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The United States in the Era of Imperialism

The United States in the Era of Imperialism. Imperialism. --The economic , political , cultural or military domination of weak nations by strong nations. American Imperialism. America was founded by risk-takers and explorers … And the first 150 years of our history…

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The United States in the Era of Imperialism

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  1. The United Statesin the Era of Imperialism

  2. Imperialism --The economic, political, cultural or military domination of weak nations by strong nations.

  3. American Imperialism • America was founded by risk-takers and explorers… • And the first 150 years of our history… • Was a time of relentless expansion. • However, this is not seen as “Imperialism”… • Because the conquered territory was believed to be the “natural property” of United States.

  4. European Imperialism • European imperialism began around the time of the voyages of Christopher Columbus… • And reached its climax in North America with the French and Indian War. • By the end of the 19th century… • The European “Empires”— • Great Britain, France, Germany, Holland, etc., • Were seeking to conquer and occupy territory around the world… • With the PRIMARY goal of capturing much needed raw materials… • To fuel their participation in the Industrial Revolution.

  5. Humanitarian Impulses? • Of course, the European Empires didn’t openly ADMIT that their efforts amounted to simple thievery. • European imperialists argued that they were bringing LIGHT to DARKNESS… • European medicine, law, government… • And, especially, RELIGION… • Were, they argued, so SUPERIOR… • That the Europeans were actually doing conquered nations a FAVOR. • This RACIST viewpoint was referred to as “The White Man’s Burden.”

  6. American Begins to Expand • The US’ first step towards international expansion came with a PURCHASE… • When, in 1867, Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. • About a penny/acre. • The purchase was widely RIDICULED at the time… • But it nearly DOUBLED the size of the United States… • And added a territory of nearly LIMITLESS wealth— • GOLD, SILVER, COAL, OIL, LUMBER are all ABUNDANT in Alaska— • And the deal is now seen to have been as STROKE of GENIUS.

  7. Manifest Destiny Sputters Out • By the end of the 19th century, Manifest Destiny had been achieved… • There was nowhere else to go… • And influential politicians and public philosophers began to argue… • That the AMERICAN SPIRIT went hand-in-hand with EXPLORATION and EXPANSION— • And that our unique culture would DIE… • If the nation stopped expanding. • So our political and military leaders began looking for OTHER regions into which the US could expand.

  8. Economic Expansion • Spiritual fulfillment was not the only argument for American expansion… • The industrial revolution had dramatically increased PRODUCTIVITY… • And factories were producing MUCH MORE than American could buy… • Which led to huge surpluses… • And regular economic disasters. • What was a solution to this problem? • Many political and economic leaders argued that America should… • CONQUER territory abroad… • And FORCE native populations to BUY… • Our excess products.

  9. Latin America • The MONROE DOCTRINE had ensured that by the second half of the 19th century… • The US was the SUPREME POWER in the Western Hemisphere. • Consequently, in seeking to conquer new markets… • America looked SOUTH… • And brought such heavy pressure to bear on the governments of… • Panama, Argentina, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guatemala, etc., etc., etc., • That anti-American sentiment persists across Latin American to this day.

  10. Cuba • The island of Cuba—90 miles off the coast of Florida— • Had been claimed as a Spanish colony in 1492. • 400years later, Cuba was still under Spanish control… • And a large segment of the Cuban population was determined to become independent. • In 1892, a Cuban revolutionary named Jose Marti declared a “War of Liberation” against Cuba’s Spanish rulers. • The Spanish government responded to this revolutionary activity… • With the utmost BRUTALITY— • Torture, random imprisonment, summary execution— • And the Cuban people began to PLEAD with the American government for assistance.

  11. American Interests in Cuba • The American public was generally not interested in helping the Cuban people… • However, American businesses owned tens of millions of dollars worth of property on the island… • And when our property came under threat in the fighting… • Politicians and wealthy business leaders began to take notice.

  12. Yellow Journalism • Although rich investors had started to take interest in a possible US intervention in Cuba… • Average Americans were still opposed. • How could they be persuaded? • The Cuban Revolution coincided with a new practice called “yellow journalism”… • Wherein newspapers took minor stories… • And made them SENSATIONAL… • With splashy headlines and graphic pictures… • Why? • To sell more newspapers. • WAR is good for the media industry. • The result was that average Americans began to be slowly CONVINCED that an INVERVENTION in Cuba was NECESSARY.

  13. The Maine Incident • Bowing to public pressure, President McKinley sent the USS Maine to Havana… • In order to “protect American interests” in Cuba. • Spain was unhappy with this development, but reluctantly agreed… • And on February 15, 1898, the Maine exploded… • Killing 258 American sailors. • Americans were OUTRAGED… • And the American news media pinned the blame on SPANISH SABOTAGE.

  14. War is Declared • Upon the destruction of the Maine, McKinley sent Spain a list of demands… • They included: • Compensation for the Maine….and… • Cuban independence. • McKinley also called for a buildup of the US Military… • And Spain responded by declaring WAR on the US in April of 1898.

  15. The Spanish-American War • By August of 1898… • The US had destroyed the entire Spanish Navy… • And had won every major land battle. • After a final defeat in Puerto Rico, the Spanish Empire requested a peace treaty.

  16. The Treaty of Paris, 1898 • Spain recognized Cuba’s independence... • The US paid Spain $20 million… • In return, Spain gave up the Philippines, Puerto Rico & Guam… • These nations became “unincorporated” US territories… • Meaning that their residents could not become US citizens. • This was also the end of Spain as an imperial power. • About 400 Americans died in battle… • Many more died from food poisoning and poor medical treatment.

  17. War in the Philippines • President McKinley defended US colonization of Philippines by saying that the Filipino people were “unfit for self-government”… • In 1899, Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines an “independent republic”. • This caused the eruption of a full-blown war… • 4,200 Americans were killed… • 16,000 rebels and 200,000 Filipino citizens were also killed. • The Philippines did not gain complete independence until 1946.

  18. Interrogation technique of the Philippine-American War

  19. Cuba and Puerto Rico • After the war, a US military government was installed in Cuba…The government built schools, stabilized the economy… • And was forced to submit to US oversight (the Platt Amendment). • Cuba also became a favored destination for mafia figures. • Puerto Rico did not attempt to become independent in any way…And US citizenship was granted to all Puerto Ricans in 1917.

  20. Hawaii • Had been an important refueling base for the US for many years… • And white American farmers owned most of the Hawaiian land. • In 1891, anti-American nationalist Queen Liliuokalani came to power… • And planned to greatly reduce US influence over the island. • American fruit growers, led by Sanford Dole, revolted and overthrew the Queen. • The US Government sent in the Marines to assist the rebels… • Dole proclaimed a republic and asked that Hawaii be annexed by the US… • In 1898, the US Congress and President McKinley agreed (citing “Manifest Destiny”).

  21. McKinley and Roosevelt • By 1900, the US had emerged as a real world power… • It controlled several overseas colonies and the economy was roaring… • McKinley won the election of 1900 in a landslide… • But was assassinated a year later. • Theodore Roosevelt, McKinley’s VP, was now president. • Roosevelt’s goal was to continue McKinley’s development of the US into a world power.

  22. THE PANAMA CANAL • The Spanish-American war demonstrated the need for a quick Pacific-Atlantic water route. • The Isthmus of Panama was chosen as the perfect location to build a canal….After a series of political difficulties, work was finally started in 1904. • The canal was finished in 1914, six months ahead of schedule and $23 million under budget. • Panama was made a protectorate of the US & received $10 million for the canal zone.

  23. Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy • The powerful US Navy allowed TR to be very aggressive… • “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. • He also issued the… • The Roosevelt Corollary to the MonroeDoctrine—if the governments of any nation in the Western Hemisphere engaged in bad behavior… • The US reserved the right to intervene.

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