7-1: Becoming a World

Power, 1865-1917

Participation in a series of global conflicts propelled the

United States into a position of international power while

renewing domestic debates over the nation’s proper role in

the world.

Territorial Acquisitions

Alaska, 1867

Seward’s folly

Abundance of natural resources

Hawaii, 1890s

Military interests—Pearl Harbor obtained

U.S. business interests—sugar

Overthrow of Hawaiian monarchy

U.S. annexation, 1898

Foreign Affairs: Europe and Latin America

The French in Mexico

Role of the Civil War

Monroe Doctrine invoked

Pan-Americanism

Political/economic cooperation

between North and South

American nations

Venezuela

U.S.-British agreement over claims

in South America

Leads to realignment of the U.S.

and Britain

“New Imperialism”

International Darwinism

Politicians

Expansionists followed example of European imperialism in Africa

Business/political interest in raw materials and new markets

Justified through economic opportunities, racial theories, and competition with other empires

“New Imperialism”

International Darwinism

Missionaries

Imperialism included idea of moral improvement

“White Man’s Burden”

Naval Power

Mahan—control of seas the key to world dominance

Media

Yellow journalism—sensational

stories of exotic places

Stimulated demand for U.S. involvement around the world

“New Imperialism”

Anti-Imperialism

Cited principles of self-determination

American tradition of isolationism

Spanish-American War, 1898

Causes of the War

Cuban Revolt

Sinking of the Maine

De Lome Letter

Yellow Press

Teller Amendment—”Cuba Libre”

Fighting the War

The Philippines

Invasion of Cuba

Quick and decisive U.S. victory

Spanish-American War, 1898

Controversy over the Treaty of Peace

Territorial Acquisitions—Puerto Rico,

Guam, Philippines

The Philippines Question

Desire to annex Philippines stemmed from desire to promote U.S. interests in Asia

Filipino rebellion

Formation of American Anti-Imperialist League

Cuba and the Platt Amendment

Cuba given quasi-independence

Acquisition of Guantanamo Bay

U.S. protectorate

Spanish-American War, 1898

Other Results of the War

Insular Cases

Are Filipino people citizens?

W.J. Bryan—yes, protected by Constitution

Imperialists and Supreme Court—no

Election of 1900

McKinley (R) resounding win over Bryan (D)

Affirms imperialist sentiments

China

Open Door Policy

Defeat at hands of Japan

“Spheres of influence”

Sec. of State Hay—“Open door”

by which all nations have equal

trading privileges

Protection of U.S. interests

Boxer Rebellion

Rise of Chinese

nationalists/xenophobia

U.S. participation in international

force

Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy

Panama Canal

Viewed European efforts a violation

of Monroe Doctrine

Panamanian Revolution to make

deal for canal

Roosevelt Corollary

Background—Caribbean nations’

debt defaults to European banks

U.S. to assume “international police

power” to enforce Monroe Doctrine

in Latin America

Expansion of U.S. role in Latin

America

Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy

East Asia

Russo-Japanese War treaty

“Gentlemen’s Agreement”

Fewer Japanese immigrants

Fair treatment in the U.S.

Great White Fleet

Root-Takahira Agreement

Respect of Pacific possessions

Support for Open Door policy

William Taft and Dollar Diplomacy

East Asia and Latin America

Use economic investments to

bolster American foreign policy

and create greater stability in

those regions

Unsuccessful—often undermined

by anti-imperialists

Woodrow Wilson and Foreign Affairs

Moral Diplomacy

Denounced imperialism and Dollar

Diplomacy

Advocated capitalist democracies

throughout the world

Military Intervention

Veracruz occupation

Pancho Villa and the American

Expeditionary Force