America Claims an Empire

1. America Claims an Empire

2. 1. Economic competition among industrial nations Political and military competition; including the creation of a strong naval force Belief in Anglo-Saxon superiority 2. There were American-owned sugar plantations which accounted for about three-quarters of the islands wealth and because the islands provided a good naval port for U.S. growing military strength and expansionist ideals. Annexed on Aug. 12, 1898 under Pres. McKinley

3. 3. Spain controlled Cuba in the late 1800’s. Spain (under the command of Valeriano Weyler) moved the entire rural population of central and western Cuba into concentration camps. 4. Yellow Journalism-news reports that were highly exaggerated to create Am. sympathy for Cuban rebels The De Lome Letter-letter by Spanish minister that criticized Pres. McKinley The Explosion of U.S.S Maine-on Feb. 15, 1898, an explosion sent Maine’s ammunition up in flames, ripping a hole in the belly of the ship and sinking it. Yellow Journalists immediately blamed Spain although there was no proof

4. 5. The Spanish American War was fought in the Philippines and Cuba. The Rough Riders (under command of Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt) helped lead the U.S. to victory on land. Along with 2 African Am. regiments, the Rough Riders became famous for uphill charge at Kettle Hill and then at San Juan Hill (only minor role). 6. Dec. 10, 1898, the U.S. and Spain agreed that: Cuba would become independent (later became protectorate…Platt Amendment) Spain would give Puerto Rico and Pacific Is. of Guam to the U.S. U.S. would pay Spain $20 million for the annexation of the Philippine Islands

5. 7. U.S. felt that Puerto Rican citizens could not protect themselves or their own property. Often treated PR citizens with disrespect by stating that “they are still children”. The Foraker Act granted U.S. power to: appoint Puerto Rico’s governor and members of the upper house of its legislature…Puerto Ricans chose lower house of legislature. grant or deny U.S. citizenship to Puerto Rico. In 1900, denied citizenship…later in 1917, granted Puerto Ricans limited citizenship and gave them right to choose both houses of legislature. 8. To protect its economic interests. Am. corporations had invested heavily in the island’s sugar, tobacco, and mining industries, as well as its railroads and public utilities. The provisions of the Platt Amendment were: Cuba could not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control its territories the U.S. reserved the right to intervene in Cuba to preserve independence and maintain order Cuba was not to go into debt U.S. could buy or lease land on the island for naval and coaling stations

6. 9. Filipinos were outraged by Am. annexation of their country. They felt that U.S. had promised independence and had now betrayed them after winning freedom from Spain. Rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo was captured About 20,000 Filipino rebels died & 4,000 American soldiers with the war costing U.S. $400 million U.S. controlled Filipino gov’t by having U.S. pres. appoint a governor. Governor would appoint upper house of legislature. Filipinos would choose lower house of legislature. 10. China was seen as a potentially huge market for Am. products. China also presented Am. investors with opportunities for large-scale railroad construction. The policies put in place by John Hay’s Open Door Notes were: the U.S. called for open access to China’s coastal ports the elimination of special privileges for any of the trading nations China remaining independent

7. 11. Many Chinese opposed the spread of Western influence in their country and formed a secret society known as Boxers (the Righteous Fists of Harmony) to drive out foreigners. Hundreds of missionaries and other foreigners as well as Chinese converts to Christianity were murdered by Boxers. G.B., France, Germany, Japan, & U.S. marched on Chinese capital and put down rebellion. Thousands of Chinese died during fighting. 12. Americans believed that the growth of the U.S. economy depended on exports. Americans felt U.S. had a right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open. Feared that the closing of an area to American products, citizens, or ideas threatened U.S. survival.

8. 13. Canal greatly reduced amount of time it took for commercial and military ships to travel from Atlantic to Pacific ocean. Canal cost $400 million and was completed on Aug. 15, 1914. 14. Latin Am. nations had borrowed large amounts of money from European banks to build railroads & develop industries. Roosevelt feared that if these nations could not repay loans, Europeans might intervene in the Western Hemisphere Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine stated to European nations any disorder in Latin American would force U.S. to become an international police force in Western Hemisphere

9. 15. Dollar diplomacy-U.S. policy of using the nation’s economic power to exert influence over other nations. Ex.) Taft exercised dollar diplomacy in Nicaragua by arranging for Am. bankers to loan Nicaraguan gov’t enough money to pay its debts to European nations. In return, bankers were given right to recorer their money by collecting Nicaragua’s customs duties. Missionary diplomacy-policy that U.S. had a moral responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin Am. gov’t viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests. Ex.) Wilson exercised missionary diplomacy in Mexico when General Victoriano Huerta took over gov’t by force and executed President Madero.

10. 16. U.S. became involved in the Mexican Revolution because Mexican officials arrested a small group of sailors in Mexico. Pancho Villa took American engineers (who had been invited into the country) off of a train and executed them. Later, his group of rebels invaded Am. soil by raiding Columbus, New Mexico. They killed several Am. citizens. Villa was never captured by the U.S. He was assassinated in 1923 by Mexicans while driving his Dodge sedan through a Mexican town.