US Imperialism: Rise as an Emerging World Power

1. CHAPTER 9An Emerging World Power 1890-1917

2. Imperialism. • Imperialism: The practice of extending a nation’s power by gaining territories for a colonial empire. • The US 1st emerged as an Imperialistic power after the Spanish-American War.

3. Expansionist Sentiment. U. S. Foreign Investments:1869-1908. • Many Americans believed the US should establish a colonial empire because our industries needed raw materials and markets. • The US was eager to find new markets and military advantages.

4. American Exceptionalism. “They are children and we are men in these deep matters of government.” Woodrow Wilson. • Nationalism, capitalism, Social Darwinism, & paternalistic attitude towards foreigners. • Two Popular ideologies contributed to Imperialism: Nationalism & a feeling of cultural superiority.

5. Commodore Matthew Perry Opens Up Japan: 1853. • “Black Fleet” Critical Point for Japanese development. • Japan goes into modernization & industrialization.

6. Steward’s Folly. • Alaska was purchased by the U.S from the Russian Empire in 1867. • United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, bought Alaska at 4cts. Per acre.)

7. Racism. • Supporters of expansion used theories on race as a justification. • Foreigners were negatively portrayed in popular magazines, school textbooks, & world’s fairs reflected an ethnocentric American attitude.

8. The “Civilizing” Impulse. • Americans justified intervention on the grounds that the U. S. offered backward societies the blessings of liberty & prosperity. • Missionaries contributed to U.S. expansionism by spreading American religion, & influence.

9. William H. Seward’s Quest for Empire. • Secretary of State Seward believed we would establish an empire as the result of a natural process. • He bought Alaska from the Russians at 4 cents an acre. (Alaska was called Seward’s folly or icebox.)

10. Alfred T. Mahan & Naval Power. • Admiral Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power Upon History convinced expansionists of the need for a modern navy. • America needed Caribbean Naval Bases. (Would get after Spanish-American War.) Control of the sea was key to domination by the U.S.

11. Alfred T. Mahan & Naval Power. • Alfred T. Mahan recommended that the United States needed a Modern fleet, a canal across Panama and to Acquire the Island Kingdom of Hawaii. • A large navy would extend the nation’s power internationally.

12. Views of Hawaiians. Hawaii becomes a U. S. Protectorate in 1849 by virtue of economic treaties.

13. Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani. Hawaii: Crossroads of the Pacific. Hawaii for the Hawaiians!

14. Annexation of Hawai’i. • US Minister to Hawaii, John L. Stevens supported US planter’s Coup. Americans overthrew Queen Lili’uokalani& asked for annexation. • Hawaii’s first provisional President wasAmerican businessman & sugar tycoon, Sanford Ballard Dole.

15. Revolution in Cuba. • The United States had extensive economic interests in Cuba. • When revolution against Spanish rule broke out in Cuba in 1895, rebel leader & symbol José Martíobtained funds, supplies, & support in the U. S. • Most Americans sympathized with Cubans.

16. “Yellow Journalism” & Jingoism. Reporting the news in an exaggerated, distorted, and sensationalist manner. Joseph Pulitzer Hearst to Frederick Remington: “You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war!” William Randolph Hearst

17. De Lôme Letter. Dupuy de Lôme, Spanish Minister (Ambassador) to the U.S. Criticized PresidentMcKinley as “weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.” Outraged the American public.

18. Theodore Roosevelt. Asst. Secretary of the Navy who resigned his position to fight in Cuba. Imperialist & American nationalist. Criticized PresidentMcKinley as having the backbone of a chocolate éclair!

19. Sinking of the Maine. • To protect American interests in Cuba, McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Havana. • In February 1898, the ship blew up, killing 266 sailors. • Jingoism: flag waving, chauvinism, superpatriotism, ultranationalism.

20. Ultimatum & War Decision. • New York Journal blamed Spanish w/o any proof. • McKinley asked for a declaration of war in order to advance the cause of humanity & to protect American interests. • Congress concurred on April 19, 1898.

21. Remember the Maineand to Hell with Spain! Funeral for Maine victims in Havana.

22. The Spanish-American War. (1898) “That Splendid Little War.” The war only lasted 100 days & only 460 soldiers were killed. U.S. gained control of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines and became a World Power.

23. The “Rough Riders.” Volunteer Cavalry regiment organized by Teddy Roosevelt.

24. The U.S. Military at War. • Of the 263,000 men who served in the war, most never left the United States. • Thousands of black troops stationed in the South had to deal with violent racism.

25. Dewey in the Philippines. • Admiral Dewey’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila. • In the Treaty of Paris, American & Spanish negotiators agreed on terms that granted Cuban independence. • America gained the Philippines, Puerto Rico, & Guam.

26. Philippine Insurrection & Pacification. • Emilio Aguinaldo declared an independent Philippines in 1899. • The Philippine Insurrection lasted until 1902. “We have pacified some thousands of the islanders and buried them; destroyed their fields; burned their villages, and turned their widows & orphans out-of-doors;” Mark Twain

27. William H. Taft, 1stGov.-General of the Philippines. Great administrator.

28. Rudyard Kipling on US in Philippines. • Take up the White Man's burden — • Send forth the best ye breed — • Go, bind your sons to exile • To serve your captives' need; • To wait, in heavy harness, • On fluttered folk and wild — • Your new-caught sullen peoples, • Half devil and half child.

29. Anti-Imperialist Arguments. • Many critics denounced imperialism as counter to American principles. • Controversy especially about Philippine annexation. • Labor leaders feared that imperialism was bad for American workers.

30. The American Anti-Imperialist League. Founded in 1899. Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, WilliamJames, and WilliamJennings Bryan amongthe leaders. Campaigned against the annexation of thePhilippines & otheracts of imperialism.

31. Imperialist Arguments. • Imperialists successfully answered their critics by appealing to patriotism, destiny, & commerce.

32. Stereotypes of Chinese Immigrants. Oriental [Chinese] Exclusion Act, 1887.

33. The Boxer Rebellion: 1900. • Attempt by Chinese revolutionaries to remove foreign influence. • Many Missionaries, Christian Chinese, & foreign businessmen were killed. (The Peaceful Harmonious Fists.) “55 Days at Peking.”

34. The Open Door Policy. Secretary John Haygives all nations equal access to trade in China. (U.S. gains access to China.) Spheres of Influence: A geographic area where an outside nation exerts special economic or political control.

35. China & the Open Door Policy. • Secretary of State Hay issued the Open Door Note in 1899, asking all nations to guarantee free trade in China. • Following the Boxer Rebellion, Hay issued a second note promising to protect the integrity of China.

36. America as a Pacific Power.

37. The Great White Fleet: 1907.

38. T.R. & Presidential Authority. • Roosevelt worked to make the U.S. a member of the “great power club.” • T.R. accepted the concept of American exceptionalism. • As President, Roosevelt attempted to centralize foreign policy in the White House.

39. Economic dominance in Latin America. • Latin America became a primary target of American economic expansion. • The Teller Amendment said that the U.S. could not annex Cuba but only leave "control of the island to its people." (Guaranteed Independence.) BUT…

40. Cuban Independence? Senator Orville Platt. Platt Amendment (1903) 1. Cuba was not to enter into any agreements with foreign powers that would endanger its independence. 2. The U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary to maintain an efficient, independent govt. 3. Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for naval and coaling station. 4. Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt.

41. Panama Canal. • The US supported Panamanian independence & revolutionaries against Colombia. • The United States signed a treaty with Panama to build a canal.

42. Panama: The King’s Crown. • Dr. Walter Reed. (Mosquito transmits yellow Fever. His work the standard for 20th-century experimental medicine.) • Roosevelt wanted canal to shorten travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific.

43. Panama Canal. TR in Panama.(Construction begins in 1904.)

44. Constable of the World. Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. • “Chronic wrongdoing…in the Western Hemisphere…may force the United States, however reluctantly…to the exercise of an international police power.” President Roosevelt, 1904.

45. Roosevelt Corollary. • T.R. announced a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. • If any nation in the Western Hemisphere appeared politically & financially unstable, as to be vulnerable to European control, the U. S. had the right & obligation to intervene. (Dominican Republic.)

46. I’ve often been fond of the proverb: “Speak Softly, and carry a big stick; you will go far! President Theodore Roosevelt.

47. Big Stick Diplomacy. • The exercise of international police power by the U.S. • Increased U.S. power in Latin America. • The U.S. renewed its commitment to support the Monroe Doctrine to protect our interest in Latin America. • Feared Nationalization of U.S. assets especially in Cuba.

48. U. S. Global Investments &Investments in Latin America, 1914

49. U. S. Interventions in Latin America: 1898-1920s.

50. Dollar Diplomacy. • President Taft used dollar diplomacy to counter Japanese advances in Asia. • The U.S. in both Latin America & East Asia guaranteed loans.