U.S. Imperialism abroad
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Transcript of U.S. Imperialism abroad
U.S. Imperialism abroad
U.S. First Contact with Japan: 1853Begins w/Commodore Matthew
Perry’s visitPerry comes with “black ships”
and forces Japan to open up trade with the U.S. or else force would be used
Japan quickly sees the technological gap as a threat
Begins to adopt Western ways via Meiji Restoration
Builds up a modern economy & navy by 1900
Seward’s FollySeward's Folly (Seward’s Icebox)-
Secretary of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska for $7.2 million from Russia in 1867. That’s 2 cents per acre!
However, the whole bargain was ridiculed by Congress and not held in high esteem by the public. With the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 however, Alaska will soon be seen as a valuable purchase.
The Annexation of Hawaii In 1893, a small group of
sugar and pineapple-growing businessmen, backed by the U.S. military, deposed Hawaii's queen, seized 1.75 million acres of land, and conspired for U.S. annexation of the islands, which was achieved in 1898. Hawaii became a state in 1959.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)Causes of the War:1. Despotic Spanish rule over Cuba
◦A. Spain denied civil liberties & political rights
◦B. Levied heavy taxes – restricted foreign trade
◦C. Ruthlessly suppressed rebellions◦D. Spain finally abolished slavery in 1886◦E. Economic depression brings another revolt for INDEPENDENCE
2. American Humanitarianism & sympathyA. Sympathized with desire for
independenceB. Outraged when over 200,000
Cubans died in concentration camps of hunger
and disease
3. ECONOMIC INTERESTSA. American merchants traded with
Cuba to the amount of $100 Million a yearB. American investors placed $50
million in sugar and tobacco plantations.
4. “Yellow Journalism”A. William Randolph Hearst – NY Journal
B. Joseph Pulitzer – New York WorldC. Both Newspapers sought to
increase circulation by sensationalized
news stories.Hearst’s Journal printed the
Delome Letter Spanish ambassador calls
McKinley “weak”
William R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer
Pulitzer vs. Hearst
5. Sinking of the Maine – Feb 1898
A. American battleship visiting Cuba blown up
260 Americans killedB. Cause: probably fire in a coal binC. But, American public goaded on
by the Yellow Press – blames SPAIN
The Explosion of the U.S.S. MaineUSS Maine explodes in
Havana harbor
To protect American citizensand interests in Cuba,
Pres. McKinley sends theU.S.S. Maine to Cuba
Congress declares waron Spain, but will not
annex Cuba(Teller Amendment)
“Remember theMaine!”
Newspapersblame Spain
Sensationalism – Yellow Journalism