America Creates an Empire

US extending its power economically,

politically, and militarily over other

nations

Economically-U.S. needs raw materials to produce goods and they need markets to sell them in.

Militarily-U.S. needs a strong Navy to protect shipping lanes (trade routes) and bases for ships to refuel and re-supply

Politically-U.S. needs to spread democracy

Ethnocentrism-Some people argued that the US had the responsibility to spread Christianity and civilization to the world’s inferior people (cultural superiority)

Capitalism leads directly to

imperialism

Exporting goods is most important

Intervention in other country’s affairs is permitted to keep markets open

U.S. survival is threatened if foreign markets are closed

Fought over Cuba. Cuba was politically and economically

unstable.

The US had millions of dollars invested in Cuba’s sugar market.

Cubans were dependent on US for a stable economy.

b. Under Spanish rule, Cubans had a history of

rebellion. As resentment towards

Spain grew, the threat of war escalated.

i. Jose Marti-launched a revolution in 1895. To provoke American intervention he deliberately destroyed American property including sugar mills and plantations

ii. Valeriano Weyler-Spanish General sent to calm the resistance. He moved Cubans into concentration camps where over 300,000 Cubans died of starvation and disease.

iii. Yellow Journalism-reporting that exaggerates the news to

attract readers; uses sensational headlines and

photos.1. reports of “the butcher”

(Weyler) killing innocent children deepened American

Sympathy for the Cuban revolt.

iv. De Lome Letter-President McKinley tried to work things out diplomatically with Spain. All was fine until a letter, written by the Spanish Minister (De Lome), was leaked to the press by a Cuban rebel. The letter criticized the President. “Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said of Weyler, it shows once more what McKinley is: weak and catering to the rabble, and, besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party. “

1. Americans become angry with Spain

v. Battle of San Juan Hill1. The Rough Riders under

the command of Theodore Roosevelt charged up San Juan Hill and took it (with the help of the black Night and Tenth Calvaries who opened the way)

vi. USS Maine-Sent to protect American interests in Cuba1. It explodes killing 260

Americans2. The press blamed

Spain

vii. “A Spledid Little War”1. Public opinion favored the war2. Lasted 16 weeks (4 months)3. 5400 Americans lost their

lives-only 385 of those were killed in action

4. African American troops were not recognized

viii. Treaty of Paris1. Cuba became independent

(Spain no longer controls)a. Platt Amendment-limited

foreign interaction and gave US the right to a naval base in Cuba and the power to send troops to keep order

2. US gained Puerto Rico and Guam as territories

3. US annexed the Philippinesa. Paid $20 million to Spain to

have control of Philippine Islands-100,000 square miles and 10 million people

b. Islands would remain independent; however, US would appoint a Governor

4. America had an empire

A. Hawaii (1898)a. Pearl Harbor-used as a naval base and

refueling stationB. Puerto Rico and Guam (1898)C. Panama Canal (1904-1914)

a. Yellow fever, malaria and the bubonic plague were all common diseases workers contracted

b. It took 9 years to clear the brush and drain the swamps

c. 43,000 workers employedd. 5,600 died from accidents and diseasee. Cost to the US government = $380 million

A. “Open Door” policy with China-no single nation

could have a monopoly on trade with China, nations

reluctantly agreed to abide by this policy

1. China was and is considered a vast opportunity for America businesses to export their goods.

2. Boxer Rebellion-secret society in China that existed to expunge foreign devils from the land