The Age of American Imperialism

2. The Age of American Imperialism

3. Imperialism 101 • Motives behind imperialism: • Economic • Military • Philosophical • Manifest Destiny, Part II • Social Darwinism and Scientific Racism • Missionary impulse - • “The White Man’s Burden” – Rudyard Kipling

5. The Imperialist Chorus • Josiah Strong – Our Country: Its Possible Future and Present Crisis (1885) • Anglo-Saxon people are the “fittest to survive” • Protestant Americans have a duty to colonize other lands to spread Christianity and the benefits of “superior” civilization • Alfred Thayer Mahan: The Influence of Seapower Upon History (1890) • A strong navy is essential to securing foreign markets and becoming a world power • Thesis used to argue for construction of a modern (steel/coal) navy, acquisition of overseas islands, and construction of a canal across Latin America. • Albert Beveridge: The Beveridge Report • “American factories are making more than the American people can use; American soil is producing more than they can consume. Fate has written our policy for us; the trade of the world must and shall be ours.”

6. American imperialism • US naval build-up – The Great White Fleet • Hawaii, 1890s • America’s relationship with Hawaii – protectorate, trading partner, military base • The sugar interest: The McKinley Tariff, 1890 raises sugar prices. • Queen Liliuokalani and the planter revolt • Samuel Dole • Grover Cleveland refuses annexation • President McKinley annexes in 1898.

8. The Spanish-American War • Causes • Cuban Rebellion, 1895 • Jose Marti – Cuba Libre! • Scorched earth policy and US property interests • $50 million year invested/$100 million year trade • General Valeriano Weyler • Reconcentration policy • Atrocity stories abound

9. Puck cartoon depicting the Cuban crisis

10. The Spanish-American War (con’t) • Causes – Con’t • DeLome Letter • Dupuy de Lome -- Spanish ambassador • Calls McKinley “weak” and a “bidder for the attention of the public” • Published in Yellow Press • The Maine Explosion (Feb. 15, 1898) • Occurs one week after the release of the DeLome letter • “Remember the Maine” • 260 killed

11. The USS Maine before…

12. …and after

13. Yellow Journalism and the War • William Randolph Hearst: New York Journal • Frederick Remington: "There is no war. Request to be recalled.” • Hearst: "Please remain. You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war." • Joseph Pulitzer: New York World

14. The Reaction of the Yellow Press

15. McKinley’s War Message • After the sinking of the Maine… • Demands a cease fire from Spain • Public pressure continues…

17. McKinley’s War Message • April, delivers war message • Promises to: • “Put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries” in Cuba • Protect the lives and property of US citizens in Cuba • End “the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people.” • End “the constant menace to our peace” arising from disorders in Cuba. • April 20 – Congress declares war, along with the Teller Amendment • Teller Amendment: US is fighting for Cuban independence; does not intend to make Cuba a territory.

18. The Sp-Am War • The “Splendid Little War” • War begins in the Phillipines with the defeat of the Spanish fleet • Admiral George Dewey • Spain loses all its ships and 381 men; the US loses 1 (died of a heat prostration) • America troops would invade the Phillipines with the help of a Filipino nationalist, Emilio Aguinaldo

20. “You may fire when ready, Gridley.”

21. The War in Cuba • Problems: logistics, supplies, uniforms • Rough Riders • Theodore Roosevelt • San Juan Hill

22. Treaty of Paris, 1898 • Ratified in 1899, provides for: • Cuban Independence recognized • US gains two Spanish islands • Puerto Rico (Caribbean) • Guam (Pacific) • Philippines bought for $20 million • Debate between the imperialists and anti-imperialists in the US • Anti-imperialism and isolationism: fear of entanglement in Asian conflicts. • W McK’s justification for taking the Philippines: • Christianity • Democracy • Manliness v. cowardice

23. The Philippine-American War, 1899-1902

24. The Philippine-American War • Guerilla war • Emilio Aguinaldo • Atrocities (water torture, attacks on women and children) reported on both sides • Racial dimensions of the conflict: “This country won’t be pacified until the niggers are killed of like the Indians” - Kansas infantryman • Larger conflict than the Sp-Am War • 70,000 US soldiers stationed • $400 million spent • 10,00z 0 US casualities • 16,000 Filipino casualties • 200,000 civilian deaths.

25. Anti-Imperialist Cartoons

26. Making Sense of the American Empire • Insular Cases (1901-1903) • A series of Supreme Court cases addressing the question: “Does the Constitution follow the flag?” • Court rules that constitutional rights are not automatically extended to territorial possessions; Congress has the power to decided whether or not to grant such rights.

27. Making Sense of the American Empire • Platt Amendment (1901) • US troops remain in Cuba from 1898-1901 • Withdrawal of troops conditioned upon Cuba’s acceptance of the Platt Amendment: • No foreign treaties that impair independence (except this one, of course!) • US is allowed to intervene in Cuba’s affairs to preserve Cuban independence and maintain law and order • US may maintain naval base at Guantanamo Bay. • Overall: US oversight and control • Amendment is bitterly resented by Cuban nationalists

28. Foreign Policy & the New American Empire • Asia: • The Open Door Policy (1899) • John Hay • “sick man of Asia” and “spheres of influence” • Open Door note neither accepted nor rejected by European powers

29. European “spheres of influence”

30. Boxer Rebellion (1900) • Society of Harmonious Fists, aka Boxers • Nationalism and xenophobia on the rise • Attacks on Christian missionaries and foreign settlements. • International force sent in (inc. Ams) to crush it. • Prompts a second round of “Open Door” notes from Hay calling for powers not to use the rebellion as an excuse to gain more territory.

31. Asia (con’t) • Japan • Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) • Imperialist rivalry between Japan and Russia breaks out into war • TR arranges the Portsmouth Conference (1905) to settle dispute • Japanese feel betrayed after failing to gain Sakhalin Island • Gentlemen’s Agreement (1908) • Japan upset by California laws preventing Japanese children from attending public schools • Compromise calls for Japan restricting emigration in return for TR persuading California to repeal laws. • Root-Takahira Agreement (1908) • Important agreement that pledges: a) respect for each others territories, and b) to support the “open door” in China.

32. Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” Policy • 1901, TR becomes Pres after McKinley is assassinated in Buffalo, NY • TR declares his philosophy of foreign policy: “talk softly, and carry a big stick”

33. The Big Stick in the Americas • Panama Canal • Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901) • US gets okay from Britain to “go it alone” • The Nicaragua v. Panama debate • Colombian control of Panama; resistance • The Panamanian Revolution (1903) • Banau-Varilla • Hay-Banau-Varilla Treaty (1903) • Colombia compensated for $25 million in 1921

34. Panama Canal (cont’) • Construction of the Canal: • “A man, a plan, a canal: Panama” • Dr. William Gorgas: eradication mosquitos and yellow fever

35. Venezuela (1901) • US forces sent in by TR to force it to pay debts to European creditors • Santo Domingo (1904) • US sends troops in to occupy ports, collect taxes, and oversee debt repayment • Done to prevent European powers from doing the same thing • Policy is called the “Roosevelt Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine: US may intervene to prevent others from doing so…