US BECOMES A WORLD POWER

STARTER

• What do you think of when you hear ‘World Power’?• How does a country become one? What’s

required to keep that power?

IMPERIALISM

• 1890’s- Despite an incredibly productive economy, very limited military power• No real threat in the Western hemisphere• No big interest in territorial expansion after the purchase of

Alaska in 1867 ($72 million from Russia)• Imperialism- the policy of extending a country’s

power through diplomacy and/or military force• Controversy over expansion• Some saw imperial actions as inconsistent with republican

ideals• Others saw it as the responsibility of the US to extend its

resources and influence

CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE

• European empire building- 1870-1900• Spurred by competition and the belief that

nations were caught up in a Darwinian struggle for survival and power• US began upgrading its Navy

• The White Man’s Burden• Comes from a poem by Rudyard Kipling• Belief that more developed nations have an obligation to

‘uplift’/help/protect less developed nations

ANNEXATION OF HAWAII• Originally explored by Captain Cook in 1778- 300,000 natives-

susceptible to disease• Over time, Americans set up businesses there- sugar, banana

and pineapple• In 1893, American businessmen organized a coup, aided by US

military- overthrew the Queen, imprisoned her and seized 1.75 million acres of land

• Petition for annexation, argued that they were overthrowing a corrupt government and that the US should take possession before another foreign power• Harrison tried to annex, but Cleveland held it back for further

examination- declared it a substantial wrong• Despite Cleveland, Congress refused to help the Queen regain

her throne

ANNEXATION OF HAWAII CONT.

• Sanford Dole- starting his Banana company- declared himself President of the Republic of Hawaii- put the Queen under house arrest• Spanish American War caused worry that Japan

would seize Hawaii• Hawaii becomes an American territory in 1900, a

state 1959• Still resentment today

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

• Cuba began to fight for its independence from Spain in 1895• America felt sympathy for their cause but many wanted

to avoid involvement • President McKinley wanted to stay out- Civil war

vet• De Lome Letter• “WORST INSULT IN US HISTORY”

• Sinking of the Maine in Havana harbor• Blamed it on a mine- inflamed war hawks• Switch from isolationism to intervention

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR CONT.

• US declares War- but promises that will not make Cuba a territory• 144 days- US victory• Platt Amendment- stated that the US had

the right to intervene in Cuba in the future to protect life, property, individual liberties• Gave US Guam, Philippines and Puerto

Rico

PHILIPPINES• 1898- US acquires the Philippines from Spain for $20 million• 2 months later General Aguinaldo declares the Philippines

independent- first republic in Asia• Pressure on McKinley to annex is intense- fear that other nations

would take it first forced his hand• Philippine War- 1899 fighting erupts between US and

Filipinos• Over 70,000 US soldiers would fight there• Guerilla tactics • Barbarous treatment of civilians• War ended officially in 1901, fighting continued several years• Casualties- 20,000 Filipino soldiers, 4,000 Americans, 200,000

civilians• Convinced US not to try to acquire new territory• Granted the Philippines their independence in 1946

CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICA

• When Germany demanded a port in the Dominican Republic and several European powers blockaded Venezuela, Theodore Roosevelt declared the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine• Stated that America would police South America and the

Caribbean• Led to over 20 US interventions in the next

quarter century in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama

EXIT TICKET

• On your exit ticket, please answer the following questions• What is your opinion of American imperialism and

expansion? (was it good, bad, neither) Why?• Evaluate American motives for imperialism (were our

reasons good or self-centered)?• Is there a way we could have handled this situation

better? How?• Is the United States still facing issues like this today? How

do our actions today compare to these early 20th century imperialist actions?