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Imperialism and America. APUSH 27. Imperialism. The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories By the 1880s, some American leaders thought the US should be like European powers and gain colonies overseas.
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Imperialism and America APUSH 27
Imperialism • The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories • By the 1880s, some American leaders thought the US should be like European powers and gain colonies overseas
3 Factors that led to American Imperialism • Desire for military strength • Alfred T. Mahan – US Navy Admiral who pushed the US to build a stronger military including modern battleships like the Maine and the Oregon 2. Thirst for New Markets • Americans produced more then they could consume and needed more raw materials and new markets to sell goods 3. Belief in cultural superiority • Social Darwinism – a belief that free market competition would lead to the survival of the fittest • Belief in the racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons • Some believed the US should spread Christianity and “civilization” to the worlds “inferior people”
Examples of Social Darwinism • Rev. Josiah Strong: “Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Current Crisis” • Americans should spread religion and values to “backward” people of the world • T. Roosevelt and Henry C. Lodge: • Used Social Darwinism to justify competing with European powers for colonial gains – esp in Africa and China • James Blaine – Sec of State under Garfield and Harrison • “Big Sister Policy” to get Latin America to follow American leadership and trade with Am merchants • Presided over 1st Pan American Conference
Diplomatic Crisis/Near Wars led to Am Diplomacy • 1889 – America v Germany over Samoan Islands
Diplomatic Crisis/Near Wars led to Am Diplomacy • 1891: US v Italy over the lynching of 2 Italians in New Orleans (US had to pay Italy damages)
Diplomatic Crisis/Near Wars led to Am Diplomacy • 1892: 2 Americans killed in Chili – America demanded indemnity
Diplomatic Crisis/Near Wars led to Am Diplomacy • 1893: US v. Canada in dispute over seal hunting in North Atlantic
Diplomatic Crisis/Near Wars led to Am Diplomacy • 1895-1896: America gets involved in a border dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana – situation was complicated when gold was found in the jungle border
Diplomatic Crisis/Near Wars led to Am Diplomacy • America was willing to risk war over distant and minor disputes
America Acquires Alaska • Alaska – Sec. Of State William Seward convinced Congress to buy it from Russia • He was made fun of and it was called “Seward’s Icebox” • Turned out to be a good decision because Alaska is rich in timber, minerals, and oil
America “Acquires” Hawaii • 1820’s – Americans set up Christian schools and planters move there to produce sugar and tropical produce • 1820 – 1875 Americans controlled most of the wealth of Hawaii because of their successful sugar plantations • 1875 – Hawaii and America made an agreement to trade sugar without import taxes • 1875-1898 American planters work to convince America to annex Hawaii so they do not have to pay the tax • 1887 – Americans build a naval fueling station at Pearl Harbor
America “Acquires” Hawaii • 1890 – McKinley Tariff put a tax back on sugar from Hawaii • 1891 – Queen Liliuokalani took the throne of Hawaii and worked to give rights back to Hawaiians (and stop the control American planters had over the government) • 1891 – To fight the queen, American businessmen overthrew the monarchy and set up a government led by Sanford B. Dole • Cleveland tried to get the queen power restored but it was the end of his presidency • 1898 – President McKinley convinces Congress to proclaim Hawaii and American territory without allowing the Hawaiians to vote on what they want to have happen
Lead Up To War • America was interested in Cuba because of its sugar plantations • 1868-1878: Cuba revolted against Spain (their colonial mother country) • 1886: Cubans force Spain to emancipate its slaves • 1886-1895: Americans invest a lot in Cuban sugar plantations • 1894: a tariff hurts the sugar dependent economy of Cuba • 1895: Jose Marti, a Cuban poet in NYC, launched a Cuban Revolution • Cuba Libre! - The battle cry for Cuban Revolutionaries • 1896: Spanish send General Weyler (“The Butcher”) who herds about 300,000 thousand Cubans into concentration camps where many died
Lead Up To War • 1897: Weyler removed from Cuba by Spain,things continue to get worse anyway (it was too late) • 1897: President McKinley takes office and tries to avoid war with Spain despite Americans desire to support Cuba • 1898: American warship USS Maine sent evacuate Americans if needed • 1898: DeLome Letter • 1898: The USS Maine Explosion • 1898: Teller Amendment (America would overthrow Spain / free Cuabns)
The U.S.S. Maine • February 15, 1898: The USS Maine (an American warship) blew up in the port at Havana Cuba. • The newspapers reported it was a Spanish attack on Americans, but we now know that it’s not true. • Americans who wanted to fight Spain used the battle cry “Remember the Maine.” • Spain claimed it wasn’t their fault and they agreed to do whatever America said but America still declared war on Spain.
Americans were split: • Some wanted to stay out of it because it was not an American fight • Some business owners wanted the American government to be involved to protect their investments (sugar plantations) while other Americans wanted to be involved because of the principles of freedom and liberty. • European Nations were skeptical of American Actions
Spanish American War • 1898: America’s first act of war was to open fire on Spanish Warships at Manila, the Capitol of the Philippines (at that time a Spanish Colony) • George Dewey: American General during this battle • The battle was a complete American success • Filipinos supported the Americans because they wanted freedom from Spain • America also had a land war in Cuba • The American forces were small, untrained, and poorly equipped • America’s 2,100 officers + 28,000 men vs. Spain’s 200,000 troops • Navy was strong but Army was made up of old Civil War vets and untrained young men
Yellow Journalism • American Newspapers sensationalized Weyler’s actions and Americans were outraged • Yellow Journalism: sensational writing that exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers • Hearst and Pulitzer: Newspaper owners who wanted war to sell papers
Yellow Journalism Activity Yellow Journalism was a contributing factor to the Spanish American War. The sensational writing influenced public opinion. Task: Pretend that you are Pulitzer or Hearst. Create a newspaper for February 16,1898 reporting on the USS Maine explosion. Each paper should have: * A creative name * An article describing the events * A picture of what happened * A political cartoon involving Roosevelt, McKinley, Weyley, the Rough Riders, or someone related to this war
Rough Riders • Rough Riders: a group of volunteer Calvary men (soldiers on horseback) who were led by Theodore Roosevelt and Leonard Wood • Led a famous attack on San Juan Hill where they made way for an infantry attack
Treaty of Paris • After only 15 weeks of fighting, a peace treaty was signed • The treaty sparked a great debate: • Should the US annex the Philippines? • McKinley said the US should Christianize the Filipino's (but most had been Christian for centuries) • He was justifying imperialism
Acquiring New Lands 18-3 Notes
