AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

1. AMERICANIMPERIALISM UNIT 3

2. Time to test your memories…  • How many empires can you name? What was the “mother country” of those empires? • Why did these countries build an empire? Why would a country want one? • Major empires around 1900?

4. Key Terms • Imperialism: Controlling foreign colonies for a country’s own use • Manifest Destiny: The belief that Americans had the divine right to settle from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Oceans

5. American Stance on Imperialism • From the Civil War to 1890, America had little interest in territorial expansion • America was not particularly fond of other cultures (remember the Chinese Exclusion Act, Gentleman’s Agreement, immigration, ect.)

6. Rise of Imperialism Worldwide • By the mid-1890s, a shift had taken place in American attitudes toward expansion  Why? • Between 1870 and 1900, the European powers seized 10 million square miles of territory in Africa and Asia! • About 150 million people were subjected to colonial rule

7. Reasons for American Imperialism • 1. Economic competition among industrial nations • 2. Political and military competition, including the creation of a strong naval force • 3. A belief in the racial and cultural superiority of people of Anglo-Saxon (white English descent)

8. Economics • In the United States, a growing number of policy makers, bankers, manufacturers, and trade unions grew fearful that the country might be closed out in the struggle for global markets and raw materials. • By the 1890s, the American economy was increasingly dependent on foreign trade. • A quarter of the nation's farm products and half its petroleum were sold overseas

9. Sea Power • Alfred Thayer Mahan, a naval strategist and the author of The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, argued that national prosperity and power depended on control of the world's sea-lanes. "Whoever rules the waves rules the world”

10. Racial Superiority • A belief that the world's nations were engaged in a Darwinian struggle for survival and that countries that failed to compete were doomed to decline also contributed to a new assertiveness on the part of the United States!

11. Racial Superiority • During the late 19th century, the idea that the United States had a special mission to uplift "backward" people around the world also commanded growing support

12. War!!! Almost… • During the late 1880s, American foreign policy makers began to display a new assertiveness. The United States came close to declaring war on Germany, Chile, and Great Britain.

14. Building an Empire • Where can America build an empire? • Caribbean • Hawaii • Pacific Islands

16. Latin America Fights For Independence

17. American and 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

18. War Breaks Out • Spain was willing to compromise with the US to avoid war • American public opinion pushed for war • “Remember the Maine!” • April 11, 1898 McKinley asks Congress for permission to go to war • After a week of debate Congress agrees • April 20, 1898 the US officially declares war on Spain

19. Spanish-American-Cuban War • The Army was not ready to fight a land war  the Navy was ready! • Roosevelt had ordered a fleet to the Philippines in February in case war broke out with Spain • The first battle occurred in Manila Bay (Philippines)

20. The Philippines • George Dewey (American naval commander) destroyed the Spanish fleet • Spain lost 381 men, the US 1 man (from heat exhaustion) • The US landed on the Philippine Islands and joined with Filipino forces to kick out the Spanish • 11,000 Americans fight along side the Filipino forces for two months • August 1898, the Spanish surrender to the Americans (not the Philippines)

21. The War in Cuba • Admiral Sampson sets up a naval blockade • Seals off the Spanish fleet in the Santiago harbor • US Army is finally ready to invade on land • Volunteer soldiers  untrained with inadequate equipment and supplies

22. American Naval Blockade

23. Rough Riders • June 1898  US forces land in Cuba & go after Santiago (port city) • The Rough Riders regiment was lead by Teddy Roosevelt and Leonard Wood • First volunteer group for the war • Mostly came from the Southwest US, very diverse group of men

24. The Rough Riders

25. Major Battles in the War • July 1st 1898  near Santiago • Part 1: Occurred on Kettle Hill • An uphill charge • Led by the Rough Riders and two African American regiments • Victory lead the way for an infantry attack • Part 2: San Juan Hill • Allows the US troops to push towards Santiago

26. Surrounding Santiago • US troops surround Santiago • Small, minor battles occur but the Spanish are put down • Two days (July 3rd) later the Spanish try to escape the naval blockade • Naval battle ensues and the Spanish fleet is destroyed

27. Santiago Surrenders • July 17, 1898 Santiago surrenders • July 25, 1898 the US invades Puerto Rico

28. “A splendid little war” • United States and Spain signed an armistice on August 12, 1898 • The fighting had lasted 16 weeks • 300,000 Americans served  5,400 died (379 from battle, the rest from disease or other causes)

29. America’s Acquisitions • December 10, 1898 the United States and Spain agreed: • Cuba would become independent • Spain would give the U.S. Puerto Rico and Guam • U.S. would pay Spain $20 million for the annexation of the Philippine Islands • Ratified by the Senate February 6, 1899

30. Mixed Feelings! The Debate over the Philippines • The issue of imperialism was at the core of the debate: • McKinley said: “That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and educate the Filipinos, and uplift and Christianize them” • Uhhhhh, the Filipinos had been Christians for centuries… • What does this tell you about McKinley’s views on imperialism??

31. Debate over the Philippines • Some felt it violated the Declaration of Independence  denied self-governance to new territories • Booker T. Washington  felt we should focus on race relations at home first before we tackled social problems elsewhere • Samuel Gompers (labor leader)  feared Filipino immigrants would take jobs

32. Acquiring New Lands • Anti-imperialists feared the US was becoming an empire  and the US was! • What lands did the US now have control over?

33. U.S. in Puerto Rico • Americans and Puerto Ricans were split over what to do with Puerto Rico • Puerto Ricans were not particularly fond of U.S. governance  American rule was militaristic and treated the Puerto Ricans as inferior • Puerto Ricans wanted to decide their fate, but the U.S. had other ideas • Puerto Rico was importance for U.S. Caribbean presence • Protection for potential Panama Canal

34. Foraker Act • Congress passes the Foraker Act (1900) • Denies U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans • Gives the U.S. president control over Puerto Rico • He appoints a governor and members of the upper house (Puerto Ricans can only elect members to the lower house) • Insular Cases 1901 U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did not automatically apply to people in U.S. territories • Congress could extend that right if they wanted to

35. U.S. and Cuba • 1898 war resolution against Spain included the Teller Amendment  said the U.S. did not intend to annex or control Cuba • However…four years after the war the U.S. Army controlled Cuba • U.S. troops didn’t leave • Military governor Leonard Wood (remember him?) built schools, sets finances, and keeps peace while Cuba writes a constitution • Helped the Cuban poor  provided food and clothing, medical assistance, sanitation, ect.

36. Platt Amendment • 1900  Cuban constitution is written but does not specify the relationship between U.S. and Cuba • 1901  U.S. refuses to leave Cuba unless they accept the Platt Amendment • The Cuban people protested, however, in 1903 the Platt Amendment was accepted as a treaty between the U.S. and Cuba • Cuba became a protectorate  a country who’s affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power/country

37. Platt Amendment • Cuba can not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territory • U.S. reserved the right to intervene in Cuba to preserve independence and maintain order • Cuba was not to go into debt (that Cuba couldn’t pay off with current revenue) • U.S. could buy or lease land on the island for naval and coaling stations (Guantanamo Bay)

38. U.S. and the Philippines • Filipinos rebelled when the U.S. annexed the Philippine Islands  they wanted independence • Emilio Aguinaldo led the rebels  believed the U.S. had betrayed the Filipino people • January 1899 Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent and drafted a constitution

39. Philippine-American War • Emilio Aguinaldo turned to guerilla warfare • U.S. forced Filipinos to live in designated zones • Poor sanitation, filth, starvation  killed thousands • Again, U.S. soldiers saw the Filipinos as inferior • Many African American soldiers defected to the Filipino side  didn’t want to support white racial superiority • War lasted 3 years and cost $400 million

40. P-A War Aftermath • U.S. suppressed the rebellion in 1902 • American control: • U.S. president would appoint a governor • Governor would appoint the legislative upper house • Filipinos would elect the lower house • U.S. rule did improve schools, education, hospitals, sanitation • 1946  The Philippines become independent

41. China and the Open Door Policy • America was not interested in colonies on the Asian mainland • But they do want trade!  Big market for American products • China is weak  “sick man of Asia” • European powers and Japan are demanding trading rights • The U.S. wants in too!

42. John Hay and the Open Door Notes • U.S. did not want colonies in China but did want to trade • Great market for American goods • Gateway to the rest of Asia • China is weak  result of: • War • Foreign intervention

43. John Hay and ODN • America had access to China due to previous treaties • But, European powers and Japan have land holdings in China!  U.S. fears a war and China losing their land (and the U.S. will lose trade)

45. Open Door Notes • John Hay sent policy statements to Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Russia • U.S. called for open access to China’s coastal ports, elimination of special privileges, maintenance of China’s independence • Why would the U.S. want this??

46. Boxer Rebellion • Chinese secret society  “the Boxers” • Wanted all foreign influence out of China • Killed missionaries, foreigners, Chinese Christian converts • August 1900 Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and U.S. join together and march to the Chinese capital, Beijing • Want to put down the Boxer Rebellion • Lasted for two months • Thousands of Chinese died

47. Open Door Notes, Part 2 • Announced that the U.S. would “safeguard for the world the principle of equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese Empire” • Reflected three deeply held American beliefs about it’s industrial capitalist society: • Growth of U.S. economy depended on exports • Felt the U.S. had a right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open • Feared the closing of an area to American products, citizens, or ideas threatened U.S. survival