imperialism and wwi.pptx (1)
TRANSCRIPT
U.S. ImperialismHI 202 Spring 2015
● Imperialism: ● When one country extends its control over the territory,
political system, or economic life of another country
● Usually involves the establishment of colonies
● 1st overseas imperialist venture for the US
● Cuba ● Wanted independence from Spain
● America supported
● Spain Declared War on US
● US Victory:● Gained Spain’s colonies of Guam, Puerto Rico,
Philippines, Cuba (granted independence)
Spanish American War, 1898
● US established as permanent colony
● Pres. McKinley:● US should “take” the Philippines to educate, uplift,
Christianize and “civilize” the Filipinos
● (a product of westward expansion, manifest destiny and
ethnocentrism)
● Why else did US want this colony?● Economic base for US in Asia
Philippines
● The Filipinos strongly resisted American colonization
● Although the terrain favored the Filipinos, the US won
due to superior weaponry
● Both sides employed methods of harsh tortures
● The US navy cut all supply lines to the islands and the
Filipinos had no allies
● The war and tremendous resistance of the Filipinos
inspired critiques/debates in the US over American
colonization and imperialism
Philippine-American War (1899-
1902)
● Turn of the Century Imperialism: ● Was it really a significant break with the past?
● Some historians argue that the US had always been
imperialistic in its takeover of the West—once they ran
out of continental territory they began to expand
overseas.
● Economic
● Pro: colonies will make markets for goods produced
in US factories and the colonies will provide raw
materials for American factories
● Con: tax money should be used for domestic
purposes
● Strategic
● Pro: competition with Europe
● Con: could make the US more vulnerable if the
military is spread around the world trying to protect
colonies
Imperialism debate in the US
● Moral/Racial:
● Pro: “White Man’s Burden”/ “Civilizing” Mission
● Con: other people are actually capable of self-
government