UNITED STATES EXPANSION: 1890-1914 APUSH – Cornwell In preparation for writing a thoughtful and well-developed essay on the topic of UNITED STATES EXPANSION: 1890-1914, the following readings should assist you toward that end. •Amsco page 414-416

UNITED STATES EXPANSION: 1890-1914 DBQ (Document Based Question) Many Americans disagreed over which direction United States foreign policy should take in the late 19th century and early 20th century. A relative majority seemed to favor some type of expansion while a substantial minority were outspoken in their criticism of United States motives and methods. Many prominent and influential Americans held strong views on the complex issues surrounding American expansion and exertion of national influence around the globe.

Why or why not was late 19th century and early 20th century United States expansionism

justified? Be sure to include specific geographic examples in your answer. Also be sure to

consider the moral, political, and economic motives behind United States actions.

Use the documents and your knowledge of the period 1890-1914 to develop your response.

Documents to consider:

A. Senator Albert Beveridge “The March of the Flag” - 1898 B. Anti-Imperialist League platform - 1899 C. “The Spanish Brute” – Judge magazine cover – 1898 D. U.S Marines recruiting poster featuring Admiral George Dewey E. Josiah Strong – excerpt from Our Country – 1885 F. Frederick Jackson Turner – from Significance of the Frontier in American History – 1893 G. Theodore Roosevelt – excerpt from The Strenuous Life – 1899 H. Cartoon “The Real trouble will come with the ‘Wake’” Joseph Kepler in Puck – 1900 I. William Jennings Bryan’s solution to the Philippine problem – 1900 J. Statistics of Trade with selected territories - 1880-1935 K. Theodore Roosevelt on the acquisition of the Panama Canal – 1905 L. Theodore Roosevelt “The Roosevelt Corollary” – 1904-5 M. U.S. Expansion Cartoon – 1890s

Excerpted from “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”, Frederick Jackson Turner, 1893 “From the conditions of frontier life came intellectual traits of profound importance.

The works of travelers along each frontier from colonial days onward describe

certain common traits, and these traits have, while softening down, still persisted as

survivals in the place of their origin, even when a higher social organization

succeeded. The result is that to the frontier the American intellect owes its striking

characteristics. That coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and

inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that

masterful grasp of material things, lacking in the artistic but powerful to effect great

ends; that restless, nervous energy; that dominant individualism, working for good

and for evil, and withal that buoyancy and exuberance which comes with freedom-

these are traits of the frontier, or traits called out elsewhere because of the existence

of the frontier. Since the days when the fleet of Columbus sailed into the waters of

the New World, America has been another name for opportunity, and the people of

the United States have taken their tone from the incessant expansion which has not

only been open but has even been forced upon them. He would be a rash prophet

who should assert that the expansive character of American life has now entirely

ceased. Movement has been its dominant fact, and, unless this training has no effect

upon a people, the American energy will continually demand a wider field for its

exercise. But never again will such gifts of free land offer themselves.”

The Panama Canal APUSH – Cornwell After the US offered $10 million for a fifty-mile strip across the isthmus of Panama, Colombia refused. President Theodore Roosevelt’s response was as follows: "We were dealing with a government of irresponsible bandits," Roosevelt stormed. "I was prepared to . . . at once occupy the Isthmus anyhow, and proceed to dig the canal. But I deemed it likely that there would be a revolution in Panama soon." "There was much accusation about my having acted in an 'unconstitutional' manner," Teddy shrugged. "I took the isthmus, started the canal, and then left Congress -- not to debate the canal, but to debate me. . . . While the debate goes on, the canal does too; and they are welcome to debate me as long as they wish, provided that we can go on with the canal." Of course, some Americans did not approve of Roosevelt's behavior and attitude. As it happened, the chief engineer of the New Panama Canal Company organized a local revolt. Roosevelt immediately sent the battleship Nashville and a detachment of marines to Panama to support the new government. The rebels gladly accepted Roosevelt's $10 million offer, and they gave the United States complete control of a ten-mile wide canal zone. Roosevelt ordered army engineers to start digging. Thousands of workers sweated in the malarial heat. They tore up jungles and cut down mountains. Insects thrived in muddy, stagnant pools. "Mosquitoes get so thick you get a mouthful with every breath," a worker complained. The mosquitoes also carried yellow fever, and many fell victim to the deadly disease before Dr. William Gorgas found a way to stop it.

Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine Theodore Roosevelt

1904 It is not true that the United States feels any land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare. All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may lead the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power. If every country washed by the Caribbean Sea would show the progress in stable and just civilization which with the aid of the Platt amendment Cuba has shown since our troops left the island, and which so many of the republics in both Americas are constantly and brilliantly showing, all question of interference by this Nation with their affairs would be at an end. Our interests and those of our southern neighbors are in reality identical. They have great natural riches, and if within their borders the reign of law and justice obtains, prosperity is sure to come to them. While they thus obey the primary laws of civilized society they may rest assured that they will be treated by us in a spirit of cordial and helpful sympathy. We would interfere with them only in the last resort, and then only if it became evident that their inability or unwillingness to do justice at home and abroad had violated the rights of the United States or had invited foreign aggression to the detriment of the entire body of American nations. It is a mere truism to say that every nation, whether in America or anywhere else, which desires to maintain its freedom, its independence, must ultimately realize that the right of such independence can not be separated from the responsibility of making good use of it. In asserting the Monroe Doctrine, in taking such steps as we have taken in regard to Cuba, Venezuela, and Panama, and in endeavoring to circumscribe the theater of war in the Far East, and to secure the open door in China, we have acted in our own interest as well as in the interest of humanity at large. There are, however, cases in which, while our own interests are not greatly involved, strong appeal is made to our sympathies.... In extreme cases action may be justifiable and proper. What form the action shall take must depend upon the circumstances of the case; that is, upon the degree of the atrocity and upon our power to remedy it.

The following cartoon “Declined with Thanks” appeared in the British magazinePuck. In this cartoon, the “tailor” President McKinley is shown measuring Uncle Sam for a new outfit. Look for other details in the cartoon to determine the cartoonist’s point of view toward U.S. foreign policy in the 1890s.

© Prentice-Hall, Inc. Chapter 18 Visual Learning • 29

NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________ DATE _________________

CHAPTER

18

Expansionism

VISUAL LEARNING

1. How did the cartoonist depict Uncle Sam?

2. What do the labels on Uncle Sam’s pants represent? What other labels mightthe cartoonist have included?

3. Why is the cartoon titled “Declined with Thanks”?

4. What other title or caption might the cartoonist have used to express themain idea of this cartoon?

Lib

rary

of C

ongr

ess

DECLINED WITH THANKS

THE ANTIS — Here take a dose of this anti-fat and get thin again!

UNCLE SAM — No, Sonny! I never did take any of that stuff, and I’m too old to begin.