States under Monroe (1823) had

declared the western hemisphere “off limits” to further European colonization.

This was reasserted in a conflict between Great Britain and Venezuela (1895), in which President Cleveland and his SS Richard Olney were willing to go to war over their protective role toward Venezuela. The British decided to have the dispute arbitrated.

Asia In 1844 the U.S. gained

“most favored nation” status with China, securing rights to trade with the country.

The U.S. also traded with the Philippines, Java, India, and Thailand (Siam).

With Japan, the U.S. gained trading rights in 1854.

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands had been inhabited since the eighth century. By the late 1800’s many Americans lived there and owned large sugar plantations.

In 1885 a reciprocity agreement with HI eliminated tariffs on sugar going to the US, making HI more dependent on the US.

In 1887 King Kalakaua tried to keep Americans from taking over his islands, but failed. The many Americans who lived there forced the King to sign a new constitution that left the Hawaiian monarchy with no power.

By this time, white Hawaiians essentially controlled the islands.

What did the McKinley Tariff Act do to the Hawaiian economy?

In 1893 Queen Liliuokalani tried to bring back the monarchy’s authority and give Hawaii back to the native people, but she failed, resulting in a provisional government controlled by the white settlers.

HI was annexed as a territory in 1898. This was after much wrangling, with Grover Cleveland trying but failing to re-establish Liliuokalani to the monarchy (1894). (and Japan trying to protest in 1898 by sending a cruiser to HI).

McKinley presided over annexation.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and Germany divided up Samoa and “gave” Britain other Pacific territories in 1899.

The Spanish-American WarIn 1895 Cuban insurgents rebelled against Spanish

rule, spurred on by economic instability.

Ultimately the Spanish put insurgents and others into camps, where they died from lack of sanitation, etc.

At this time Pres. Cleveland declared our neutrality and offered to mediate a peace settlement; meanwhile, “yellow journalism” in the U.S. had brought public opinion to favor the rebels.

Yellow Journalism – reporting that seeks to evoke strong emotions (and sales) without relying on facts or ethical standards

“Yellow Kid”

“Yellow Kid papers”

“Yellow papers”

The Yellow Kid in “Hogan’s Alley”

• McKinley, taking office in ‘97, also supported neutrality but opposed Spain’s inhumane treatment of the rebels.

• The same year, a new government in Spain offered a degree of autonomy to the Cubans, but Spanish officers in Cuba went against the agreement. The U.S. was now concerned about our own citizens’ safety in Cuba.

• In 1898 President McKinley sent our battleship, the Maine, to Cuba as a show of strength. The ship exploded in Havana’s harbor and many people blamed Spain. (It was most likely an accident).

• Additionally, a Spanish ambassador had called McKinley weak in a letter to a friend, which had been published in the New York Journal. This was the last straw for some Americans.

• However, McKinley delayed, hoping for a truce that would include Cuban independence. Recognizing the probability of war, he asked Congress for $50 million in defense money.

• Ultimately, Spain’s concessions weren’t substantial enough to convince McKinley, since they didn’t mention Cuban independence or mediation of the conflict with Cuba.

On April 25, 1898, the United States declared war on Spain and recognizing Cuban independence. The slogan “Remember the Maine!” was used as a propaganda tool.

The Spanish American WarThousands of Americans volunteered to fight in the war against Spain. Our Army quickly grew from 30,000 soldiers to more than 274,000.

Roosevelt’s Rough Riders

The war lasted less than 4 months; more than 5,000 Americans died, but fewer than 400 of those were lost in battle. Under the peace treaty, the United States gained control of Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands.

Ultimately Cuba was independent, but under our guardianship; and we had rights to Guantanamo Bay.

Guam and Puerto Rico are still under US control today.

The Philippines The Philippines consists of 7000 islands;

Some Americans wanted to control Manila as a strategic base for trading with Asia, but found that we “needed” all of the island of Luzon to make this possible.

Also, President McKinley felt that self-rule was impossible for the Filipinos, and would result in anarchy.

As a result, the U.S. paid $20 million to Spain to give up rights to the Philippines. (Andrew Carnegie offered the same amount for the independence of the Filipino people).

The U.S. then went to war against a group of Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo, whose aim was independence. •3 years of war, 1898-1902.•4300 American deaths;•50,000-250,000 Filipino deaths;•American tactics were brutal and included similar behaviors to the Spanish.•What’s wrong with this picture?!!!

Views on imperialism

Pro-imperialists We need resources and

markets. The uncivilized people of the

world need a guide and mentor before they can adopt democratic ways.

If we don’t take these territories, someone else will.

Manifest Destiny/American Exceptionalism

Anti-imperialists “It is not necessary to own

people to trade with them.” We’re going to lose our jobs

to these foreigners. “We’ve gone from fighting

the oppressor to shooting the oppressed.”

How can we call ourselves republicans when we are “puking up our heritage”?

Theodore Roosevelt

Because of his part in the war, Theodore Roosevelt was soon elected Vice President of the United States. When President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became the new President.

President Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics. He liked to quote a favorite proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.”

As a show of this strategy, Roosevelt commissioned a “world tour” of 16 U.S. battleships from 1907-1909.

The U.S.S. Louisiana – one of the 16 battleships of the “Great White Fleet”

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing

you can do is nothing."

Many Americans thought that Roosevelt would bring our country to war because of his tough rhetoric and opinions concerning peace and readiness for war. However, under his leadership the U.S. avoided war, and in fact the president was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating the end to the bitter Russo-Japanese War in 1905 – the first American so honored.

The Panama Canal

President Roosevelt saw the need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and began the process that would build the Panama Canal.

For years people had talked about the possibility of such a canal and the French had attempted one years earlier, but were unsuccessful. Thick jungles and disease were major problems.

Another problem arose when Columbia refused to sell the isthmus of Panama to the US.

Not willing to give up on the canal, President Roosevelt sent word to the people of Panama that IF a revolution against Columbian rule happened to take place, the US Navy would be near to prevent Columbian troops from entering Panama. A revolution soon took place, Panama became independent and gave the US permission to begin work on the canal.

New machines, medicine, and knowledge helped keep the workers healthier, but around 22,000 people died from malaria and work accidents during the construction, which was finished in 1914.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_655031&feature=iv&src_vid=-vi19z4LEi0&v=fA-pnN54uPw

President Roosevelt was the first President of the United States to leave the United States while President. He visited the Panama Canal on August 15, 1914.

While the United States considered Panama a “virtual protectorate” and controlled the canal from 1904 to 2000, many Panamanians demonstrated against our presence there. In 1964, 23 students were killed when U.S. Marines opened fire on a group of demonstrators. The U.S. and Panama then negotiated a predetermined date for the U.S. returning sovereignty (self-rule) to Panama, and this happened as agreed in the year 2000.

A World Power

From a nation embroiled in its own sectional problems and ultimately Civil War, the U.S. shifted its focus and gained respect as a world power. However, there were many Americans who saw our involvement in other countries as a betrayal of their right to liberty and independence. They were known as anti-imperialists or anti-expansionists.