Sea Power and MaritimeSea Power and Maritime Affairs Affairs

Lesson 8: The U.S. Navy and American Imperialism, 1898-1914

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Know the influence of the mass media in U.S. relations with Spain and the effect of the destruction of the U.S.S. Maine on public opinion.

Comprehend the impact of Mahanian doctrine on the naval strategy and thinking in preparation for and conduct of the war.

Comprehend the reasons for the acceleration of U.S. Navy expansion following the war with Spain.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Know the effect of the Progressive Era in domestic politics on the Navy.

Comprehend the threats and resultant actions taken by the U.S. concerning activities in the Pacific and Caribbean during the period 1900-1914.

The Spanish-American WarThe Spanish-American War

CausesCauses

Decreased isolationism in U.S. public and Congress

Cuban Revolution (1895-1898):– U.S. investments threatened– Spanish authorities commit atrocities against Cuban civilians– Sympathetic to Cubans

The FuzeThe Fuze

USS Maine Explosion - February 1898:– Havana, Cuba.– Mission — protect U.S. citizens and property.– U.S. public angered - blame placed on Spain.

“Free Cuba!”“Remember the Maine!”

President William McKinley– Congress declares war on Spain -- April 1898.

USS USS MaineMaine

Havana, Havana, Cuba Cuba

February February 18981898

Fighting the WarFighting the War

Geography– Spanish Empire- Cuba, Puerto Rico,

Philippines, Guam– U.S. strategic interests

Panama Canal, Hawaii

U.S forces– Atlantic: Sampson/Schley– Asiatic: Dewey (China/Japan)

President President William William

McKinleyMcKinley

Naval Orders of BattleNaval Orders of Battle United States

– North Atlantic SquadronSampson based in Key West.Schley’s “Flying Squadron” in Norfolk.USS Oregon sent from Pacific to Atlantic.

– Asiatic SquadronCommanded by Commodore George Dewey at Hong Kong.

– Sent by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt.

Spain– Inferior naval forces.

Montojo - Manila BayCervera - Cape Verde Islands

Fighting the WarFighting the War

Cuba– Blockade of Santiago harbor (1 May)– Amphibious landing at Daiquiri (June 20)– Destruction of Cevera’s Fleet (July 3)

Sampson/Schley command controversy Naval Results

Rear Rear AdmiralAdmiral

William T.William T.SampsonSampson

CommanderCommander

North Atlantic North Atlantic SquadronSquadron

Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralWinfield ScottWinfield Scott

SchleySchley

CommanderCommander

North AtlanticNorth AtlanticFlying SquadronFlying Squadron

Spanish-AmericanSpanish-AmericanWarWar

AdmiralAdmiralPascual Pascual CerveraCervera

Commander

Spanish Fleet

Battle of Santiago de Cuba

Battle of SantiagoBattle of Santiago American blockade of Santiago Harbor.

– Guantanamo Bay seized by Huntington’s battalion of Marines. Amphibious landing at Daiquiri.

– Confusion between Army and Navy: Shafter and Sampson. Rough Riders’ Teddy Roosevelt.

– Leads charge at the Battle of San Juan Hill. Spanish governor orders fleet to flee harbor - 1 July 1898.

– Sampson / Schley command controversy. Results and lessons:

– Spanish home fleet recalled while en route to the Philippines– U.S. technological superiority overwhelms Spanish.– U.S. becomes dominant power in the Caribbean Sea.– Improvement needed in fire control and amphibious doctrine.

TheThe“Rough Riders”“Rough Riders”

Battle of San Juan Hill

1 July 1898

Teddy Roosevelt

Rough RidersRough Riders

USSUSS Oregon Oregon Battle of SantiagoBattle of Santiago

Battle of SantiagoBattle of Santiago

Fighting the WarFighting the War

Pacific– Philippines: Phase I

Dewey’s Descent Spanish Fleet sunk at anchor Dewey national Hero Siege of Manila

CommodoreCommodoreGeorgeGeorgeDeweyDewey

CommanderCommanderU.S. Asiatic U.S. Asiatic SquadronSquadron

Spanish-American Spanish-American WarWar

AdmiralAdmiralDon PatricioDon Patricio

MontojoMontojo

Commander

Spanish Fleet

Battle of Manila Bay

Battle of Manila BayBattle of Manila Bay1 May 18981 May 1898

U.S. Asiatic Fleet sails from Hong Kong to Manila.– Dewey orders increased training and gunnery practice.

Spanish use shore guns to augment anchored fleet. Dewey: “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.”

– Spanish fleet sunk at anchor.– Superior American gunnery.

Dewey becomes a national hero. Siege of Manila follows with Army troops. War against Aguinaldo's Philippine Nationalists.

– Philippine Insurrection or Filipino-American War- 1899-1902.– U.S. establishes control of entire Philippine Archipelago.

Battle of Manila BayBattle of Manila Bay

Bataan

ManilaManila Bay

Philippines

Dewey from Hong Kong

. MANILA

Battle of Manila BayBattle of Manila Bay

BattleBattleofof

Manila BayManila Bay

“You may fire when “You may fire when ready, Gridley.”ready, Gridley.”

- CommodoreGeorge Dewey

CaptainCaptainCharles V.Charles V.

GridleyGridley

CommandingCommandingOfficerOfficer

USS USS OlympiaOlympia

BattleBattleofof

Manila BayManila Bay

Battle of Manila BayBattle of Manila Bay

1 May 1898

CommodoreCommodoreGeorge George DeweyDewey

Battle of Manila BayBattle of Manila Bay

Battle of Manila BayBattle of Manila BayDewey’s Flagship

Fighting the WarFighting the War

Pacific– Philippines: Phase I

Dewey’s Descent Spanish Fleet sunk at anchor Dewey national Hero Siege of Manila

– Other islands- Wake seized, Guam seized, Hawaii annexed

– Philippines: Phase II War against Philippine Nationalists U.S. bogged down

U.S. “Empire” EstablishedU.S. “Empire” Established From Spain in 1898:

– Puerto Rico– Guam– Philippines– Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba(Spain sells other island territories in the Pacific to the German

Empire in 1899.)

Formerly Independent: – Hawaii (Annexed 1898)– Wake Island - 1899– “American” Samoa (Harbor of Pago Pago) - 1899

American Pacific TerritoriesAmerican Pacific TerritoriesCoaling Stations for ShipsCoaling Stations for Ships

U.S. Navy after the WarU.S. Navy after the War Battle Ships principle warship Mahan's advocacy of fleet engagements vindicated.

– Commerce raiding discredited. Construction programs to be completed by 1905:

– 10 first-rate battleships.– 4 armored cruisers.

Global empire yields:– Overseas bases.– Expanded obligations to protect overseas interests.

Dewey heads new Navy General Board.– First U.S. peacetime strategic planning apparatus.– Missions are to devise war plans and assess foreign navies’ capabilities.

Progressive Era Politics Progressive Era Politics (1901-(1901-1914)1914)

Strong Presidents:– Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow

Wilson. Republican Congress funds battleships and canal

construction.– Large increases in federal budget.– Large increase in percentage of federal budget for

Department of the Navy. Dewey and General Board

– Access to Secretary of the Navy and / or the President on a regular basis due to increased importance of the Navy.

Prewar International ConcernsPrewar International Concerns1900-19141900-1914

Expanding Interests of Germany, U.S. attention to Caribbean

Expanding Interests of Japan, U.S. attention in Pacific

The CaribbeanThe Caribbean

Threat: Germany– U.S. has stake in Caribbean

Annexation of Puerto Rico Naval base in Cuba

– Germany has strong interest in Latin America– Venezuela Crisis (1902)

Germany wants base there Germany (plus Britain, Italy) blockades to recover

from default on 12.5 million loan

Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe DoctrineDoctrine

Caribbean Sea– Vital defense of the U.S. - Navy protects access to

Panama Canal. European relations with Latin America.

– Venezuela Crisis (1902) demonstrates need for U.S. to ensure European powers need not intervene in Western Hemisphere.

““The Big Stick”The Big Stick”

Theodore Roosevelt (December 1904):– U.S. obligated “in flagrant cases of wrong-doing or

impotence (in Latin America) to the exercise of an international police power.”

Constant interventions by Navy and Marines:– Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.– Cuba - Platt Amendment.– Vera Cruz, Mexico.

“Yankee Imperialism” despised by many Latin Americans.

Panama CanalPanama Canal Renewed U.S. desire for canal in Central America.

– Link between Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.Need for the canal is highlighted by USS Oregon’s long

transit to the Battle of Santiago.

Strong support from President Theodore Roosevelt.– Essentially Mahanian

Panama CanalPanama Canal Panamanian Revolution against Colombia - 1903.

– Engineered and influenced by U.S.– Panama Canal Zone ceded to U.S.

Construction of the canal begins in 1904.– Completed in 1914.

Increased importance of U.S. control of Caribbean Sea.– Protection of Panama Canal is vital to defense of the

U.S.

U.S. Interests in the Far EastU.S. Interests in the Far East

War Plan Orange– U.S. Navy plan for war with Japan.– Defense of the Philippines and defeat of the Japanese Navy.

The Open DoorThe Open Door

U.S. “Open Door” policy in China:– Policy has two aspects.

(1) Ensure territorial integrity of China.

(2) Ensure free trade in China for all countries.– China’s Boxer Rebellion - 1900

U.S. Marine Regiment attached to U.S. Army force protecting Westerners.

– Counter European and Japanese attempts at “spheres of influence”.

Yangtze River Patrol - U.S. gunboats protect American commerce.

The Rise of Japanese Sea The Rise of Japanese Sea PowerPower

Opening and ModernizationOpening and Modernization Commodore M.C. Perry - 1854

– Treaty of Kanagawa– European powers quickly follow U.S. lead.

Meiji Restoration - 1868– End of Tokugawa Shogunate’s feudal system.– Emperor restored to power.

Increased trade with the West. Rapid modernization of industry and armed forces. Colonial expansion begins on Pacific Islands. Japanese Navy

– From the Age of Galleys directly to the Modern Age.– Skips entirely the Age of Sail.

Sino-Japanese WarSino-Japanese War1894-951894-95

Conflict with China– Ryukus– Taiwan– Korea

Japanese make a surprise first strike.– Prior to declaration of war.

Battle of the Yalu:– Chinese fleet takes “V” formation.– Japanese divide fleet into two squadrons.

Outcome: Expansion of Japanese Empire in East Asia.– Korea– Taiwan (Formosa) and Pescadores– Port Arthur

Battle of the Yalu - 17 September 1894Battle of the Yalu - 17 September 1894

AdmiralAdmiralHeihachiro Heihachiro

TogoTogo

Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War 1904-051904-05 Japan forced to withdraw from Korea and Port Arthur Russian Expansion into the Far East

– Trans-Siberian Railway Chinese allow Russian construction through Manchuria.

– Russian Naval Base at Vladivostok Port Arthur and Manchuria

– Occupied by Russian forces. Korea threatened. Anglo-Japanese Alliance - 1902

– Attempt by Japan to keep European powers out of the war. Japanese strike first again. Battle of the Yellow Sea.

Russian Russian WarshipWarship

ss

Russian Battleship Russian Battleship NavarinNavarin

Japanese Battleship Japanese Battleship MikasaMikasa

Japanese Battleship Japanese Battleship AsahiAsahi

Japanese Battleship Japanese Battleship ShikishimaShikishima

Japanese Armored Cruiser Japanese Armored Cruiser YakumaYakuma

Balance of PowerBalance of PowerJapan Disadvantages

– Number of Troops– Fleet Strength– Natural Resources

Advantages– Strategic Center

– Multiple Naval Bases

– First Strike

Russia Advantages

– Number of Troops– Fleet Strength– Natural Resources

Disadvantages– Division of Forces

Three Fleets– Lines of Communication

Trans-Siberian RR– Initial Defensive Strategy

Battle of Tsushima StraitBattle of Tsushima Strait Baltic Fleet commanded by Admiral Zinovi Rozhestvenski.

– Transit to Vladivostok.– Protection of supply ships.

Vice Admiral Heihachiro Togo– Togo “Crosses the T” -- Decisive Japanese victory.

Lessons learned:– Rear Admiral Nebogatov - Surrender not an option.– Heavy armor and guns.– Semi-independent divisions.– Dividing the fleet.

Treaty of Portsmouth - President Theodore Roosevelt:– Port Arthur and Southern Sakhalin ceded to Japan.– Japan becomes the dominant power in the Far East.

Increases in U.S. Naval PowerIncreases in U.S. Naval Power

By 1898– 4 1st Class Battleships: Indiana, Massachusetts, Oregon, and

Iowa.– 2 2nd Class Battleships: Texas and Maine.– 2 Armored Cruisers.– 10 Protected Cruisers.– Gunboats, Monitors, Torpedo Boats.

Modern technology in the fleet:– Steam, armor, and rifled breech-loading guns.

PresidentPresidentTheodore Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

andand

Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralRobley D. “Fighting Robley D. “Fighting

Bob” Bob” EvansEvans

Prior to the sailing of Prior to the sailing of the Great White Fleet - the Great White Fleet -

1907.1907.

The Great White FleetThe Great White Fleet

Route of the Great White Fleet – Route of the Great White Fleet – 1907-081907-08

Technology Technology ImprovementsImprovements

Improved gunnery:– Smokeless powder.

HMS Dreadnought - 1907– First all “big-gun” battleship launched by Great Britain.– Makes all other battleships obsolete.

Battle Cruisers– Same armament as dreadnoughts but less armor.– Faster speeds.

Destroyers - Vital part of fleet - protection from torpedoes. Submarines

– USS Holland - 1900– Diesel engines developed allow greater maneuverability.

Radios - Improved communications.

HMS HMS DreadnoughtDreadnought- First all “big gun” - First all “big gun”

Battleship.Battleship. - Eight 12-inch guns. - Eight 12-inch guns.

HMSHMS Dreadnought Dreadnought

HMS HMS DreadnoughtDreadnought

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

17 December 1903

Wright BrothersWright Brothers

USS Birmingham (CL 2)

14 November 1910

Eugene ElyEugene Ely

How it all Started!!!How it all Started!!!

Dawn of Naval AviationDawn of Naval Aviation

Wright Brothers -- Kitty Hawk, North Carolina: 1903

Eugene Ely– First flight of an aircraft from a ship in 1910.– First landing of an aircraft on a ship in 1911.

Glenn Curtiss - First seaplane landing - 1911. Lieutenant “Spuds” Ellyson: Naval Aviator #1. Royal Navy in a similar stage of development in

aviation.

Dawn of Naval AviationDawn of Naval Aviation

Birthday of Naval Aviation: 8 May 1911.– U.S. Navy purchases two Curtiss biplanes.

Office of Naval Aeronautics established in 1914. Early naval aviation missions:

– Scouting location of the enemy fleet.– Directing naval gunfire.

Discussion

Next time: The U.S. Navy and World War I, 1914-1918