American Imperialism

1. American Imperialism The New Manifest Destiny

2. Reasons and Theories • American attitude • Frederick J. Turner helped inspire a lust for the frontier. New territory would provide a new frontier for the U.S. • Depression of 1893 left businesses looking for new markets • An aggressive foreign policy would push the focus away from the current problems of the time period • Competitive spirit made Americans not want to fall behind the Europeans • Improvements in transportation and communication increased the U.S. involvement in world affairs

3. Charles Darwin’s influence • A distortion of his theories formed a basis for rationalizing expansionism. • “Races” were like biological species in that only the strong survive. • From this it followed that strong nations would inevitable dominated weak ones in accordance with the law of nature.

4. Philosophical Ideologies • Josiah Strong • Our Country: Its possible Future and Present Crisis • This work proclaimed that the Anglo-Saxon “race” was “divinely commissioned” to spread its institutions throughout the world. • Americans, as adherents of civil liberty and Christianity, were destined to lead the world

5. Philosophical Ideologies • Alfred T. Mahan • Admiral of the Navy • The Influence of Sea Power upon History 1660-1783 (1890) • Advocated imperialism • His ideas so influence policymakers that by 1900 the U.S. Navy was the third most powerful fleet in the world.

6. Political DevelopmentsStirrings of Imperialism became manifest in America’s attitude and approach to foreign policy at the close of the nineteenth century.

7. Hemispheric Hegemony • Foreign policy emphasized U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere • Secretaries of State • James G. Blaine for Benjamin Harrison • Richard Olney for Grover Cleveland • The policies of these men led us into the Spanish-American War

8. Pan-American Conference (1889) • Delegates from 19 American nations were present • Established an International Bureau for American Republics

9. Turmoil in Venezuela • A long-standing boundary dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana assumed grave importance when gold was discovered in the area • Richard Olney demanded that the British submit to arbitration as they were in violation of the Monroe Doctrine • After military force was threatened, the British submitted to arbitration and signed an agreement to do so in 1897

10. Hawaii: A Ripe Pear • 1875: treaty allowed Hawaiian sugar to come in duty free • 1887: treaty with native government guaranteed Pearl Harbor • 1890: McKinley Tariff raised barriers against importation of sugar • Americans had great control over domestic economy of Hawaii • Solution: Annex Hawaii

11. “The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and now is the golden hour for the U.S. to pluck it” • Queen Liliuokalani: “Hawaii should be ruled by Hawaiians” • After convincing others that Hawaiians wanted to be annexed by the U.S., Americans, urged by the American minister in Honolulu, led a revolt against native rulers of Hawaii. • Cleveland was suspicious of revolutionaries’ intentions and launched an investigation.

12. Hawaii Becomes a U.S. Territory • Despite Cleveland’s attempts, popular opinion forced him to accept annexation. • In 1898 annexation of Hawaii was complete

13. The Spanish American War Although U.S. imperial ambitions existed before 1900, the war with Spain in 1898 exemplified America’s expansionism most graphically. It left the nation with an overseas empire and made the United States a leading world power.With victory also came the problem of leading and running an empire.

14. Causes • Relationship with Cuba • America’s tariff policy was hurting the Cuban economy • Cubans were frustrated with their situation and rose against their Spanish rulers • Americans were appalled by Spain’s treatment of Cuban citizens including reports of “reconcentration camps” • Also, American businessmen were interested in protecting their investments in Cuba, as well as, creating a new market for their business activities. • How did presidents Cleveland and McKinley react to the problem of Cuba? • deLome letter

15. Causes (cont’d) • Yellow Journalism • William Hearst: “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war” • Joseph Pulitzer • Remember the Maine and to Hell with Spain! • February 15, 1898 • Death of 266 soldiers was attributed to the Spanish • After which, Congress appropriated $50 million for military preparation for war

16. America’s “TRUE” Intentions • The Teller Amendment • Statement approved by congress, it disclaimed any intention on the part of the United States to extend “sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control” over Cuba except for the purpose of pacification, and was designed as an assurance that U.S. efforts to assist Cuba were not motivated by a desire to annex it.

17. Rough Riders • Organized by Theodore Roosevelt • Best known for their charge at San Juan Hill • Helped to launch Theodore Roosevelt as war hero (think “bloody shirt”)

18. Commodore George Dewey • Was ordered by Theodore Roosevelt (ass’t. Sec. of War under McKinley) to attack the Philippines in the event of war with Spain • Why?

19. Treaty of Paris • December 10, 1898 • Losses: • 5000 U.S. lives (only 379 were battle causalities) • $250 million • Conditions • Spain would withdraw from Cuba and recognize its independence • The U.S. received Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

20. The Controversy over the Philippines • America decided that it could not let the islands fall back into the hands of Spain • And if left alone it would most certainly fall into anarchy • The only thing to do is for the U.S. to “protect” the islands by annexing them • They officially do so by paying the Spanish for the islands. • Emilio Aguinaldo

21. Puerto Rico • Foraker Act (1900): This congressional act created a civil government for the territory with the U.S. president appointing a president-general to govern the area • Jones Act (1917): Made Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory and the Puerto Ricans were granted citizenship

22. Cuba • While remaining “true” to the Teller Amendment, the United States withdrew from Cuba after the war • However, the Cubans were forced to add the Platt Amendment to their constitution • Cuba was to make no treaties that would impair its independence • The U.S. could step in as a protectorate if needed • Guantanamo Bay is leased to the U.S.

23. Insular Cases • The Supreme Court • Should the Constitution follow the flag? • American protectorates and territories could be subject to American law but not be given American rights

24. Imperialist v. Anti-Imperialists • Anti-imperialists • Samuel Gompers • Andrew Carnegie • Mark Twain • William James • Presidents of both Harvard and Yale • What would you have been?

25. Relationship with Asia • European imperial powers, especially, Germany and Russia, were attempting to carve up a weak China. • The United States was extremely worried about how this European “feast” would impact U.S. interests (especially economic interests) • Missionaries • Manufacturers and exporters worried that Chinese markets would be monopolized by the Europeans. • Solution – Open Door Policy

26. Open Door Policy • All foreign interests would agree to respect the rights and ideals of the Chinese including their ideal of fair competition • Thus agreed upon (except by Russia and patriotic Chinese), the open door policy guaranteed open access to China for America

27. Boxer Rebellion • Group of Chinese, rebelling against foreign interests in China, rose in revolt against missionaries, businessmen and diplomats. • Despite previous principles of non-entanglement, the U.S. joined forces with European task force to squelch the rebellion • U.S. redeemed itself to the Chinese when it refused to accept all of the indemnity paid by the Chinese. This act of kindness led to a relationship with China that encouraged and paid for a group of students to be educated in the U.S.

28. Teddy Roosevelt • Became president after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. • “Speak softly and carry a big stick” • Enormous public appeal • Seen as a champion of the common man

29. The Panama Canal • The Spanish American War made it clear that a faster route from the Atlantic to the Pacific was needed. • Roosevelt was determined to make a canal through Central America and was willing to overcome all obstacles that may block making “the dirt fly”

30. Obstacle #1: You can’t build here. • Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) • Solution: Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901) • Signed with Britain allowing the United State to build a canal and fortify it

31. Obstacle #2: Where to put it? • Nicaragua – willing to allow canal • Panama (part of Columbia) • the French had already begun to build in Panama but failed. The French co. that was building it cut the cost to make Panama seem more convincing. • Columbia did not want the canal built and refused the U.S. treaty offer • Solution: • Panama rebelled from Columbia in 1903 • Roosevelt quickly recognized the new nation and signed the Hay-Banau-Varilla treaty

32. Ramifications of the Panama Canal • 1914: Panama Canal completed at a cost of $400 million • America’s image • “Cowboy” diplomacy • “mandate from civilization”

33. Trouble in Latin America • Why? • Several countries, (ex. Venezuela and the Dominican Republic), were in debt to European nations • Several European nations were using force to collect their debts (Germany and the Dominican Republic) • Solution – • Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

34. Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine • This message to Congress exemplified Roosevelt’s belief that the United States should assume international police power in the Western Hemisphere and prevent European interference, thereby justifying intervention in Latin American affairs

35. Ramifications of Roosevelt’s Corollary • Probably did more to hurt U.S. relations with Latin America then it did to help • “Bad Neighbor” policy • The new corollary was used to justify wholesale interventions • Between 1900-1917: American troops intervened in Cuba, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Haiti

36. Relationship with Japan • Japanese and Russia were at war over Manchuria. • In accordance with Open Door Policy, Roosevelt negotiated the Portsmouth Treaty • Portsmouth Treaty led to Anti-American riots within Japan • As a result of his actions as arbitrator, TR was given the Nobel Peace Prize • Unfortunately his actions as arbitrator hurt relations with both Russia and Japan

37. The Gentlemen’s Agreement • Background: • Immigration from Japan had exploded once Japan began allowing it • First to Hawaii then to California • Because of resentment from whites and the need for more space, California segregated the schools making Japanese students attend separate schools. • Gentlemen’s Agreement: • Japan agreed to limit the flow of unskilled laborers • The U.S. agreed to stop school segregation

38. Further Relations with the World • Great White Fleet • Root-Takahira Agreement: • The U.S. and Japan would respect each other’s territories • Would support the “open-door policy”