American Imperialism

Spanish-American War:Analyzing Primary Documents

• Read Historical Background aloud as a class• Individually, analyze your assigned primary

document (answer questions on a separate sheet of paper)

• Discuss as a class

“Who Destroyed the Maine?”

“Information Wanted”

“Humanity of American Commanders”

African American Soldiers Departing for Cuba

Spanish-American War:Analyzing Primary Documents

• Create Cluster Diagram

Why would the US want an Empire?

• Military Strength• Thirst for new markets• Belief in cultural superiority

Two New States• Alaska was purchased from the

Russians (1867) and became a US State (1959)

• Hawaii was taken by the US to protect business interests (sugar) in 1898 and became a state (1959)

Changing Perceptions

• Railroad companies used Chinese laborers to construct the railroads– Led to Anti-Asian sentiment (feelings) on the west coast– Government passed Chinese-Exclusion Act – 10 year

period where the number of Chinese immigrants to the US were limited.• Lasted for approximately 40 years

• In conjunction with Jim Crow laws in the South, the Chinese Exclusion Act furthers the notion that white Americans were superior to any other race/ethnicity.

Spanish-American War

• Cuba seeks independence from Spain (US interested in helping…business investments

• US citizens are split over the issue• Yellow Journalism: exaggerating news

to engage readers– Headline wars between Pulitzer and Hurst

• De Lome Letter – criticized President McKinley

Spanish-American War

Cuba rebels against Spanish control and tensions rise

• USS Maine is sent to Cuba to bring home American citizens…EXPLODED!– Leads US to declare war with Spain

(lasted 16 weeks)– US tactic is to fight the Spanish in the

Philippines

• US wins the war

Provisions of the Treaty of Paris

• US obtains Puerto Rico and Guam• Spain sells the Philippines to the US• Cuba would be independent (but it

was occupied by US troops)

Establishing a New Cuban Government

• Cuba created a constitution, US insisted on adding the Platt Amendment

• Platt Amendment – no treaties, US could intervene and use Cuban land, no debt

• US wanted to protect its business interests in that region

Philippine-American War

• Rebels upset over Treaty of Paris (they thought they were helping the US to fight for INDEPENDENCE…not a new ruling power)

• Took 3 years to put down rebellion• US granted independence on July 4,

1946

US Presidents and their role in Imperialism

• McKinley (R) – US gains an empire– 2 terms = majority of citizens approved

• Roosevelt (R) – Big Stick Diplomacy (“Speak softly and carry a big stick”)– Panama Canal – connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

(shortens travel/trade time)– *Roosevelt Corollary = US would become an

“international police power” in Latin America*

• Taft (R) – Dollar Diplomacy (send money to Latin American countries to help them keep European countries out

• Wilson (D) – Missionary Diplomacy (US had a moral obligation to protect Latin America)

Panama Canal• U.S. tried to buy Panama

Canal area from Columbia.

• Columbia refused to sell.• U.S. helped Panama

revolt and overthrow Columbia.

• Panama sells Canal area to U.S.

Cut through Panama to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Helped establish U.S. Position in global trade and allowed the U.S. Navy to move quickly from ocean to ocean.