U.S. Imperialism abroad

U.S. First Contact with Japan: 1853Begins w/Commodore Matthew

Perry’s visitPerry comes with “black ships”

and forces Japan to open up trade with the U.S. or else force would be used

Japan quickly sees the technological gap as a threat

Begins to adopt Western ways via Meiji Restoration

Builds up a modern economy & navy by 1900

Seward’s FollySeward's Folly (Seward’s Icebox)-

Secretary of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska for $7.2 million from Russia in 1867. That’s 2 cents per acre!

However, the whole bargain was ridiculed by Congress and not held in high esteem by the public. With the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 however, Alaska will soon be seen as a valuable purchase.

The Annexation of Hawaii In 1893, a small group of

sugar and pineapple-growing businessmen, backed by the U.S. military, deposed Hawaii's queen, seized 1.75 million acres of land, and conspired for U.S. annexation of the islands, which was achieved in 1898. Hawaii became a state in 1959.

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)Causes of the War:1. Despotic Spanish rule over Cuba

◦A. Spain denied civil liberties & political rights

◦B. Levied heavy taxes – restricted foreign trade

◦C. Ruthlessly suppressed rebellions◦D. Spain finally abolished slavery in 1886◦E. Economic depression brings another revolt for INDEPENDENCE

2. American Humanitarianism & sympathyA. Sympathized with desire for

independenceB. Outraged when over 200,000

Cubans died in concentration camps of hunger

and disease

3. ECONOMIC INTERESTSA. American merchants traded with

Cuba to the amount of $100 Million a yearB. American investors placed $50

million in sugar and tobacco plantations.

4. “Yellow Journalism”A. William Randolph Hearst – NY Journal

B. Joseph Pulitzer – New York WorldC. Both Newspapers sought to

increase circulation by sensationalized

news stories.Hearst’s Journal printed the

Delome Letter Spanish ambassador calls

McKinley “weak”

William R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer

Pulitzer vs. Hearst

5. Sinking of the Maine – Feb 1898

A. American battleship visiting Cuba blown up

260 Americans killedB. Cause: probably fire in a coal binC. But, American public goaded on

by the Yellow Press – blames SPAIN

The Explosion of the U.S.S. MaineUSS Maine explodes in

Havana harbor

To protect American citizensand interests in Cuba,

Pres. McKinley sends theU.S.S. Maine to Cuba

Congress declares waron Spain, but will not

annex Cuba(Teller Amendment)

“Remember theMaine!”

Newspapersblame Spain

Sensationalism – Yellow Journalism