ImperialismTHE UNITED STATES AND THE GLOBE

Imperialism…What is it?

Empires

What does the United States gain from Imperialism?

Acquiring land vs Taking land…what’s the difference?

Imperialism is Great!...

Dat Capital Gain

Access to new markets and a better balance of trade (export>import)

Access to more materials for factories

Access to cheap labor and thus increasing profit

Feeling of justification due to Manifest Destiny, Social Darwinism, and the “White Man’s Burden” to spread civilization and Christianity

…or is it?

Completely against democracy and for what it stands

Higher cost for maintaining military (think about cost in modern times)

Critical thinking question: Looking at this graph, could it appear as though we are currently involved in too much military expenditure? Could we be justified in the amount that we’re spending?

Wars and Rebellions

Nativism/Xenophobia

Two New Stars for the Flag

Alaska

Bought from Russia for $7.2 million (roughly TWO CENTS AN ACRE)

According to measuringworth.com, that’s roughly .33 in modern currency!

At first called “Seward's Folly” because it was thought to be worthless land

Hawaii

Rebellion orchestrated by sugar plantation owners wanting tax breaks and control over Pacific Trade

U.S. military forces joined farmers and overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy

Fun Fact: Kamehameha was a King of Hawaii

Spanish-American War…the Build UpLong Term Causes

Monroe Doctrine: Keep Europe out of our Western Hemisphere!!!Revolutionaries in Cuba wanted U.S. support to overthrow Spain and become independent

Spanish-American War…the Immediate Causes

Yellow Journalism: heinously exaggerated stories with unsupported claims, sensationalized so copies would sell and get the United States heated up over Cuba (think tabloid papers…or “clickbait” news stories)

De Lôme Letter: Hearst press published a letter intercepted by the Cubans. Written by Spanish ambassador saying McKinley=t3h w0rst President with the title: “Worst Insult to the United States in its History”It’s said when the Spanish heard McKinley read the letter, the burn was so intense, they reacted as such…

The most well known cause however was the U.S.S. Maine explosion in Cuba, with a boiler explosion being the result after multiple investigations.False Flag Conspiracy: Soldiers sacrificed so that war with Cuba could be declared

Slighty modern Example: Operation Northwoods Series of proposals for actions against the Cuban government, that originated within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Joint Chiefs

of Staff (JCS) of the United States government in 1962. The proposals called for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other US government operatives to commit acts of terrorism against American civilians and military targets, blaming it on the Cuban government, and using it to justify a war against Cuba. The proposals were rejected by the Kennedy administration.

Philippine-American WarFilipinos fought for independence against the United States for close to three years

Rebels were put in “zones of protection” (where have we heard this before?) or internment camps where thousands died from disease and preventable starvation

Independence was granted to the Philippines after World War II

4:42-6:23

China The “Open Door Policy”

While the United States took Hawaii and the Philippines, it needed a bigger entrance into trading in Asia….in comes China

In order to resist colonization, China creates “spheres of influence” to limit trade with different countries to specific portsEssentially saying: “Hey you can trade and exist here….but don’t leave those areas or there will be

trouble.From your homework, what even occurred from the Chinese tiring of the Europeans?

Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy“Talk softly and carry a big stick”….what do you think it means?

Strong military presence to add weight to diplomatic negotiations

Sent Great White Fleet to pressure Russia and Japan into a negotiation (Russo-Japanese War)Earns Nobel Peace Prize for this

Roosevelt Corollary tacked onto the Monroe Doctrine added threat of force to protect U.S. interests in Latin America

Helps Panama win independence from Colombia in exchange for rights to build and control the Panama Canal

Taft's Dollar DiplomacyTo reduce European influence, Taft offers up a deal to developing countries and countries in need: We take your debt....you give us economic privilege

Economic privilege....what does that mean? What would the United States be interested in that other countries may possess?

For example: In Nicaragua, U.S. bankers loaned money to a pro-U.S. regime in exchange for control of their banks, railroads, and bank system.

Wilson's Missionary DiplomacyAll for intervention....but only when there was a moral responsibility to oppose oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile governments

Wilson intervened in the Mexican Revolution by supporting the leader that was least objectionable and helping stop a rebellion by Socialist leaders Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata

Taft's Dollar DiplomacyTo reduce European influence, Taft offers up a deal to developing countries and countries in need: We take your debt....you give us economic privilege

Economic privilege....what does that mean? What would the United States be interested in that other countries may possess?

For example: In Nicaragua, U.S. bankers loaned money to a pro-U.S. regime in exchange for control of their banks, railroads, and bank system.

Wilson's Missionary DiplomacyAll for intervention....but only when there was a moral responsibility to oppose oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile governments

Wilson intervened in the Mexican Revolution by supporting the leader that was least objectionable and helping stop a rebellion by Socialist leaders Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata