28.3 United States Economic Imperialism

Main Idea: Empire BuildingThe United States put increasing economic and political pressure on Latin America during the 19th century.28.3 United States Economic ImperialismLatin America After IndependenceColonial LegacyMost Latin Americans worked for large land owners.Wages low, prices highWorkers debt accumulatedRich got richer, poor poorerGovernments took over Native or Church land and sold it to the rich.Economic development lagged because of these conditions.Latin America After IndependencePolitical InstabilityA widespread problem in 19th century Latin AmericaLeaders gain fame and power during the struggle for independence.After independence many became caudillosmilitary dictators or strong men.By mid-1800s nearly all Latin American nations were ruled by caudillos.Juan Vicente Gomez was a ruthless caudillo who ruled Venezuela for nearly 20 yearsAll Venezuela is my cattle ranch.Latin America After IndependenceJuan Vicente Gomez was a ruthless caudillo who ruled Venezuela for nearly 20 yearsAll Venezuela is my cattle ranch.Notice that some caudillos like to where military uniforms with extensive decorations.

Latin America After IndependenceReform-minded president of Argentina, Domingo Sarmiento was the exception.Improved educationNumber of students doubledUnfortunately, reformers did not stay in office long, and caudillos often seized control of governments.

Caudillos vs. DemocracyThe caudillos faced little opposition.The wealthy landowners usually supported them.Latin Americans lacked a democratic tradition.Voting rights were restricted to the upper and middle classesEconomies Grow Under Foreign InfluenceBritain and the United States became Latin Americas main trading partners after their independence from Spain and Portugal.Old Products and New MarketsThe development of the steamship and the building of railroads greatly increased Latin American trade.Invention of refrigeration increased Latin America's exports.The sale of perishable goods soared.But foreign nations benefited far more from the increased trade than Latin America did. Latin Americans imported European and North American manufactured goods.They had little reason to develop their own manufacturing industries.Without industry Latin America could not play a leading role on the world economic stage.

Outside Investment and InterferenceLatin American countries did not re-invest in infrastructure or industry to become self-sufficient.They often borrowed money at high interest rates to develop facilities for their export industries.Owed Britain, France, the United States, and Germany.Often unable to pay back their loansForeign lendersthreatened to collect the debt by force.threatened to take over the facilities they had funded.gained control of many Latin American industries.This began a new era of economic imperialism.A Latin American EmpireThe Monroe Doctrine1823, President James Monroe issues the Monroe Doctrine which states the American continents . . . are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.

Cuba Declares Independence1868Cuba declares independence and fights a ten year war against Spain.1878Cuba gives up this war.1895Jose Marti returns to Cuba to launch another war against Spain.By mid-1890s, U.S. had substantial business holdings in Cuba.

Jose MartiSpanish-American War1898U.S. joins the Cuban war for independence by fighting the Spanish-American War.U.S. attacks the Philippine Islands first to take it from Spain.An attack is launched on Cuba.The Spanish defense collapses.1901Cuba is declared an independent nation, but the United States installs a military government. Cubans come to resent U.S. interference.

Roosevelts Rough Riders

Theodore Roosevelt in his Rough Rider uniform (above), and with his regiment on top of San Juan Hill (left).

The Philippine-American WarThe PhilippineAmerican War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection (18991902), was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following annexation by the United States.In 1916, the United States granted the Philippines autonomy and promised eventual self-government, which came in 1934. In 1946, following World War II, the Philippines was granted independence.

The Battle of Manila

Emilio AguinaldoHe led the fight for the independence of the Philippines.

1899 political cartoon by Winsor McCay. Uncle Sam (representing the United States), gets entangled with rope around a tree labeled "Imperialism" while trying to subdue a bucking colt or mule labeled "Philippines" while a figure representing Spain walks off over the horizon carrying a bag labeled "$20,000,000".

Filipino soldiers outside Manila in 1899Opposition to the Philippine WarMark Twain famously opposed the war by using his influence in the press. He said the war betrayed the ideals of American democracy by not allowing the Filipino people to choose their own destiny.In a diary passage removed by Twain's first biographical editor Thomas Bigelow Paine, Twain refers to American troops as our uniformed assassins and describes their killing of six hundred helpless and weaponless savages in the Philippines as a long and happy picnic with nothing to do but sit in comfort and fire the Golden Rule into those people down there and imagine letters to write home to the admiring families, and pile glory upon glory.

The Panama CanalIt was a 13,000 mile trip by sea around the continent of South America to reach the Pacific.France had tried to build a canal across Panama, but failed.The U.S. offered Columbia $10 million for the right to build a canal, but Columbia wanted more money.The United States encouraged a rebellion in Panama. When Panama became independent from Columbia in 1903, the U.S. was able to begin work on the canal.Canal opens in 1914.

Panama Canal

Scientific Advance and the Panama CanalTropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever were the biggest hindrances to building the canal.At times work stoppages occurred because there were so many workers sick from these diseases.When it was conclusively discovered that mosquitoes carry these diseases a massive campaign occurred to reduce the mosquito population to prevent the spread of these diseases.Swamps were drained and oil spread on standing water to kill mosquito larvae.As a result the yellow fever epidemic was almost completely wiped out to that work could continue on the canal.

William Crawford Gorgas, Chief Sanitary Officer to the Isthmian Commission The Roosevelt CorollaryTheRoosevelt Corollarygave the United States the right to be an international police power in the Western Hemisphere.The United States used the Roosevelt Corollary many times in the following years to justify U.S. intervention in Latin America. U.S. troops occupied some countries for decades.