American Imperialism

1. American Imperialism

2. What is Imperialism? • Imperialism is an extension of national territory and economy. • This can be done to open new markets for the economy. • It can be done to gain access to new natural resources for industry to use. • It can be done to gain greater security for a country. • Imperialism can also boost national pride. • Finally, Imperialism can be seen as a mission for different groups. It can be social (think Social Darwinism) and religious.

3. How the Media Played a Role • Different newspapers of the day promoted US Expansion. • The way they achieved this was to promote US Nationalism. • Jingoism is the extreme form of this. • Famous names tied to this movement were W.R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. • Their papers (In NYC and other cities) advocated US involvement in foreign affairs as well as territorial expansion.

4. Examples of US Imperialism Pt.1 • The Spanish American War • In the 1890s, Cuba was still a Spanish colony. • The Cubans tried to revolt several times and the Spanish fought back with great brutality. • The US Media (newspapers of Hearst and Pulitzer) sensationalized the events in what would be known as “Yellow Journalism” • President McKinley resisted the call to help the Cubans until…….

5. Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 1 • February 15, 1898 • The US Battleship Maine explodes and sinks in Havana, Cuba. • 260 American sailors die in the attack. • The Yellow Journalists jump on the story, accusing the Spanish of attack. • In April of 1898 Congress authorizes the US to take action to liberate Cuba. • Congress also passed the Teller Amendment, stating we would not colonize Cuba, allowing self-determination.

6. Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 1 • The first move occurred in the Spanish colony of the Philippines. • The US quickly took control of the Philippines with the help of Filipino rebels. • The US then annexed the Philippines, making it a new US territory. • The US also annexed Guam, which is still a US territory today. • During this time, the US was fighting in Cuba and decisively beat the Spanish in Santiago Bay and San Juan Hill. • By 1909 Cuba was out of US control, but Puerto Rico was annexed. Puerto Rico is still a US territory today. • Out of the Cuban conflict emerged a national hero—Teddy Roosevelt and his “Rough Riders”

8. Discussion Question • In the space below, write the question and your answer: • Why might the US want to annex the Philippines? Why Puerto Rico?

9. Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 2 • The Annexation of Hawaii • Hawaii offered many strategic advantages for the US. • Midway between N. America and Asia, it was an excellent place for a Navy base (Pearl Harbor was began in 1887). • It had a strong agricultural base (plantations for sugar cane, tropical fruit. • One of the biggest producers in Hawaii (at the time an independent nation) was Sanford Dole.

10. Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 2 • Due to lobbying of Congress from US sugar producers, Hawaiian Sugar producers now had to pay tariffs on imported sugar. • A way to avoid this and become profitable again was to have Hawaii become part of the US. • Sugar producers, helped by members of the US military, overthrew Hawaii’s Queen and formed a new government with Dole as its leader. • The US then annexed Hawaii as a territory in 1897. • Hawaii became as state in 1959.

11. Other Imperialistic Moves • The US sought to offset European power in Asia. • The US worked with European countries that had “Spheres of Influence” in China to create an “Open Door Policy”. • This policy would allow the US to trade with China. • This policy was not very successful. • When the US took part in putting down the nationalistic Boxer Rebellion in China (1900), the treaty allowed for the US to gain trade privileges with China.

12. “Big Stick” Diplomacy • On the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt became President. • Roosevelt believed in the US being involved in foreign affairs to protect its “sphere of influence”. • The “Stick” is US military power.

13. But wait, there’s more! (Imperialism) • To use “the big stick” of military power, the US had to be able to move it quickly. • The US sought a quick way to move the navy and troops from the Atlantic to the Pacific. • The best way would be through a canal in Panama. • But there were problems.. • Panama was controlled by Columbia and they did not want the US to build the canal. • The US backed the Panamanian nationalist rebels and removed the Columbians from Panama. • In exchange, Panama allowed the US to govern and control the canal zone. • Construction began in 1904 and ended in 1914. • The canal is still in use today, but now Panama has full control of it.

14. A New Manifest Destiny • Manifest Destiny is an American policy dating to the early 19th century. • It stated that had the right to expand across the North American continent. • Teddy Roosevelt changed this a little and said that the US has the right to intervene in the Western Hemisphere to protect its interests. It gave the US “International Police Power”. • This policy still is a major practice in US foreign policy today.

15. Discussion Question • In the space below, write the question and your answer: • Should the US have been/still be an International Police Force? Why or Why not?