18.3: Acquiring New Lands

OBJECTIVE: Understand how US imperialism developed. Identify how the US acquired Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines

• Puerto Rico LOSES independence when it is acquired by US during Spanish-American War. (Luis Munoz Rivera)

• Some Puerto Ricans initially welcome US.– However: Harsh military rule (no alcohol, tobacco, free

press) led to calls for independence– US’s Foraker Act denies PR citizenship and self-

determination. Allows the US President to appoint governor and upper house of legislature (WHY?)

• Puerto Ricans granted citizenship in 1917. Remains a territory of US.

US INVOLVEMENT IN PUERTO RICO

CUBAUS intends Cuba to become independent Teller

Amendment (part of Declaration of war) states that US will not annex or control Cuba.

US brings many improvementsbut it does NOT grant full independence.

US writes Platt Amendment.Cuba can’t make treatiesUS can intervene to protect order and Ind.Cuba can’t go into debtUS can lease land for naval bases coaling station

Cuba becomes a US protectorate.

CUBA• US seeks to control Cuba to protect American

businesses there (sugar, mining, tobacco)– From 50 mil (1898) to 218 mil (1918)

• Marines return to Cuba 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922.

• US establishes naval bases at Guantanamo Bay.• US troops back conservative Cuban leaders

friendly to US and US business.

What was the purpose of Platt Amendment?

• February 1901. • It allowed the United States "the right to

intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty..."

• In effect until 1934

What was the purpose of the Teller Amendment?• Assure Cubans and European powers that

American intervention was not an “imperial” land grab.

• stated that the United States, "hereby disclaims any disposition of intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people."

• Was it observed?

“And one night it came to me this way-I don’t know how it was, but it came: (1) that we could not give them back to Spain – that would be cowardly and dishonorable; (2) that we could not turn them over to France or Germany-our commercial rivals in the Orient that would be bad business and discreditable; (3) that we could not leave them to themselves – the were unfit for self-government and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain’s was; and (4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate they Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died. And then I went to bed, and went to sleep and slept soundly.”

-President McKinley; reflecting on what to do with the Philippines after the Spanish American war.

MOTIVATING IDEAS OF IMPERIALISM

ALTRUISM

COMMERCE

RACIAL SUPERIORITY

NATIONAL HONOR

Emilio Aguinaldo

• Father of Filipino independence• Fought Spanish, Americans, and Japanese• Leads resistance against colonization

PHILIPPINES RESIST EMPIREHow was the Philippines different from Cuba?• Emilio Aguinaldo• Guerilla war• Re-concentration camps• Atrocities• Forced Americanization• 70,000 US troops sent to Philippines• Remains protectorate until July 4, 1946.

CASUALTY FIGURES:• U.S.-- 4,234 dead and 2,818 wounded.

• Filipino -- 20,000 military dead and 200,000 civilians killed. (approximate numbers). Some historians estimate as many as 500,000 killed.

• Cost US 400 Million and lasted 3 years

US IN CHINAWhy did the US support the Open Door?1. US wanted exports to China

- especially to build railroads.

2. US wanted to protect the “free market” abroad- US Secretary of State John Hay proposes

“Open Door” policy = free market and continued Chinese independence

3. Did not want US to fall behind European Powers- France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Russia, and

Dutch are busy “carving” up China as its empire weakens

Did the Open Door policy work?Sort of…

• Ignored by Great Powers• Boxer Rebellion - 1900 • US now entangled in China

Boxer Rebellion“The Boxers, or "The Righteous and Harmonious Fists," were a religious society that had originally rebelled against the imperial government in Shantung in 1898. They practiced an animistic magic of rituals and spells which they believed made them impervious to bullets and pain. The Boxers believed that the expulsion of foreign devils would magically renew Chinese society and begin a new golden age. Much of their discontent, however, was focused on the economic scarcity of the 1890's. They were a passionate and confident group, full of contempt for authority and violent emotions.” http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/BOXER.HTM

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/peopleevents/images/pande25.jpg

ELECTION OF 1900PAGE 541

The election is also a “referendum” on imperialism.

What are the arguments for US imperialism?

What are the arguments against it?

What argument do you find persuasive? Why?

18.4 America as a World Power

What were the key differences about how Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson used American power around the world?