Imperialism

1. Imperialism Chapter 22 Honors U.S. History

2. What is Imperialism? Policy and Practice of taking over other nations to gain more power Could be done through military occupation or through economic domination of resources and markets

4. Rationales for Imperialism Racism/Social Darwinism Righteousness Mahanism Economics

5. Rationales for Imperialism Sheet Starting at the bottom of page 581 (Ideological Arguments), read through the top of page 585 Fill out the sheet carefully as you go

6. Ideological Arguments Social Darwinism The United States is “better”, therefore we must conquer Doing this for the good of the world Imposed American ideas and cultures on the rest of the world

7. White Man’s Burden

8. WMB Colonialism U.S. rule of foreign territories The white man must righteously assume rule and take over “incompetent” or “barbaric races” in other lands

10. Righteousness The forcing of Christianity on others “Imperialism of righteousness” Missionaries felt it was their duty to “save” the “savages” with Christianity

11. Strategic Concerns • The US had to develop new policies to protect and promote its national security and interests • All about making the U.S. the biggest military power in the world

12. Alfred Thayer Mahan emphasized the importance of a strong Navy for national greatness in his book, The Influence of Sea Power upon History

13. Mahanism • Proposed 3 main ideas that he thought would accomplish this goal • Teddy Roosevelt, as Sec of Navy, “No triumph of peace is quite as great as the supreme triumph of war” • They are…..

14. 1. Proposed that the US build a canal across the isthmus of Panama to link its coasts

15. 2. Acquire naval bases in the Caribbean and the Pacific to protect the canal

16. 3. • Annex Hawaii and other Pacific islands to promote trade and service the fleet

17. Economic Reasons • One reason for the widespread support for a larger navy was its use to expand and protect America’s international trade • Simple idea gave the U.S. larger markets, more profits, and more jobs

18. First Steps

19. Purchase of Alaska William Seward Previously Lincoln’s Secretary of State Purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867

20. “Seward’s Folly” Most were confused as to why we wanted Alaska Made fun of Seward for the purchase He wanted more…wanted to purchase Haiti and Dominican Republic also

21. James Blaine Main goal was a canal in Panama “Purely American waterway” “Part of our coastline” He had other wants….

22. Hawaii

23. Hawaiian Takeover • The McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 effectively closed the US market to Hawaiian sugar producers, facing them with economic ruin • The goal was to make them poor and powerless, so the U.S. could buy them

24. Queen Liliuokalani Wanted to keep Hawaii under native control This was not in the interests of the United States, so they found a way to prevent it

25. Overthrow Behind the scenes, John Stevens, the American minister to Hawaii, ordered the Marines to help rebels overthrow the Queen

26. Famous Quote After the Queen had been overthrown, he sent a telegram to Washington stating: “The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and this is the golden hour for the United States to pluck it”

27. The “Delegation” A group from the new Hawaiian government was sent to Washington to work out the details of the treaty of annexation NO HAWAIIANS on the delegation

28. Senate Approval President Harrison signed the pact, but could not get approval from the Senate before the end of his term

29. President Cleveland • Cleveland called for an investigation into the whole affair, and decided “the undoubted sentiment of the people is for the Queen, against the provisional Government, and against annexation.”

30. Apology Cleveland apologized for the “flagrant wrong” One big problem, the provisional government refused to step down

31. Party Differences • Many Republicans strongly supported annexation, Democrats generally opposed annexation • Democrats “the mission of our nation is to build up and make a greater country out of what we have, instead of annexing islands”

32. Next Imperialist Move

33. Chile • American sailors on shore leave in Chile became involved in a drunken brawl • 2 dead; 17 injured • President Harrison threatened military retaliation against Chile

34. Threatened Invasion Harrison was ready to invade Chile and make it our next American conquest Harrison finally backed off when Chile apologized and paid the U.S.

35. USA vs. Great Britain

36. Boundary Dispute • President Cleveland intervened in a boundary dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela over British Guiana

37. Why? • The U.S. seized on this opportunity to divert public attention from a severe economic depression

38. Twenty-Inch Gun • Note was sent to Britain, a “twenty inch gun” demanding arbitration of the disputed territory and stoutly asserting American supremacy in the Western hemisphere

39. War Fever The American population was ready to go to war with Britain over this dispute The message was sent that the United States is in control of the Western Hemisphere

40. Spanish American War

41. Roots of War Cuba was the last major European colony in Latin America America was obviously interested in it due to its economic potential Spanish rule over the Cubans became increasingly harsh

42. Revolt!!! • Cubans rebelled in 1895, rebels controlled the countryside and the Spanish army ruled the towns and cities

43. American Reaction • America felt sympathy for the Cuban insurgents because of the brutality of the Spanish • American’s sympathy was further aroused by the sensationalist “yellow press”

44. The “Yellow Press”

45. What Was It? • The popular press of the day adopted bold headlines, fevered editorials, and real or exaggerated stories of violence, sex, and corruption • Attracted attention, if not truth…

46. Circulation War • A circulation war existed between William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World • Both men were competing to be the best paper

47. They “Sold” the War

48. Growing Tensions • President McKinley was focused on Cuba, claiming that the chronic disorder in Cuba disrupted America’s investments and agitated public opinion • Tried diplomatic efforts at first but warned would do whatever necessary

49. Published Letter • In early 1898, the New York Journal published a private letter from the Spanish minister to the U.S. • It mocked McKinley as “weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd”

50. ‘Remember the Maine and to Hell with Spain”