American Imperialism

Reasons for American Imperialism

• Internal growth.• Religion-based cultural superiority.• Competition with world powers for colonial

interests.• Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence

of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783.• Foreign policy. ???/???/???

Monroe Doctrine enforced 1895-1896

• Border dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela.

• British problem.

• German problem.

Result:

The Great Rapprochement.

Future significance???

Aloha self-determination

The Hawaiian Islands.

• Reasons for US interest.

Spanish-American WarCuba

• American business interests.

• Revolutionary feelings.

• Shipping routes.

The Maine.

• Significance

McKinley’s stance

Remember the Maine

Fighting the war

• American preparedness.

• Commodore George Dewey.

Battle of Manila Bay.

“You may fire when ready

Gridley.”

The fight for Cuba.

• Teddy Roosevelt. “Rough Riders”. Battle of San Juan Hill.

San Juan Hill

U.S.S. Oregon

Spoils of WarCuba.

• War against mosquitoes. Walter Reed.

• Keep or fold.

• Teller Amendment of 1898.

• Platt Amendment of 1901.

Philippines.

• Filipinos fight for independence.

Guam.

Puerto Rico.

Commodore Dewey and the Hero of San Juan Hill

“Fighting” Joe Wheeler

Significance of the Spanish-American War

• Respect from European powers.

• National pride.

• US became a Far Eastern power.

• The beginnings of the might of the US Navy.

• Closing the gap on North-South animosities.