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Becoming a World Power

“The Imperialist Vision”

Imperialism

The economic and political domination of a strong nation over a weaker one.

Protectorate

When an imperial power allows local rulers to stay in control, but “protects” them from rebellions and invasions.

The Imperialist VisionThe Imperialist Vision

In the late 1800’s, many Americans began to feel the need to establish the U.S. as a world power.

Many Europeans had already expanded overseas. Europeans needed new resources of raw

materials and new markets to sell their goods to because of tariffs from other industrialized countries.

Many European countries began to establish colonies and protectorates all over the globe.

American Imperialism

Americans didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to benefit from imperialism.

3 main causes of American imperialism. A desire for new markets for goods. A feeling of superiority. Creation of new Military/Naval bases.

New Markets

Many Americans felt they needed new overseas markets to keep their economy strong.

Big business and mass production (economies of scale), meant more and more goods needed to be moved.

Superiority Many Americans felt that the Social

Darwinist theory, applied to imperialism as well. These people believed that nations

competed against each other politically, economically, and militarily with only the strong surviving.

Anglo-Saxonism The belief that English speaking nations

had superior character, ideas, and systems of government.

Many Americans saw imperialism as an extension of “Manifest Destiny”.

Military/Naval Bases

America began to get involved in foreign affairs. 1888 - The U.S. risked war to keep

Germany from controlling Samoa. 1891 – America threatened war with Chile,

after a mob attacked U.S. sailors in the port of Valparaiso, unless reparations were paid.

1895 – U.S. backed Venezuela against Great Britain in a border dispute with British Guiana. War was narrowly avoided.

In order to protect American interests overseas, many people supported the building of a large modern navy. Secure trade was vital to any industrialized

nation, and a strong navy was necessary to secure foreign trade.

By the late 1890’s, Congress was convinced of the need for a large modern navy in order to secure America’s interests abroad.

American Expands in the Pacific

Manifest Destiny had carried Americans west to the Pacific ocean, it now seemed only natural to look farther west towards the Pacific.

Japan

Many American business leaders felt that we would benefit from trade with Japan and China.

Japanese leaders felt that contact with the west would destroy their culture. Only China and the Dutch

(Netherlands), were allowed to trade with Japan.

Commodore Perry

1852 – President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore Mathew C. Perry to negotiate trade with Japan.

July 8, 1853, four American warships, under Perry, entered what is now Tokyo Bay.

Upon seeing the advanced technology and firepower of America, Japan decided it was better to trade with America.

Japan also agreed to aid American ships by supplying them with wood, water, food, and coal. They would also lend aid when they were in trouble.

This trade treaty led to the modernization and industrialization of Japan. By the 1890’s, Japan would have its own powerful

navy.

Annexing Hawaii

Trade with Japan and other Asian countries led to the need for ports to refuel and resupply in on the way across the Pacific. Hawaii had been a popular resupply stop for

whaling ships and trade vessels for a long time. In 1819, American missionaries arrived in

Hawaii. American settlers followed and soon found that

sugarcane grew well in the Hawaiian soil and climate.

Businessmen soon had established many plantations.

Treaties between the U.S. and Hawaii exempted Hawaiian sugar from American tariffs. However, new laws in the U.S. made Hawaiian

sugar more expensive, hurting the planters’ profits.

Many prominent planters began pressuring the Hawaiian king to accept a constitution which would limit his authority.

Tensions began to rise between foreign planters and the Hawaiian monarchy. Planters felt the only way to secure their market was to have Hawaii become part of the U.S..

Queen Liliuokalani

1891 – Became the new queen of Hawaii. Tried to regain the power that she felt

American settlers had taken away from the monarchy.

In response planters, supported by American marines, forced Liliuokalani to step down.

A provisional government is set up in anticipation of being annexed into the U.S..

President Grover Cleveland opposed imperialism, so it took 5 years for annexation to occur.

Latin America

The U.S. bought raw materials from Latin America.

Latin America bought most of its manufactured goods from Europe.

American businesses and government officials wanted to increase the sale of American goods in Latin America. Wanted to show Europe who the

dominant power was in this region.

Pan-Americanism and the Pan-American Conference

1889 – America hosted the first Pan-American conference in Washington D.C. in order to discuss ways in which the various American nations could better work together for trade.

2 main goals

Form a customs union to reduce tariffs among American nations. This would push Latin America away from European products. (much like N.A.F.T.A today)

Set up a common system for settling disputes among the American nations. This would keep Europeans from meddling in American affairs.

Win/lose

While they did agree to cooperation, the Latin American delegates rejected the two goals of the conference.

However, the groundwork was laid for future cooperation between the U.S. and Latin America.

Overarching ????

What were the three main causes of American imperialism?

3 main causes of American imperialism. A desire for new markets for goods. A feeling of superiority. (Anglo-

Saxonism) (Manifest Destiny) Creation of new Military/Naval bases.

The “Splendid Little War”

Yellow Journalism

The practice of writing exaggerated, or even made up stories to attract readers.

The Spanish American War (1898)

By 1898, Cuba and Puerto Rico were Spain’s last remaining colonies in the Western Hemisphere.

Cubans periodically attempted to revolt against Spain.

Many Americans felt the Spanish were tyrants towards their colonies.

Cuba’s Appeal and Rebellion

Cuba, one of Spain’s oldest colonies in the Americas, produced nearly 1/3 of the world’s sugar in the mid-1800’s.

Before Spain outlawed slavery in 1886, 1/3 of Cubans were enslaved by plantation owners producing sugar.

Despite various attempts at rebellion, Spain maintained control. Many Cubans fled to the United States where they raised money, purchased weapons, and trained troops for an invasion of Cuba.

The U.S. Connection to Cuba

The United States had invested nearly $50 million in Cuba’s sugar plantations, mines, and railroads.

Cuba exported a lot of its sugar to the U.S. Despite this connection, the U.S. passed a

new sugar tariff in 1894 that brought distress to Cuban plantation owners.

Rebels took advantage of this distress and launched a new rebellion in 1895.

These rebels seized control of eastern Cuba and declared independence.

America’s Response

President Grover Cleveland initially declared the U.S. neutral .

Many Americans felt sympathetic for the Cubans and some began smuggling guns from Florida to Cuba.

Americans became increasingly angry at the Spanish after reading stories of their atrocities towards the Cubans.

Yellow Journalism

Many, if not most of the stories people were reading were sensationalized exaggerations meant to sell newspapers, not to help Cubans.

Two major newspapers competed for Sales. The New York Journal – Owned by

William Randolph Hearst. The New York World – Owned by Joseph

Pulitzer.

Hearst and Pulitzer

Stories from these papers included accounts of the Spanish feeding Cuban prisoners to sharks and dogs, and also of …

“blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood!”

Despite these invented stories, Cubans were suffering greatly.

200,000 Spanish troops were sent to put down the rebellion, led by General Valeriano Weyler. Weyler came to be known as “The Butcher”.

Weyler put hundreds of thousands of Cuban men, women, and children into “reconcentration camps” where tens of thousands died of starvation and disease.

Americans were enraged by news reports on these events.

Calls For War Following his election in 1896, President

William McKinley tried to avoid an American role in Cuba’s struggle, seeking instead to act as a negotiator.

McKinley did make it clear that the U.S. may intervene.

Spain removed “The Butcher”, and offered the Cubans self-government if they would remain part of the Spanish empire.

Rebels refused this offer.

America Joins In

In early 1898, McKinley sent the battleship U.S.S. Maine to Havana harbor in case Americans had to evacuate.

On February 9, 1898 a letter insulting McKinley was intercepted from the Spanish Ambassador to the U.S., and printed in the New York Journal.

On February 15, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine explodes and sinks while sitting in Havana Harbor. No one knows why. Some believe a coal bunker ignited, some

believe a Spanish mine was struck, others believed it was sabotaged by either the Spanish or even by Cubans trying to gain U.S. support.

In 1898, many Americans, thanks to the dramatic newspaper accounts, believed the Spanish were to blame.

“Remember the Maine” became the battle cry for war hawks.

Congress authorized preparations for war, and on April 19, 1898, Congress recognized Cuban Independence.

These actions by Congress draw a declaration of war from Spain.

Overarching Question???

What were 4 things which caused American public opinion to swing towards war with Spain in Cuba? Hearst’s and Pulitzer’s yellow journalism

reports of Spanish atrocities in Cuba U.S. economic involvement in Cuba The Spanish ambassador’s insulting

letter about President McKinley The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine

War!!

America Attacks on Two Fronts

The Philippines Not only did the U.S. navy blockade Cuba,

but Commodore Dewey attacked the Spanish fleet based in the Philippines (also a Spanish colony).

Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, then worked with Filipino rebels to capture the rest of the islands.

On their way to the Philippines, American troops seized another Spanish colony at Guam.

Cuba Neither the Spanish, nor the Americans

were ready for war. American volunteers were many, but

because of poor conditions in training camps (due to unpreparedness) more volunteers died of diseases then would actually die in battle. (chart pg. 270)

Despite complications, 17,000 troops landed near Santiago, Cuba, including a group known as the “Rough Riders”,

The “Rough Riders” mixed group of cowboys, miners, and western law men, along with New York city boys.

One leader of this group was future president Theodore Roosevelt.

After Americans attacked and captured the village of El Caney, they moved on to capture the San Juan Heights which included San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill. At Kettle Hill, Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough

Riders” were accompanied by the 9th and 10th cavalry units, all black units led by “Black Jack” Pershing.

(John Pershing would later be the leader of American troops in WWI)

Spain’s On The Run Panicked by the American victories, the

Spanish commander in Santiago ordered the Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor to flee.

July 3, 1898 – As the Spanish fleet exited the harbor Waiting American warships attacked them,

sinking or beaching every one of them. Two weeks later the Spanish in Santiago

surrendered. While they were on a roll, American

troops occupied the nearby Spanish Colony of Puerto Rico.

Terms of PeaceThe Treaty of Paris – Dec.

10, 1898 Spanish turn over Guam and Puerto

Rico to the U.S. Cuba given their independence. President McKinley decided to annex

the Philippines to the U.S., agreeing to pay $20 million to Spain for them.

(Quote, pg. 274)

The U.S. was now an imperial power.

Platt Amendment Despite having granted Cuban

independence, the U.S. introduces the Platt Amendment to the Cuban constitution. Cuba could not make treaties with another

nation which would weaken its independence.

Cuba had to allow the U.S. to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba.

Cuba had to keep its debts low to prevent foreign countries from landing troops to enforce payment.

The U.S. would have the right to intervene to protect Cuban independence and keep order.

Puerto Rico

Gradually gained more and more rights.

In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship.

This began a debate over whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state.

This debate continues today.

Filipino Anger America’s annexation of the Philippines

led to another rebellion by the Filipinos who felt betrayed by America.

The rebellion was put down, sadly through many of the same tactics which the Spanish had used. (Recall your reading of American brutality in

the Philippines) In 1946, following World War II, the U.S.

finally gave the Philippines their independence.

New American Diplomacy

Sphere of Influence

An area in a country where a foreign nation controls the economic developments, such as railroad construction and mining, as well as trade.

Open Door Policy

Agreement between industrialized countries, which allowed all countries to trade with China without interference from each other.

American Diplomacy in Asia

By 1899, the U.S. had established itself as a major power in Asia.

This is partly due to having the third largest navy in the world, with naval bases all across the Pacific.

America’s main interest in Asia is trade.1895-1900, American exports to China

quadrupled.

Open Door Policy

1894- War erupts between China and Japan over Korea (which was part of China at the time).

Japan defeated China easily.This showed two things…

Japan had industrialized and mastered western technology very well.

China was far weaker than anyone had thought.

As a result of the war… Korea gains independence. Territory in Manchuria is given to

Japan.

Russian Concerns Russia was worried about Japan’s rising power. Japan’s new territory in Manchuria bordered

Russia. Russia, backed by France and Germany, forced

Japan to return Manchuria to China. Russia then demanded that China lease

Manchuria to it. Taking advantage of China’s weakness,

Germany, France, and England also demanded leaseholds in China. Each leasehold became the center for a

foreign country’s “sphere of influence”.

American Response

American politicians and businessmen became concerned about American trade interests in China.

President McKinley supported an Open Door Policy, which would allow all countries to trade with China.

McKinley had Sec. of State John Hay send notes to the nations with “Spheres of Influence” in China, requesting that they support the Open Door Policy.

All agreed.

The Boxer Rebellion

Secret Chinese societies began to organize to fight the foreign intruders.

One of these secret societies, the “society of Harmonious Fists”, is referred to by the westerners as the Boxers.

The Boxers decided in 1900, that they were going to destroy both the foreigners, and those Chinese who had become Christians.

During the Boxer Rebellion, Boxers and some Chinese troops, attacked foreign embassies in Beijing and Tianjin.

200 foreigners are killed, many are taken prisoner.

When the German ambassador to China was killed, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the U.S. intervene with a force of nearly 50,000 troops.

This force puts down the rebellion, and the foreign nations agreed not to divide China.

This allows the U.S. to maintain its access to China’s trade in tea, silk, and spices. It also keeps a market for American

goods open in China.

Election of 1900 William McKinley won reelection. His

Vice-President was Teddy Roosevelt (TR). While visiting Buffalo, New York,

McKinley is shot twice by an anarchist who opposed all types of government.

McKinley died from his wounds, and Teddy Roosevelt became President.

This leads to big changes in American foreign policy.

Overarching Question????

What was the purpose of the Open Door Policy?

The Open Door Policy would ensure that all nations had access to China’s markets for trade. All of the foreign nations with a Sphere of Influence in China were free to conduct trade and development in China without fear of interference from other foreign nations.

Teddy Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)

Theodore = Teddy = TR Charismatic leader. Hero from the Spanish American War. At 42, he is the youngest President. Republicans had hoped to capitalize on

TR’s good reputation, however, they didn’t want him to actually have any power.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Views

Favored increasing American power on the world stage.

Believed the U.S. had a duty to shape the “less civilized” corners of the earth.

Supported the Open Door Policy in China, and worked to keep any one nation from monopolizing trade there.

Won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for helping to negotiate a peace between Japan and Russia (who had started another war in 1905)

The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal

Teddy Roosevelt stressed a strong global military presence.

“Speak softly but carry a big stick” This was how Teddy Roosevelt expressed

his belief that a display of American military power would make others think twice about taking America on, and therefore would promote peace.

To help display this power, TR began pushing for a canal through Central America, which would save time and money for both American businesses, and the military.

Pinpointing a Location

In 1901, the U.S. and Great Britain signed a treaty which gave the U.S. the exclusive right to build a canal through Central America.

Earlier efforts by the French to dig a canal through Panama, had failed due to bankruptcy and death from disease.

The U.S. had considered two locations for a canal. Nicaragua Panama

When the French company that had started to dig in Panama offered to sell its rights and property to the U.S., the decision was made.

The Problem

Panama was part of Columbia during this time.

Despite an offer of $10 million plus $250,000 a year for rent to Columbia, they refused, fearing the loss of control of Panama.

Independence for Panama

Panamanians did not want to lose out on the business benefits of the canal.

Panama had already opposed Columbian rule. An under the table deal is made.

An uprising is arranged in Panama. To prevent Columbian interference, TR sent

warships to the area. Nov. 3, 1903, the revolt (supported by 10 U.S.

warships) happens, resulting in Panama’s independence.

A treaty is signed allowing the canal to be built by the U.S.

Protests in the U.S. and Latin America condemned TR’s actions.

Roosevelt defended himself, saying that he had advanced “the needs of collective civilization” by shortening the distance between the Atlantic and pacific oceans by ~ 8,000 nautical miles.

The Roosevelt Corollary

Massive debts owed by Latin American countries to European banks, led to American officials being concerned about European meddling in this region.

This fear prompted TR to issue the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

Monroe Doctrine Issued by President James Monroe in

1823. Due to fear of European encroachment on

American territory, The Monroe Doctrine warned Europe that the American continents were “Closed” to colonization by Europe, specifically in Latin America.

The “Roosevelt Corollary” Goal of the Corbollary is to prevent Europe

from using the Latin American debt issue as an excuse to intervene in Latin America.

Established America as a global policing power. America began exercising its new

policing role as an excuse to intervene and correct debt problems in Latin America.

(Quote Pg. 280)

$ Dollar Diplomacy $

Latin America began to resent American influence.

TR’s successor, William Howard Taft, continued Roosevelt’s policies, although he sought less military influence, and more business influence.

Taft felt that if American businesses supported Latin American development… We would all benefit from the new trade and

profits. Latin America would rise out of its poverty

and social disorder. This approach came to be known as

“Dollar diplomacy”. American banks also began to replace

Latin American loans from Europe with new American loans This further reduced Europe’s reasons for

involvement in Latin America.

Overarching Question???

Why did the U.S. choose to get involved in Latin America?

The U.S. intervened in Latin America in order to protect its economic trade interests, and also to keep European countries from meddling in Latin America.