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Changing US Policy

Changing US Policy. After the Civil War, most Americans weren’t interested in expanding the United States. Focus on Reconstruction, building up industry, settling the west 1880s – major shift in American opinion. Imperialism.

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Changing US Policy

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  1. Changing US Policy • After the Civil War, most Americans weren’t interested in expanding the United States. • Focus on Reconstruction, building up industry, settling the west • 1880s – major shift in American opinion

  2. Imperialism The economic , political, and military domination of a strong nation over weaker nations

  3. European Imperialism • Wanted raw materials (rubber, oil, tin, etc.) • High tariffs against each other forced countries to look for other markets. • Europeans looking for ways to invest. • Focus: Africa and Asia • “The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire”

  4. European Imperialism • United States realizes they have no more room to expand in North America. • European imperialism causes U.S. to become interested overseas as well.

  5. Growth of United States • Expansion of U.S. economy  people believe overseas markets are necessary to keep economy strong. • U.S. Senator Albert Beveridge: “We are making more than we can use. Therefore, we must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital, new work for our labor.”

  6. A feeling of superiority… • Social Darwinism – people apply to the world • Nations compete with each other politically, economically, and militarily – only the strongest will survive. • Justification for U.S. expansion • Anglo-Saxonism: English-speaking nations had superior character, ideas, and systems of government. • People thought it was America’s destiny to expand and spread its civilization.

  7. Alfred T. Mahan • Officer in U.S. Navy – The Influence of Sea Power Upon History • In order to become a world power, the U.S. needed: • A modern naval fleet – to protect merchant ships and defend its right to trade • A Caribbean base • A Hawaiian base • Middle-American canal

  8. Get Started! 10/1 • Happy October! • Sit where you want…Miss Williams forgot to make a seating chart : ) • Pick up a notes packet from the front table. • Get out your notes from Friday.

  9. Expansion in the Pacific • Americans looking across Pacific for new markets for their goods. • Americans had been trading mainly with China. • 1852 - Commodore Matthew C. Perry takes a naval expedition to Japan to negotiate a trade treaty.

  10. Expansion in the Pacific • U.S. technology and weapons impress the Japanese • Realization that they cannot compete with U.S. • Japan forced to open trade • Important point in history – begin to adopt western technology and launch their own industrial revolution

  11. Annexing Hawaii • As trade with China and Japan expands, America realizes need for a port in the Pacific. • 1800s – sugar plantations established • Foreigners/immigrants outnumber Hawaiians 3-1 • 1875 • Hawaiian sugar is exempted from tariffs in U.S. to prevent Hawaiians from relying on British or French. • America is granted exclusive rights to naval base at Pearl Harbor

  12. Annexing Hawaii • Hawaiian sugar industry booms, planters become wealthy. • Planters pressure Hawaiian king to accept a new constitution that limits his power and increases power of planters. • McKinley Tariff in 1890 gives subsidies to American sugar growers – Hawaiian sugar industry suffers.

  13. Annexing Hawaii • 1981 – Queen Liliuokalani ascends throne • Dislikes American influence • Attempts to reassert power with a new constitution – fails

  14. Annexing Hawaii • Wealthy planters and marines force queen to give up power • Sanford B. Dole declares himself President • Request that U.S. annex Hawaii - President Cleveland refuses • Hawaii annexed as a territory when William McKinley becomes president • Hawaii becomes a state in 1959.

  15. The Spanish-American War • Cuba: colony of Spain – sugar cane • 1868 – Cuban rebels declare independence and launch a guerilla war against Spanish authorities. • Many Americans begin to support the Cuban Revolution • US investments in Cuba – mines, railroads sugar plantations • US and Cuba linked economically

  16. The Spanish-American War • President Cleveland declares U.S. neutral • Many Americans openly support Cuba – compare it to American Revolution • Spanish attempt to put down rebellion • Cubans put into “reconcentration camps” – thousands die from disease and starvation • Cubans – guerilla warfare – hit and run tactics, tearing up railroad tracks, burning plantations. • Hoping to force the U.S. to intervene

  17. Yellow Journalism • Yellow Journalism: exaggerated or made-up stories to attract readers • New York Journal: William Randolph Hearst • New York World: Joseph Pulitzer • Stories of Spanish feeding Cuban prisoners to sharks and dogs. • Cuba described as a place with “blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood!” • Yellow journalism leads many Americans to support the Cubans.

  18. Calling out for War! • 1897 – President William McKinley does not want to intervene in war. • Believes it will cost too many lives and will hurt the economy • De Lome letter – Letter printed in US newspaper from Eurique de Lome (Spanish Ambassador to US) – calling McKinley weak  leads to American anger

  19. Calling out for War! • McKinley sends USS Maine to Havana harbor to protect American citizens and property. • USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor • Journalists blame Spain • No one knows who caused the explosion • Americans wanted war • “Remember the Maine” – becomes US battle cry for war

  20. Calling out for War! • Jingoism – extreme, aggressive nationalism • People are angry that McKinley has not declared war • Finally, on April 11, 1898 – McKinley asks Congress to authorize the use of force to end conflict in Cuba. • April 19 – Congress declares Cuba independent, authorizes President to use armed forces. • April 24 – Spain declares war on United States

  21. A War on Two Fronts • Mainly fought in Cuba and Philippines • US Strategy: prevent Spanish supplies from getting to Cuba • Blockade Cuba • Attack Spanish fleet in Philippines • U.S. – quick victory – capture Philippines and Guam

  22. War in Cuba • Thousands of soldiers die of food poisoning and disease • “Rough Riders” • Led by Teddy Roosevelt • Volunteer Calvary from American west • Heroes of San Juan Hill • African-Americans allowed to fight (1/4 of Am. Troops) • After fighting a short time Spain and U.S. agree to a cease-fire

  23. Treaty of Paris, 1898 • Cuba given its freedom as promised. • U.S. would annex Guam and Puerto Rico • What to do about Philippines? • Pro-Annexation: • Economic and military benefits of taking islands – would provide US with a large naval base • Duty to teach “less civilized” people how to live properly • Anti-Annexation: • Costs would outweigh benefits • Imperialism violates American principles • Goes against what this war was fought for – independence for a country under imperial rule.

  24. The Philippines • US paid $20 million to Spain for Philippines • Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo orders his troops to attack American soldiers – fighting for independence • General Arthur MacArthur fights back – sets up reconcentration camps to separate guerrillas. • U.S. governor of Philippines William Howard Taft – reformed education, transportation, health care • U.S. wins guerrilla war – • Filipinos given a greater role in government • 1946- Philippines given independence

  25. Puerto Rico • Foraker Act (1900): Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of U.S. • Not U.S. citizens • No constitutional rights • 1917: Puerto Ricans made citizens of U.S. • Debate begins over whether to make Puerto Rico a state

  26. Cuba • U.S. establishes a military government in Cuba even though it had promised it independence • New constitution is made for Cuba • Platt Amendment: • Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation that would allow another foreign power to gain territory in Cuba. • Cuba had to allow the U.S. to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba. • Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent foreign countries from landing troops to enforce payment • U.S. has right to intervene to protect Cuban independence and keep order. • Allowed the U.S. to retain control over Cuba • Repealed in 1934

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