Reasons for Reasons for American American

ImperialismImperialism

““New New Imperialism”Imperialism”

ColonyColony: direct rule by a : direct rule by a foreign power, backed foreign power, backed with military forcewith military force

ProtectorateProtectorate: indirect : indirect rule by a foreign power; rule by a foreign power; local rulers left in place local rulers left in place but must answer to but must answer to foreign powerforeign power

Sphere of influenceSphere of influence (“economic imperialism”): (“economic imperialism”): no direct political control no direct political control by foreign power, only by foreign power, only interest of foreign power interest of foreign power is in control of access to is in control of access to tradetrade

Reasons for US to Grow an Reasons for US to Grow an EmpireEmpire

Need to develop new Need to develop new markets for US agricultural & markets for US agricultural & manufactured goods: US manufactured goods: US producing more than it can producing more than it can useuse

Need new opportunities for Need new opportunities for capital investment capital investment

Mercantilism: belief that Mercantilism: belief that nations need to export more nations need to export more than they import to grow and than they import to grow and maintain wealthmaintain wealth

No more frontier: US had No more frontier: US had expanded as much as it expanded as much as it could in North Americacould in North America

Manifest Destiny: Americans Manifest Destiny: Americans still believed that God still believed that God favored their way of life and favored their way of life and wanted them to spread wanted them to spread elsewhereelsewhere

Frederick Jackson Frederick Jackson TurnerTurner

1861 – 19321861 – 1932 Historian / ProfessorHistorian / Professor 1893: Proposed his 1893: Proposed his

“Frontier Thesis” which “Frontier Thesis” which argued that American argued that American society had evolved as a society had evolved as a result of always having a result of always having a Western frontier; now that Western frontier; now that the frontier was closed, US the frontier was closed, US was at risk of stagnationwas at risk of stagnation

Many interpreted this as Many interpreted this as meaning that the US meaning that the US needed to find new needed to find new frontiers in order to frontiers in order to maintain our positionmaintain our position

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism Political, economic, Political, economic,

and military and military competition between competition between nations leads to the nations leads to the failure of the weak failure of the weak and the “survival of and the “survival of the fittest”the fittest”

Small, “inferior” Small, “inferior” states will be states will be overpowered by overpowered by “superior” states“superior” states

Anglo-SaxonismAnglo-Saxonism Belief that English Belief that English

speaking nations speaking nations were destined to were destined to rule due to superior rule due to superior character, ideas, character, ideas, and systems of and systems of governmentgovernment

Popular in Britain Popular in Britain and the USand the US

Fit well with Fit well with American idea of American idea of “Manifest Destiny”“Manifest Destiny”

John FiskeJohn Fiske 1842 – 19011842 – 1901 Writer / HistorianWriter / Historian Argued that physical Argued that physical

evolution of man had evolution of man had ended due to social ended due to social developmentsdevelopments

As a result, the As a result, the society which is society which is superior will be the superior will be the dominant force in dominant force in social evolutionsocial evolution

Josiah StrongJosiah Strong 1847 – 19161847 – 1916 Protestant ministerProtestant minister Americans should support Americans should support

imperialism because it imperialism because it spreads Christianityspreads Christianity

The Anglo-Saxon race have The Anglo-Saxon race have a responsibility to “civilize a responsibility to “civilize and Christianize” the rest and Christianize” the rest of the worldof the world

Identified 7 “perils” for Identified 7 “perils” for American society: American society: Catholicism, Mormonism, Catholicism, Mormonism, Socialism, intemperance, Socialism, intemperance, wealth, urbanization, & wealth, urbanization, & immigrationimmigration

Capt. Alfred T. Capt. Alfred T. MahanMahan

1840 – 19141840 – 1914 1890: Wrote 1890: Wrote The The

Influence of Sea Power Influence of Sea Power Upon HistoryUpon History

Argued that powerful Argued that powerful nations have powerful nations have powerful naviesnavies

Powerful navies require Powerful navies require naval bases worldwidenaval bases worldwide

His ideas won widespread His ideas won widespread political support in both political support in both Congress and the White Congress and the White HouseHouse

The Great White The Great White FleetFleet

Fleet of 16 US Fleet of 16 US battleships sent out battleships sent out on a world tour to on a world tour to demonstrate demonstrate American naval American naval might between might between 1907 and 1909 on 1907 and 1909 on orders of President orders of President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

Greatly enhanced Greatly enhanced American prestigeAmerican prestige

US US ExpansionExpansion

Purchase of Purchase of AlaskaAlaska

““Seward’s Folly”Seward’s Folly” Purchased from Russia Purchased from Russia

by Sec. of State by Sec. of State William Seward for William Seward for $7.2 million in 1867$7.2 million in 1867

US wanted Russian US wanted Russian competition out of competition out of North AmericaNorth America

Turned out, Alaska Turned out, Alaska was loaded with gold was loaded with gold & oil!& oil!

Americans in Americans in HawaiiHawaii

First Americans arrived in First Americans arrived in 1819 (Christian missionaries)1819 (Christian missionaries)

Thousands of Americans Thousands of Americans soon flooded the islands to soon flooded the islands to create sugar plantations, create sugar plantations, coming to dominate the coming to dominate the islands’ economy and islands’ economy and present a threat to the present a threat to the native monarchynative monarchy

Americans forced the Americans forced the “Bayonet Constitution” on “Bayonet Constitution” on Hawaiian king in 1887 which Hawaiian king in 1887 which gave whites the vote & gave whites the vote & limited the monarch’s powerlimited the monarch’s power

Queen LiliuokalaniQueen Liliuokalani 1838 – 19171838 – 1917 Queen 1891 – 1893Queen 1891 – 1893 Lydia Kamaka’eha Kaola Lydia Kamaka’eha Kaola

Mali’i Lili’uokalaniMali’i Lili’uokalani Attempted to throw out Attempted to throw out

the Bayonet Constitution the Bayonet Constitution and extend suffrage to and extend suffrage to native Hawaiians and native Hawaiians and AsiansAsians

This angered Americans This angered Americans in Hawaii, and they in Hawaii, and they began to plot an began to plot an overthrow of the queenoverthrow of the queen

Economic Economic PressurePressure

American sugar American sugar planters in Hawaii planters in Hawaii were also upset that were also upset that the McKinley Tariff the McKinley Tariff had placed a high had placed a high tariff on Hawaiian tariff on Hawaiian sugar; if they could sugar; if they could convince US to annex convince US to annex Hawaii, they would Hawaii, they would be part of the US and be part of the US and not subject to the not subject to the tarifftariff

Overthrow of the Overthrow of the QueenQueen

1893: Americans staged 1893: Americans staged a coup, then reported to a coup, then reported to the American consulate the American consulate that American lives and that American lives and property were in danger property were in danger due to the coup!due to the coup!

US consulate called US consulate called Marines ashore from the Marines ashore from the US naval base at Pearl US naval base at Pearl HarborHarbor

Hawaiians interpreted Hawaiians interpreted this as US support for this as US support for the coup and the coup and surrenderedsurrendered

Annexation of Annexation of HawaiiHawaii

American sugar planters American sugar planters established a temporary established a temporary government, believing that government, believing that the US would annex Hawaii the US would annex Hawaii immediatelyimmediately

Pres. Cleveland was furious Pres. Cleveland was furious with the way the sugar with the way the sugar planters had manipulated planters had manipulated the coup to look like it was the coup to look like it was US backed and blocked US backed and blocked attempts to annex Hawaiiattempts to annex Hawaii

The independent Republic The independent Republic of Hawaii existed from of Hawaii existed from 1893 - 18981893 - 1898

US finally annexed Hawaii US finally annexed Hawaii in 1898 under Pres. in 1898 under Pres. McKinleyMcKinley

Rebellion in Rebellion in CubaCuba Cuba was a Spanish Cuba was a Spanish

colony, but wanted to colony, but wanted to become independent become independent and rebelled from and rebelled from 1868-78, 1879-80, & 1868-78, 1879-80, & 1895-981895-98

Jose MartiJose Marti was the was the symbolic leader of the symbolic leader of the revolutionary revolutionary movement, but he was movement, but he was killed in battle in 1895killed in battle in 1895

Spanish put down Spanish put down rebellions cruelly and rebellions cruelly and with little regard to with little regard to human rightshuman rights

Spanish Atrocities in Spanish Atrocities in CubaCuba

Spanish governor Spanish governor General Valeriano “El General Valeriano “El Carnicero” Weyler Carnicero” Weyler began to relocate began to relocate rebellious Cuban rebellious Cuban natives to natives to “reconcentration “reconcentration camps” where they camps” where they could be monitored could be monitored by the military; by the military; thousands died of thousands died of disease or starvationdisease or starvation

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism US newspapers began to US newspapers began to

carry sensationalized stories carry sensationalized stories about the actions of the about the actions of the Spanish in Cuba, causing Spanish in Cuba, causing many Americans to many Americans to sympathize with the Cuban sympathize with the Cuban desire for independencedesire for independence

The term “yellow The term “yellow journalism” describes the journalism” describes the use of eye-catching use of eye-catching headlines (but usually with headlines (but usually with little factual support, and little factual support, and sometimes simply made-up sometimes simply made-up stories) to sell newspapers; stories) to sell newspapers; the “yellow” part comes the “yellow” part comes from a newspaper comic-from a newspaper comic-strip called strip called The Yellow KidThe Yellow Kid which was popular at the which was popular at the timetime

Joseph PulitzerJoseph Pulitzer 1847 – 19111847 – 1911 Publisher of Publisher of New York New York

WorldWorld newspaper newspaper Sold his papers cheap: Sold his papers cheap:

$0.02/issue$0.02/issue Filled papers with Filled papers with

crime stories, crime stories, sensationalized news, sensationalized news, but also with some but also with some serious news and calls serious news and calls for social reformfor social reform

Later established the Later established the Pulitzer Prizes for Pulitzer Prizes for journalismjournalism

William Randolph William Randolph HearstHearst

1863 – 19511863 – 1951 Publisher of Publisher of New York New York

JournalJournal newspaper newspaper Sold his paper even Sold his paper even

cheaper – just cheaper – just $0.01/issue; offset his $0.01/issue; offset his costs by being one of costs by being one of the first publishers to the first publishers to sell large amounts of sell large amounts of advertising to advertising to department storesdepartment stores

Hearst and Pulitzer Hearst and Pulitzer became bitter rivals, became bitter rivals, each trying to best the each trying to best the otherother

McKinley Tries McKinley Tries NegotiationsNegotiations

US business interests in Cuba US business interests in Cuba were threatened by the were threatened by the unrestunrest

McKinley threatened to McKinley threatened to recognize Cuba as an recognize Cuba as an independent state if Spain independent state if Spain did not establish some did not establish some stability there; Spain agreed stability there; Spain agreed to give Cuba autonomy (but to give Cuba autonomy (but not independence)not independence)

This led Spanish loyalists to This led Spanish loyalists to riot in Havana, forcing riot in Havana, forcing McKinley to dispatch the USS McKinley to dispatch the USS Maine to protect US interests Maine to protect US interests in Cuba and to evacuate in Cuba and to evacuate Americans if things got too Americans if things got too violentviolent

The Enrique Dupuy de LThe Enrique Dupuy de Lôôme me LetterLetter

February, 1898February, 1898 A private letter written A private letter written

by Spanish Ambassador by Spanish Ambassador to the US Enrique to the US Enrique Dupuy de LDupuy de Lôôme was me was stolen and published in stolen and published in Pulitzer’s papersPulitzer’s papers

The letter described The letter described Pres. McKinley as “weak Pres. McKinley as “weak and a bidder for the and a bidder for the admiration of the admiration of the crowd” and as someone crowd” and as someone unwilling to go to war unwilling to go to war over Cubaover Cuba

Americans were Americans were enragedenraged

The USS MaineThe USS Maine Feb. 15, 1898Feb. 15, 1898 USS Maine exploded USS Maine exploded

in Havana Harbor, in Havana Harbor, killing 266 sailorskilling 266 sailors

US investigation US investigation concluded that the concluded that the ship had been ship had been deliberately blown up deliberately blown up by a Spanish mineby a Spanish mine

Angry US citizens Angry US citizens began calling for war began calling for war with Spainwith Spain

JingoismJingoism McKinley was reluctant to McKinley was reluctant to

go to war and hoped for go to war and hoped for peacepeace

Many Republicans (including Many Republicans (including a young Theodore a young Theodore Roosevelt) grew angry with Roosevelt) grew angry with McKinley’s reluctance for McKinley’s reluctance for war; they believed in a form war; they believed in a form of nationalism called of nationalism called “jingoism” – a blind “jingoism” – a blind willingness to use force willingness to use force against other nations to against other nations to protect the best interests of protect the best interests of the USthe US

McKinley caved to the McKinley caved to the pressure in April 1898 and pressure in April 1898 and asked Congress to authorize asked Congress to authorize the use of force against the use of force against SpainSpain

The Spanish-American The Spanish-American WarWar

April 1898: US April 1898: US demanded that demanded that Spain withdraw from Spain withdraw from Cuba or face US Cuba or face US force; Spain force; Spain responded by responded by declaring war on USdeclaring war on US

The war would be The war would be short and one-sided, short and one-sided, ended in Augustended in August

The Philippines & The Philippines & GuamGuam

US Asiatic fleet attacked US Asiatic fleet attacked Spanish colony of the Spanish colony of the Philippines, crushing Philippines, crushing Spain’s navy in a matter Spain’s navy in a matter of hours with only nine of hours with only nine wounded US sailorswounded US sailors

US soldiers on their way US soldiers on their way to occupy the to occupy the Philippines also seized Philippines also seized the Spanish colony of the Spanish colony of Guam in the Central Guam in the Central PacificPacific

War in CubaWar in Cuba US Navy blockaded US Navy blockaded

Cuban ports and Cuban ports and destroyed the Spanish destroyed the Spanish fleet sent to protect fleet sent to protect CubaCuba

17,000 US ground 17,000 US ground forces fought in Cuba forces fought in Cuba between June 14 and between June 14 and August 12, winning August 12, winning several major battles, several major battles, such as the Battle of such as the Battle of San Juan Hill before the San Juan Hill before the Spanish agreed to a Spanish agreed to a cease-firecease-fire

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Also saw fighting Also saw fighting

between US and between US and Spanish forces during Spanish forces during the warthe war

1900: Foraker Act 1900: Foraker Act made Puerto Rico a made Puerto Rico a territory of the US territory of the US under the direct control under the direct control of Congress, but did not of Congress, but did not make Puerto Ricans US make Puerto Ricans US citizens or give them citizens or give them constitutional rightsconstitutional rights

Today, Puerto Rico Today, Puerto Rico remains part of the USremains part of the US

US SoldiersUS Soldiers The “Rough Riders”: The “Rough Riders”:

volunteer regiment of volunteer regiment of which Theodore which Theodore Roosevelt was 2Roosevelt was 2ndnd in in commandcommand

Buffalo Soldiers: about Buffalo Soldiers: about 25% of US soldiers who 25% of US soldiers who fought in the war were fought in the war were blackblack

345 Americans died in 345 Americans died in the war (mostly from the war (mostly from disease) although disease) although hundreds more died from hundreds more died from disease epidemics in disease epidemics in training camps in the UStraining camps in the US

Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris (1898)(1898)

Dec. 10, 1898Dec. 10, 1898 Ended the warEnded the war Cuba became Cuba became

independentindependent US gains control of US gains control of

Guam and Puerto Guam and Puerto RicoRico

US purchases US purchases Philippines from Philippines from Spain for $20 Spain for $20 millionmillion

The Teller The Teller AmendmentAmendment

Passed prior to the Passed prior to the war, the war, the Amendment Amendment stated that the US stated that the US would not attempt would not attempt to annex Cuba; to annex Cuba; instead, the US instead, the US vowed to support vowed to support Cuban Cuban independenceindependence

The Platt The Platt AmendmentAmendment

US military occupied Cuba US military occupied Cuba until a new, US-approved until a new, US-approved constitution could be writtenconstitution could be written

Platt Amendment was forced Platt Amendment was forced on Cuba by the US:on Cuba by the US:

Cuba could not enter into Cuba could not enter into alliances that might threaten alliances that might threaten its independenceits independence

Could not allow foreign Could not allow foreign powers (except the US, who powers (except the US, who gained control of a naval base gained control of a naval base at Guantanamo Bay) to at Guantanamo Bay) to control territory in Cubacontrol territory in Cuba

Could not go into debt to Could not go into debt to foreign nationsforeign nations

US would have the right to US would have the right to intervene at any time to intervene at any time to protect Cuban independence protect Cuban independence or to maintain order or to maintain order