Expanding Interests in Asia and Latin America

Expanding Interests in Asia and Latin America

Opening Up Trade with Japan • Prior to 1850 Japan remained isolated from the western world • Under threat of force, in 1854 Japan signed a treaty allowing US ships access to Japanese ports Commodore Perry

Spheres of Influence • Japan begins to modernize • Japan and China go to war • Japan shows it’s strength and power • After the war Japan and other European nations begin to expand their spheres of influence – areas where foreign nations claimed special rights & economic privileges

The United States Looks to China • Late 1890’s France, Germany, England, Japan, and Russia all had colonies in China • They also claimed rights to railroad construction and mining development in China • Competition for spheres of influence worried the U.S. who wanted access to China’s resources and markets • The bigger the sphere of influence = the bigger world power

Open Door Policy • US Secretary of State proposed the “Open Door Policy” to all nations with interests in the region • Stated that no single country should have a monopoly on trade with China • Eventually accepted by most countries Vocab Refresher!! What is a monopoly?

Boxer Rebellion • A secret society within China emerges called the “Boxers United in Righteousness” or the “Boxers” by foreigners • They were upset with: • The foreign influences & control • The disrespect the foreigners showed to Chinese Tradition • The privileges given to the foreigners • 1900, Boxers rebelled against foreigners • Approx. 230 foreigners killed • Thousands of Chinese killed • Eight nations, including US, stopped the rebellion

Philippines Is Ours! • During this time the Philippines independence movement is stopped & the US gains full control • The Philippines would be used for its resources & Asian markets • The US would use the Philippines as a base for economic activity in the Pacific

The Panama Canal • A growing economy led US leaders to propose a canal to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans • US ships would no longer have to travel around South America • Reduces travel time for commercial and military transport • Spanish-American War, fought in both oceans, also showed shortcut was needed

Canal Location • Isthmus of Panama was selected but it was controlled by Colombia • Colombia was not willing to give up its land • Roosevelt sent the US Navy to support a revolution • Out of this revolution a new nation, Panama, is created • Leaders of Panama allowed US to build canal • Many Americans opposed Roosevelt’s methods of getting land from Colombia • In 1921 US paid Columbia $25 Million for the loss of Panama

Building the Canal • 44,000 workers labored to build the canal • 5,500 workers died from disease (malaria being a major cause) and accidents • At the canal was the most expensive construction project in the world costing $350-380 million to build • The canal took approx. 10 years to build & opened in 1914

Protecting Latin America • US interests in Latin America included: • Cheap cost of food and raw resources, shipped to the US and sold for higher prices • Mining and farming the region • Political instability in Latin America concerned the US and they began to fear the instability would attract European intervention

The Monroe Doctrine Monroe Doctrine, 1823 – policy that barred European nations from intervening in Latin America • Roosevelt added the “Roosevelt Corollary”, 1905 authorized US to act as a “policeman” in the region

Controlling of the West – “Big Stick Diplomacy” • Roosevelt made it clear that the US was the dominate power in the Western Hemisphere • “Speak softly and carry a big stick” • This meant the US would use military force if their interests were threatened

Return of the Grudge… • The bigger the sphere of _________ = the bigger world power. • Influence • US Secretary of State proposed the “_____________” to all nations with interests in the region which stated that no single country should have a monopoly on trade with China. • Open Door Policy • Name the policy that barred European nations from intervening in Latin America. • Monroe Doctrine • Name one of the cultural reasons for Imperialism. • Their inferiority, our superiority, spreading belief in democracy/Christianity

Expanding Interests in Asia and Latin America