imperialism and teddy roosevelt - us history...

Imperialism and

Teddy Roosevelt

C. Rebuilding a Nation (ca. 1877-ca.

1914)

2.Increasing Influence and Challenges

d. Evaluate, take, and defend positions

on the various U.S. foreign policies in the

late nineteenth and early twentieth

centuries

e. Analyze the causes and consequences

of the Spanish-American War

Imperialism

-In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many

European nations and the USA began to

conquer various areas around the world.

-The goal of these pursuits was to control raw

resources and wealth of weaker regions.

-For instance, the USA took Hawaii from

Queen Liliuokalani partially to control the sugar

market in the area.

Queen Liliuokalani

controlled Hawaii

until the USA took

over the region to

control the sugar

market.

The USA and Imperialism

-Admiral Alfred Mahan and others urged the

USA to build up its military might to compete

with the trend of imperialism coming out of

Europe.

-In the USA, imperialism was partially fueled by

ideologies that asserted that American culture

was “superior” to others.

-The USA also expanded by purchasing

Alaska from Russia. Secretary of State

William Seward led this effort in 1867.

Spain’s Original Territorial

Claims Around the World

By 1898, Spain’s territorial claims had shrunk

dramatically. Many in the USA did not like that Spain

controlled Cuba and Puerto Rico, areas close to the

mainland of America.

Spain controlled

Cuba as a territory in

1898. Many

Americans did not

like that a European

power was

controlling an area

so close the

mainland of the USA.

Spain controlled Puerto Rico, which was

also close to the mainland of the USA.

The Spanish American War of 1898

-In this conflict, the USA wanted Spain to give

Cuba independence.

-America was cautious to use force to assist

Cuba, until the USS Maine was allegedly

“attacked” by Spain.

-The USS Maine was sunk, nobody knows how,

but Spain was held responsible. After this, the

USA declared war against Spain and began to

use force to help Cuba achieve independence.

The USS Maine

was sunk near

Cuba. Many

speculated it

was an accident;

yet, the USA

blamed Spain

and declared war

against them

due to this

incident.

Wreckage from

the explosion

of the USS

Maine.

TR and the Spanish American War

-The Rough Riders group was a horse cavalry led by

Teddy Roosevelt and they fought in the Spanish

American War in Cuba.

-The Rough Riders won the famous Battle at San

Juan Hill in Cuba. This made TR famous as the leader

of the group.

-The USA won the war and gained the Philippines,

Guam, and Puerto Rico. Many felt this was

inconsistent of America because the USA wanted

Cuba to gain independence, but took other territories

from Spain.

The Rough Riders with Teddy Roosevelt

Depiction of Teddy Roosevelt leading the Rough

Riders in the Spanish American War

After the Spanish American War, America gained

The Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico from

Spain. This contributed to the USA becoming an

imperial power.

After the Spanish American War

-Cuba was allowed to be independent; yet, it

remained a protectorate of the USA, meaning

the USA had great influence in the area.

-The Platt Amendment laid out the guidelines of

this arrangement between the USA and Cuba.

-The USA took control over the Philippines and

Emilio Aguinaldo tried to lead a Filipino

rebellion against the USA. This failed rebellion

was called the Philippine-American War.

Imperialism and Teddy Roosevelt

-TR pursued many actions as President

that got the USA involved in international

affairs.

-During the Russo-Japanese War, Russia

and Japan went to war to control Korea.

-TR got Russia and Japan to sign the

Treaty of Portsmouth and end their war.

Russia allowed Japan to control Korea.

The Panama Canal

was endorsed by

Teddy Roosevelt. It

radically reduced

the amount of time

that ships had to

travel from the East

Coast to the West

Coast.

The Panama Canal and Roosevelt Corollary

-TR led the USA to fund a canal in Central America.

The USA supported the Panama rebellion against

Columbia to have an ally that would support the canal.

-TR also issued the Roosevelt Corollary, which

continued the Monroe Doctrine. He said he would,

“Speak softly, but carry a big stick.” This meant he

wanted peace, but would use force.

-The Roosevelt Corollary insisted that European

powers must not interfere in the Western Hemisphere

and that the USA would use force to protect

interests in Latin America.

The

End

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