Ch. 10 – U.S. Imperialism

Expansionism in the 1800s

• Manifest Destiny– The notion that Americans are superior and

had the right to control all of N. America• OR Territory• Mexican Cession• Purchase of Florida and Alaska• Native Americans killed or forced off their land

An arrogant attitude led us to look for new frontiers to conquer

From Expansionism to Imperialism

• U.S. businesses looked for new markets for their goods.– Foreign trade became central to the nation’s

economic health and prosperity– A strong and powerful navy would be

necessary to secure and protect these foreign interests (Alfred T. Mahan)

– Roosevelt issues the “Roosevelt Corollary” which re-asserts the Monroe Doctrine, warning European nations to stay out of “our” hemisphere.

• Some Americans saw the U.S. as a model country that had a moral obligation to spread its democratic and Christian values to people in other lands.– “The White Man’s Burden” –Rudyard Kipling

• The notion that Anglo-Saxons have an ‘instinct for colonizing’ and a duty to “lift up” peoples from “uncivilized” non-European societies.

• Debate over imperialism (Imperialists vs. Anti-Imperialists)– It may invite war or violate deeply-held American principles

such as self-determination

Revolution in Cuba

• Cuban people had long struggle for indep. from Spain.

• U.S. interest in Cuba heightened b/c of geographic location and ideals of freedom / democracy.

• Jose Marti gains support and Cuban rebels begin to fight for indep. Horrible situation developed as war raged.– Starvation, hunger, poverty, disease results in

“reconcentration” towns and camps.

• Americans keep watch and grow concerned about investments there + repressive conditions

• McKinley wants to avoid war but the Maine incident propels us into war with Spain– The USS Maine anchored in Havana Harbor

explodes, killing 260 Americans.– U.S. blames a Spanish mine and declares war,

with the rallying cry for revenge – “Remember the Maine”. (it was actually a fire in the munitions hold of the ship that caused the explosion)

Yellow Journalism Pushes the U.S. Toward War

• Newspapers exaggerate stories about Cuban atrocities and feed growing war sentiment against Spain.

• McKinley & Congress call for war after Spain does not agree to U.S. & Cuban demands.

• Spanish American War begins April 19, 1898

War in the Philippines

• U.S. Navy sinks all ten of Spain’s ships in Manila, then sends in ground troops to reinforce Aguinaldo’s rebels there.

• After Spanish forces were defeated, Aguinaldo hoped for Philippine independence, but U.S. simply replaced Spain as the occupying force.

The War Moves to Cuba

• U.S. troops, including many Af.-Americans fight against Spanish troops

• Rough Riders, including Teddy Roosevelt, charge San Juan Hill and take the important fort.

• 2 days later, Spain tries to flee but the harbor blockade and strong U.S. Navy destroy Spanish fleet, ending the Spanish resistance in Cuba.

• U.S. turns to Puerto Rico and easily conquers feeble Spanish resistance there.

“Splendid Little War”

• 4-month long war was hardly splendid for the soldiers. 385 Americans killed in action and over 5,000 killed by malaria, yellow fever, and food poisoning (remember how canned meat was tainted back then?)

• Roosevelt came out a war hero and gained much notoriety for his efforts.

The Buffalo Soldiers

• Efforts of Rough Riders and white soldiers received most attention from newspapers, but 9th and 10th Cavalries – all black units – were extremely successful (many historians agree that the “buffalo soldiers” saved Roosevelt’s men from annihilation). Having fought bravely, African Americans returned to repressive, segregated conditions in the south.