Chapter 21: Toward EmpireTHE UNITED STATES TAKE A STEP TOWARDS PLAYING A BIGGER ROLE IN THE WORLD.

Imperial America

Why would America want to extend its hand throughout the world?

Why would America help those who longed for independence? Was it for our advantage, or theirs?

Does American Imperialism make us any better than any other country forcing itself on a smaller state?

Was the taking of the Phillipines something that could have been better handled?

How did Yellow Journalism change the media game?

America would claim an area as a possession either turning it into a territory or eventually a state. For instance Puerto Rico.

Roosevelt and The Rough Riders

Growing Outside the Borders Josiah Strong and Our Country: The idea that native people elsewhere needed our guidance. These evolutionary ideas encouraged Americans to accept expansion.

The markets of Africa, Asia, and Latin America were a big draw for the United States. Acquisition of Alaska and the Midway Islands let the world know that America would soon expand outside its borders. Alaska was thought to be a huge waste of time and money, this would soon turn out to be the exact opposite.

Huge sugar plantations in Hawaii led the United States to deal in that area.

- Hawaiian sugar could be brought into the US for free.

- Queen Liliuokalani wants less American influence in Hawaii. “Hawaii for Hawaiians”.

- American settlers pull of a coup and with the passing of the McKinley Tariff act of 1890 Hawaii would soon be annexed and become a possession of the United States.

The New Navy Alfred Mahan and “The Great White Fleet”. If the US was to expand its interest it would need the Navy to assure its investments and travel from market to market.

Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Tracy would supervise the construction of a strong, formidable Navy.

The Spanish-American War Cuba was seeking independence from Spain and who better to understand that battle than the United States.

It didn’t hurt that Cuba had excellent sugar trade among other raw materials that the United States needed.

The “Yellow Press” would soon play a major role in tipping the support of Americans one way or the other.

President McKinley wanted to keep the United States out of a conflict, and even though Spain would make some concessions, Cuban independence wasn’t one of them.

A letter was intercepted revealing Spains true thoughts about McKinley and his abilities.

Congress declares Cuba free in April 1898, and with passage of the Teller Amendment promised not to annex Cuba. On April 25th, when all else had failed, the United States declared war.

The Maine Docked in a harbor near Cuba “The Maine” explodes. The Yellow Press jumps into action and create a stir of American hatred toward Spain. This leads to a call to action.

“A Splendid Little War” The war with Spain would only last ten weeks, most of the soldiers were National Guard units because of the small size and lack of rediness of regular troops.

War heroes such as Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders play a huge role in many battles.

African Americans, known as “Smoked Yankees”, fought in the regular army and as volunteers. Staging areas in the South would lead many of the soldiers to refuse segregation.

With Spain defeated in Cuba, the United States realized that other Spanish territories such as The Phillipines was now up for grabs. The United States would now have major influence in the Caribbean area.

Acquistion of Empire The war was over in December 1898. The Treaty of Paris led to the independence of Cuba, but the US wanted Puerto Rico and Guam. President McKinley decided that the US should take the Phillipines.

Labor Unions feared a flood of cheap labor and objection to the inclusion of so many people of color. There were also those who did not want the US to become a colonial power.

During a three struggle against insurgents, the United States fought side by side with Emilio Aguinaldo for independence. Guerrilla warfare was new to the troops from America. It would soon lead to a bigger problem. By 1901 the US had installed a civil administration and the Phillipines finally had freedom on July 4, 1946.

The Supreme Court would decide that the Constitution did not automatically apply to the new possessions. Congress could extend whatever provisions it felt necessary. Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico are entered as territories and their people are granted citizenship. The United States would occupy Cuba until the Cubans came up with their own constitution. The Platt Amendment would give the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs.

The Open Door The people of the Phillipines would soon begin to hate the influence of America. The Flipino-American War would ensue with the Americans and lead again to independence.

The United States would announce an “Open Door” policy in March of 1900. This meant that no European country could carve out a “sphere of influence” in China. Trade could not be limited to just one group in the area. The United States would once again stick its nose in the affairs of a foreign nation.

Age of Imperialism