American Imperialism

Mr. Owens

Essential Questions

• What drove the United States to become an imperial power at the end of the 19th century?

• What caused the United States to declare war on Spain in 1898?

• What were the significant political, economic and diplomatic effects of the American victory in the Spanish-American War?

• How did American Imperialism cause a debate over America’s role in the world, and what were the main imperialist and anti-imperialist arguments, and later interventionists and isolationists?

Causes of “New” Imperialism

1. Commercial/Business interests: expand trade to new markets

2. Military Interests: Alfred Thayer Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890) expand navy need for bases and coaling stations

3. Competition with other empires: Britain, France, Germany, Russia & Japan

4. Racial Theories: Social Darwinism (International Darwinism) “White Man’s Burden”

5. Missionaries: Reverend Josiah Strong’s Our Country (1885) duty to civilize to “uplift & Christianize”

6. Closing of the western frontier7. Republicans Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore

Roosevelt advocated global expansion8. Popular Press: yellow journalism advocated

exotic and Hearst & Pulitzer

Alaska & Hawaii• William Seward (Sec of State for Lincoln &

Johnson 1861-1869) – annexed Midway Island– gained rights to build a canal in Nicaragua– Drove Napoleon III & France out of Mexico– purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for

$7.2 million – ridiculed as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” until Klondike Gold Rush

• Hawaii: American missionaries and businessmen (sugar) had developed Hawaii since 1850s – Queen Liliuokalani “Hawaii for Hawaiians”

but Sanford Dole & American Marines overthrew her and declared Republic of Hawaii in 1893

– Cleveland opposed annexation– McKinley supported annexation during

Spanish American War in 1898, official US territory in 1900, 50th state in 1959

U.S. & Latin America

• Monroe Doctrine 1823• James Blaine as Harrison’s Secretary

of State goal of expanding US role• Pan-American Conference (1889)

organization of trade & international cooperation

• Cleveland evoked Monroe Doctrine 1896 when British Guiana threatened Venezuela

• US private interests expanded in Central America and Caribbean: especially Mexico & Cuba

Causes of Spanish-American War

• US desire for empire & Spanish decline• Cuban Revolt “Cuba Libre!” led by Jose Marti & Spanish

oppression under General Valeriano Weyler “The Butcher”• Jingoism in politics & Yellow Press: Hearst’s New York

Journal & Pulitzer’s New York World competed with sensationalism

• De Lome Letter 1898 Spanish foreign minister Dupuy De Lome critical of McKinley

• U.S.S. Maine: Feb 1898 exploded in Havana harbor killing 260 Americans “Remember the Maine to Hell with Spain!”

• McKinley’s War Message - American should intervene to:1. “Put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and

horrible miseries” in Cuba.2. Protect American lives and property in Cuba3. Protect American commerce4. End the “constant menace to our peace” arising from the

disorder in Cuba.

• Congress voted for war but only w/ Teller Amendment guaranteeing Cuban independence.

“That Splendid Little War” - John Hay• Surprise: May 1st, First attack by Commodore

George Dewey at Manila Bay (ordered by Teddy Roosevelt as Asst. Sec of Navy), captured Manila with Filipino rebels

• Invasion of Cuba: ill-prepared and equipped, 5,000 died from malaria, typhoid & dysentery but only 500 from battle– Rough Riders led by Teddy Roosevelt take San

Juan Hill– Spanish fleet destroyed at Santiago Bay on July

3rd • Treaty of Paris of 1898

1. Cuban Independence2. US gains Puerto Rico & Guam3. US acquires The Philippines for $20 million

• “Philippine Question” Filipinos led by Emilio Aguinaldo expected independence, but Republicans decide no

Other Results of War• Rise of the Anti-Imperialist League headed by

William Jennings Bryan, Mark Twain & Andrew Carnegie

• The Philippine War 1899-1902: Americans sent 200,000 troops, 4,300 killed but at many as 250,000 killed, Aguinaldo captured

• Insular Cases: Did citizenship follow the flag? Anti-Imperialist “Yes” Supreme Court answers: “No.”

• Platt Amendment: despite Cuban “independence” US troops occupied Cuba and forced agreement: 1. Restricted ability to sign treaties 2. permit the US to intervene to preserve “law and order” and economic woes 3. US right to build naval base and coaling station at Guantanamo Bay

• Election of 1900: Rematch Bryan vs. McKinley a referendum on imperialism. McKinley larger margin of victory

• United States becomes a true imperial power

Open Door Policy in China• Sec of State John Hay’s Open Door

Notes in 1899 guaranteeing all nations equal access to markets in China

• Boxer Rebellion 1900 Chinese resented foreign spheres of influence and domination – “Society of Harmonious Fists” attacked missionaries and businessmen. International force crushed rebellion in Peking (Beijing)

• Hay’s Notes Round 2: US commitment to 1. China “independence” 2. “Equal and impartial trade” with China