Imperialism & Progressivism

And one night late it came to me this way…(1) That we could not give them back to Spain-that would be cowardly and dishonorable; (2) that we could not turn them over to France or Germany- our commercial rivals in the Orient- that would be bad business and discreditable; (3) that we could not leave them to themselves- they were unfit for self-government- and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain’s was; and (4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died. And then I went to bed, and went to sleep and slept soundly.

• To what extent was American overseas imperialism of the late 19th century a departure from American tradition?

The Open Door NoteIssued by Secretary of

State John Hay to European powers in China;

Wanted them to keep an “open door of trade” between China and the West

All nations should have equal access and economic rights in China

The Open Door Note

European reaction?

American reaction?

Real meaning of the Open Door Note

The Boxer Rebellion1899 – China divided among

European Powers into “spheres of influence”; dominated Chinese politics and economy

The Boxer Rebellion1900 – Nationalist Chinese rebels

(“Boxers”) rebel against foreign control; killed many European and American missionaries

Also targeted Chinese Christians

The Boxer Rebellion

A multinational force (including 2100 Americans) sent to China to subdue Boxers

Significance?

China forced to pay millions to allied countries

American creates college fund for future Chinese leaders

1900 ElectionRepublicans choose TR as VP; reasons?

TR campaigns like Bryan; popular, big crowds

1900 Election

McKinley defeats Bryan by bigger margin than 1896; main issue: imperialism

The Assassination of McKinley, Sept. 1901

Assassinated by an anarchist at World Fair at Buffalo, NY

• To what extent was American overseas imperialism of the late nineteenth century imperialism a departure from American tradition?

• The United States, since Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation, proclaimed neutrality in foreign affairs and, espousing the Monroe Doctrine, largely avoided involvement in the eastern hemisphere before the late nineteenth century. However, Americans took land from Native Americans by force, coerced other nations into giving up territory, and always believed in a God-given right to expansion. Therefore, American tradition has always included elements of imperialism.

• United States history began with a belief in divine approval of efforts to expand westward. However, in the late nineteenth century, the United States boldly asserted her interests in the eastern hemisphere, built her navy to project her power overseas, and contended with European powers for access to lucrative overseas markets. Late nineteenth century imperialism was remarkably different than previous western expansion.

TR as President

Different from predecessors

More energetic

Reformist, progressive

More visible to the public

More aggressive in dealing with problems of the country

TR’ s Foreign PolicyEmphasized strong defense

Creator of modern steel navy

“Speak softly and carry a Big Stick”; became symbol of American imperialism

The Roosevelt Corollary

Addition to Monroe Doctrine

Statement of US strength

Protection of American interests in Latin America

Claimed right to intervene if Americans or their interests were threatened

Unpopular in L. America

The Panama Canal

Previously attempted by the French in 1870s; resulted in 20,000 deaths and bankruptcy

Bankruptcy proceedings of French Canal Company

The Panama CanalOriginal choice of TR: Nicaragua

Chose Panama after volcano eruption

The Panama CanalTR attempts to buy rights from Colombia to

build canal but is refused; reasons

French agent Philippe Bunau-Varilla creates “Panama Revolt” (1903)

Panama capitol building

The Panama Canal Colombia attempts to regain Panama, blocked by US

Navy outside Bogotá

US recognizes newly independent Panama

First act of amb. Bunau-Varilla: sells rights to US for $10m; US begins work on the Canal

US gives Colombia $25 million for its trouble

The Panama CanalTakes 10 years, $400m to build

Invented new equipment

Development of yellow vaccine

Casualties under 200

The Panama Canal

Impact of Canal

Progressivism in the Early 20th Century

Progressivism

A movement of upper and middle class reformers to change society through government action

Use of Omaha Platform as guide, but mostly not populists

Made up of:

labor and urban reformers

politicians from both parties

“muckraking” journalists

advocates of social reform

Issues in the Progressive EraUrban slums

Child labor

Political reform

Aid to immigrants

Issues in the Progressive EraWoman suffrage

Temperance/prohibition

Conservation

Regulation of trusts

The “Muckrakers”Journalists who exposed

social problems and supported reforms with their articles

Upton Sinclair and The Jungle (1906); problems of urban poor

Ida Tarbell: The History of Standard Oil (1902)

Frank Norris and The Octopus (1901); exposed the abuses of the railroad industry

The “Muckrakers”Lincoln Steffens: Shame of the Cities;

exposed the political machines

George Washington Plunkitt

of Tammany Hall

The Jungle (1906)Sinclair intended to show urban

poverty; instead, public focuses on conditions in the meat industry

Leads to Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act

TR as Progressive Era President

Background as reformer:

Reformed civil service of NYC

NYC Police Commissioner

Governor of NY

First major test: 1902 Coal Strike

1902 Coal StrikeTR tries to mediate between strikers and

owners in White House meetings

Owners refuse to compromise; TR threatens to take over the mines for the workers:

“To he** with the Constitution when the people need coal!”

1902 Coal StrikeOwners initially refuse, then compromise as

TR calls up the Army to take over the mines

TR calls this “the Square Deal”, becomes trademark of his administration

TR the Trustbuster!Regulation, not destruction, of “good” trusts;

definition of “good” and “bad” trusts

Use of Sherman Anti-Trust Act against corporations

First target: the RRs

TR Takes on the Robber Barons

Empowers the Interstate Commerce Commission to govern “uncooperative” trusts

TR vs. Morgan

TR takes on Northern Securities, controlled by Morgan; first trust broken up by Supreme Court

Trusts not “busted”: Standard Oil

US Steel

1904 ElectionTR crushes Alton Parker, promises

not to run for third term

Debs runs for 1st time

TR the ConservationistTR sets aside millions of

acres for preservation with the Newlands Act

Creates national parks (i.e. Yosemite)

1885

The Panic of 1907Bank began to fail rapidly;

Morgan creates a group to stabilize banking system

Leads to creation of flexible currency and the Federal Reserve (1913)

1908 ElectionTR anoints W. H. Taft successor

Defeats William Jennings Bryan!

regrets promise of no

3rd term; retires to hunt

big game

The Legacy of TR

Made presidency center of govt. power; expanded presidential power and authority

Involved govt. in the lives of the people; trustbuster, govt. regulator

Made US international power

William Howard TaftBackground:

governor of the Philippines

TR’s Secretary of War

later, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Continued progressive reforms

Expanded trust-busting efforts

Expanded conservation efforts

17th Amendment passed –

direct election of Senators

Taft and “Trust-busting”Taft did not recognize

“good” or “bad” trusts

Broke 77 in all, including Standard Oil and US Steel

Broke agreement on trusts; angered TR and motivated him to run for 3rd term

“Dollar Diplomacy”Expansion of Roosevelt Corollary:

protection of US investment and people, worldwide

First use in Latin America; i.e. Nicaragua,1909

Most controversial: Morgan’s Manchurian RR in 1911

Problems in the Taft AdministrationToo progressive or not

progressive enough for Republicans

Overshadowed by TR

Seen as not being own man but TR’s puppet

Conflict between TR and Taft over Taft’s breaking of “gentleman’s agreement” on US Steel

1912 ElectionCandidates:

Taft Wilson TR Debs

Main issue: progressive reforms and “dollar diplomacy”

Woodrow Wilson

Background:

PhD in Political Science

Professor at Princeton, later president

Governor of New Jersey, 1910 -1912; nominated for president to remove him from NJ

1912 ElectionTR and the Progressive PartyTR wants to run again,

denied by Republicans; forms 3rd party

Nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party”

Platform called the “New Nationalism

Called for further reforms than when president and involvement in world affairs

1912 ElectionEvents:

TR shot during campaign, continued anyway

Vote divided between four candidates, Wilson wins Electoral College

Warm Up: Write it on a clean, separate piece of paper

• Given his immense popularity among the American people, his aggressive campaigning, and his reputation as a “trust-buster”, why did TR fail to win the Republican nomination and the Presidency in 1912?

The Wilson AdministrationThe “Triple Wall of Privilege”

the tariff: pledged to lower it, eventually lowered through the Underwood Tariff; also enacted the income tax (16th Amendment)

The Wilson AdministrationThe “Triple Wall of Privilege:

the banks: after death of Morgan in 1913, the Federal Reserve was created; regulated $$ supply and interest rates

The Wilson AdministrationThe “Triple Wall of Privilege:

the trusts: similar opinion as Taft, saw trusts as bad for the economy; created the Federal Trade Commission which regulates business

Also limits on child labor

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act

Also passed Clayton Anti-Trust Act which strengthened the govt. in dealing with trustsAlso allowed for unions to be recognized and to “bargain collectively” for first time; called by Gompers as the “Magna Carta” of Labor

Think (and write), pair, share

• To what extent were progressive reformers during the Progressive Era successful in initiating reform? What were the failures of progressivism?

Limits of ProgressivismRace relations left out of reforms; black

Americans see little progress during the era

Why?

Blacks in the Gilded AgeTwo competing views: integration vs. separation

Views of Booker T. Washington:

economic independence before integration

separation from white society to build up black institutions and businesses

Founded Tuskegee Institute“Let down your bucket where you are.”

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

Blacks in the Gilded Age“Jim Crow” in the South, segregation in most

parts of the country; impact of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): “separate but equal”

Homer Plessy

Homer Plessy, 1896

Blacks in the Gilded AgeViews of W. E. B. DuBois:

immediate integration is the right of black Americans, as promised in the Declaration and Constitution

Founded NAACP in 1910

Influence on MLK and the

civil rights movement

“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”

Wilson’s Foreign PolicyCampaigned against Dollar Diplomacy; called

for “moral diplomacy”; pulled troops out of Haiti and Dominican Republic

Problems With MexicoMexican Revolution: 1910 – 1919

MX controlled by dictator Porfirio Diaz, revolt led by Emilio Zapata and Francisco Madero

Revolt succeeds and Madero new pres. of MX

Problems With MexicoMadero overthrown and executed

by Valeriano Huerta in 1913

Wilson refuses to recognize new leader of MX, begins to secretly support rival Venustiano Carranza

Huerta began to threaten American assets and people

Huerta

Carranza

US in Mexico

Wilson vs. Huerta;

Sent navy to patrol Mexican coast to “protect” US citizens

April, 1914: nine sailors captured entering “restricted zone” in Tampico, MX

Wilson sends bombs Vera Cruz in May, starting anti-American riots

Huerta threatens American interests in MX

US in Mexico

US in MexicoWar with Mexico close;

both armies prepare

US navy blockades Mexican ports

Latin American countries move to intercede between US and MX

The “ABC” Powers The “ABC” Powers (Argentina, Brazil, and

Chile) mediate between US and MX in Niagara Falls, NY (July, 1914)

During conference, Huerta

overthrown by Carranza

Assisted by Pancho Villa

Francisco “Pancho” VillaCarranza’s military leader, armed and equipped

by US Army to fight Huerta

Former bandit leader

Villa with American general John “Black Jack Pershing

US vs. VillaWilson promises support,

recognition if Carranza removes Villa from command

Villa vows revenge, begins raids on American holdings in Mexico

Raids Columbus, NM;

Kills 18 Americans

(July, 1916)

US vs. Villa

Wilson sends Pershing into MX to capture Villa, despite MX protests

Villa evades US for over a year

Pershing returns to US to lead US Army in WW I

Villa never captured; rumors?