Becoming a World Power

Becoming a World Power (1890-1915)

I. The Pressure to Expand • The newly developed United States not only revolutionized the lives of all Americans, but it also forced them to strengthen ties with other nations more than ever before • Why?

A. Growth of Imperialism • European nations were claiming many different territories • Imperialism- where stronger nations attempt to create empires by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally or militarily • Was at its peak in the late 1800’s

1. Why Imperialism Grew • Economic Factors- Increased need for natural resources and people to sell to **** • Nationalism- Devotion to one’s nation (belief in a “superior” nation) • Militarism- Technology advances produced large, superior armies & navies in industrialized nations • Humanitarian Factors- Religion and missionary reasons

2. Europe Leads the Way • Improved transportation and communication helped Great Britain, France, and Russia to extend their empires • “The sun never sets on the British Empire” • By 1890, the U.S. was ready to join in the competition for new lands • Expansionist denied that the U.S. wanted to annex foreign lands ( join a new territory to the existing country)

B. Expanding U.S. Interests • The U.S. gradually increased in size during the 1800’s. • Seward’s Folly 1867 (Alaska) • Seward annexed the Midway Islands in 1867 • Hawaii in 1875 • Ulysses S. Grant announced the Monroe Doctrine would be extended to protect all territories in the Caribbean and Latin America (It previously said the U.S. would remain neutral in European affairs)

C. Arguments for U.S. Expansion • There were many different opinions as to the appropriate foreign policy for the U.S. to use

1. Promoting Economic Growth • Overproduction was leading to financial panics and frequent economic depressions • New markets abroad needed to be secured • Business leaders argued economic problems would be solved by expanding • Some Americans invested directly in other nation’s economies (Banana Republics?)

2. Protecting American Security • The U.S. needed a powerful navy to protect the new markets abroad • The U.S. began expanding by building modern battleships and cruisers in the 1880’s • By 1900, the U.S. had one of the most powerful navies in the world

3. Preserving American Spirit • Some (including Teddy Roosevelt) suggested that a quest for an empire might restore the country’s pioneer spirit • Drew on the doctrine of Social Darwinism to justify the takeover of new territories • Expansion was not only the nation’s destiny but also a noble pursuit, for it introduced Christianity and modern civilization to “heathen” peoples around the world • Survival of the fittest!

4. Americans Lean Toward Expansion • Public opinion gradually warmed to the idea of expansionism • What was soon discovered was that political and military entanglements would follow including a few difficult, bloody, and painful foreign conflicts

II. The Spanish-American War • President McKinley was very cautious in dealing with foreign affairs • Newspapers began pushing vivid headlines and controversial and exciting articles for readers • Newspapers did not cause the war, but they did help reinforce and magnify a new set of assumptions among the American people regarding their place in the world • The Journal staged the rescue of a young Cuban girl “being held prisoner by the Spanish” (1 example)

A. Setting the Stage for War • Several incidents in the 1890’s took place that allowed the U.S. to strengthen its role in Latin American affairs

1. Displays of United States Power • There were incidents in Chile and Brazil where the U.S. reacted to foreign rebellions • The first conflict between the U.S. and Britain came over disputed territory in Venezuela • The U.S. demanded Great Britain recognize the Monroe Doctrine and submit the boundary dispute arbitration (the settlement of a dispute by a person or panel chosen to listen to both sides and come to a decision) • Great Britain gave in

2. The Cuban Rebellion • Cubans were being taken prisoner and placed into guarded camps by the Spanish • Over 200,000 died of disease and starvation in less than 2 years • Cuban exiles urged the U.S. to intervene, but it was not until Cuban guerillas destroyed American sugar plantations located in Cuba that the U.S. would feel the pressure to act (businesses were losing $$$)

3. Yellow Journalism • 2 different newspapers were reporting exaggerated and sometimes false stories about the events in Cuba in order to increase circulation • Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolf Hearst were the editors of the two different NYC newspapers • Sensational headlines and stories=yellow journalism • Jingoism- burst of national pride and desire forms an aggressive foreign policy that followed

B. The Spanish-American War • Newspaper stories from the Journal and NY World strengthened American sympathy for the Cuban rebels • Demand for intervention slowly developed

1. Steps to War • USS Maine (a U.S. battleship) was moved into Havana harbor to protect American citizens and property (1898) • Several events lead to the U.S. going to war • The de Lome letter- U.S. newspapers stole a letter from the Spanish Ambassador (de Lome) • The letter ridiculed President McKinley and caused a public outcry in the U.S.

The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine • More than 250 American sailors were killed • The blast was probably from a fire that set off ammunition • The American public put the blame on Spain • Newspapers jumped on the story to arouse bitter feelings towards Spain through yellow journalism

Preparing in the Philippines: • Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Theodore Roosevelt) felt the Philippines were perfect to place a base to protect Asian trade • President McKinley allowed one General to keep men there in case war broke out with Spain • McKinley’s war message: • McKinley sent a list of demands to Spain • Spain denied Cuban independence so President McKinley and Congress authorized force against Spain

2. “A Splendid Little War” • The first action of the Spanish-American war took place in the Philippines • Admiral Dewey (U.S.) launched a surprise attack against the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and destroyed the entire Spanish Pacific fleet in 7 hours • U.S. ships quickly bottled up Spain’s Atlantic fleet in Cuba

The U.S. prepared troops in Florida for an invasion of Cuba • The First Volunteer Cavalry aka the Rough Riders, led by Theodore Roosevelt, was the most public group in the war • Made up of cowboys, miners, policemen, and college athletes from the Ivy League schools • The most famous incident of the war was when the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill

The Spanish fleet made a last, desperate attempt to escape, but was completely destroyed • The U.S. lost 2,500 soldiers but only 400 from battle • Food poisoning, malaria, yellow fever, etc. claimed many • Future Secretary of State, John Hay, wrote Teddy saying the Spanish-American War had been, “a splendid little war.”

3. The Treaty of Paris • Treaty ended the war • Spain recognized Cuban independence • Spain gave up the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the U.S. for $20 million • The treaty passed with great debate in U.S. Congress and the nations became “unincorporated” territories (not intended to become eventual states)

C. New Challenges After the War • Developing a policy for dealing with new territories proved to be difficult • How could the U.S. become a colonial power without violating the nation’s most basic principle (that all people have the right to liberty)?

1. Dilemma in the Philippines • McKinley justified U.S. imperialism in the Philippines by: • Saying they are unfit for self-government • Needed to be Christianized, civilized, and educated • Saying a European power would try to seize the islands if the U.S. didn’t annex the Philippines first • The Philippine rebels declared independence and the U.S. ignored them • There was a 3-year war/battle that followed and the Philippines never gained independence until 1946

2. The Fate of Cuba • McKinley installed a military government in Cuba in order to protect American business interests • Organized a school system • Stabilized the economy • The U.S. removed troops only after Cuba agreed to the Platt Amendment • The Cuban government could not enter any foreign agreements • Cuba must allow the U.S. to establish naval bases • Cuba must give the U.S. the right to intervene as needed

3. The United States and Puerto Rico • Puerto Rico did not become independent • The Jones Act of 1917 made Puerto Ricans American citizens • The U.S. can appoint key officials (governor) • Based on Congressional Law, not the Constitution

D. Other Gains in the Pacific • Besides being involved in the Spanish-American War, the U.S. government was intervening in other parts of the Pacific Ocean

1. Annexation of Hawaii • Increasingly important to U.S. business interests in the late 1800’s • Sugar was sold duty free to the U.S. • Pearl Harbor was leased to the U.S. as a fueling and repair station for naval vessels • The U.S. marines helped pineapple planter, Sanford Dole, to overthrow Queen Liliuokalai • Dole proclaimed Hawaii a republic and requested it be annexed by the U.S. • Congress agreed after persuasion from McKinley

2. Samoa • The Polynesian islands of Samoa presented another stepping stone to the growing trade with Asia • The U.S. divided Samoa with Germany and gained access to the harbor at Pago Pago

3. An Open Door to China • Many countries were seeking Spheres of influence • Areas of economic and political control • John Hay, the Secretary of State, spoke of keeping an Open Door Policy that would ensure the U.S. could have equal access to China’s millions of consumers • Open trade (The U.S. is continually trying to protect economic interests!)

III. A New Foreign Policy • By 1900, the U.S. was a genuine world power • McKinley was assassinated in 1901 making his Vice President, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, President of the United States • Roosevelt continued to intervene in the affairs of countries that were of economic and strategic interest to the nation

A. The Panama Canal • The Spanish-American War showed the U.S. the need for a shorter route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans • A canal built across Central America would link the two oceans • Would make global shipping much faster and cheaper • Also, the U.S. Navy could move fast in times of war

1. Building the Canal • The Isthmus of Panama was the ideal location • Panama was a province of Colombia • Colombia sold a 25-year concession to France to build the canal • Concession= a grant for a piece of land in exchange for a promise to use the land for a specific purpose • France abandoned the project after disease and mismanagement made it fail • The U.S. purchased the rights from France but had to negotiate with Colombia to lease the land

The negotiations went nowhere • The U.S. supported Panamanian rebels to overthrow Colombian rulers • Once the overthrow was successful, the U.S. was given a permanent 10-mile wide strip of land for the Canal to be build • The U.S. would have complete sovereignty in return for a $10 million payment • It was finished in 1914

2. Reaction to the Canal • Roosevelt’s opponents felt that his methods of securing the Canal Zone were examples of foul play in American politics • Most, however, felt that the canal was necessary for national security and prosperity and approved of Roosevelt’s actions • Many Latin Americans felt ill will towards the U.S. for the methods used • The U.S. paid $25 million to Colombia to make up for the methods in 1921 (2 years after Roosevelt died)

B. Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy • “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” -Teddy Roosevelt (1901) • In his view, the “big stick” was the U.S. Navy • The threat of military force allowed Roosevelt to conduct an aggressive foreign policy.

1. Roosevelt Corollary • Messages issued to Congress in 1904-05 collectively became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine • Corollary = extension of a previously accepted idea • Roosevelt denied that the U.S. wanted more territory • The U.S. would act as an “international police power” if: • Other countries provoked intervention • Governments collapsed which would invite other stronger nations to try to intervene

In other words, the U.S. government would intervene to prevent intervention from other powers • Under Roosevelt, U.S. intervention in Latin America became common • This angered many Latin Americans • It also angered Congress because Roosevelt would make decisions without going through Congress first which increased the power of the President and decreased the power of Congress

2. Roosevelt as Peacemaker • In Asia, his chief concern was to preserve the “open door” to trade with China • Won a Nobel peace prize for negotiating a settlement to end the Russo-Japanese War • Succeeded in keeping trade in China open to all nations

C. Foreign Policy After Roosevelt • After Roosevelt’s forceful role in foreign policy, President William Taft and President Woodrow Wilson were forced to deal with a complex mix of political alliances

1. Taft and Dollar Diplomacy • From Ohio • Main foreign policy goals: • Maintain an Open Door policy with China • Preserve stability in Latin America • Preferred “substituting dollars for bullet” • Maintained orderly societies by investing $ into foreign economies • “Dollar Diplomacy” was originally used to mock his methods, but Taft eventually used the phrase with pride

2. Wilson and the Mexican Revolution • Applied moral and legalistic standards to foreign policy decisions • Refused to support “a butcher who was ruling without the consent of the people” • Interfered in a Mexican Civil War by choosing to support one side • It did not go well at all and Mexican-American relations would be soured for years to follow

IV. Debating America’s New Role • There were a lot of Americans against imperialism, especially after the annexation of the Philippines in 1898.

A. The Anti-Imperialists • The Anti-Imperialist League was formed in 1898 by opponents of U.S. policy in the Philippines • Most members were wealthy professionals • William Jennings Bryan, Jane Addams, Mark Twain, etc.

1. Moral and Political Arguments • Expansionist behavior was a rejection of the nation’s foundation of “liberty for all” • The “Constitution must follow the flag” • All the territories should have the same legal protections as the U.S. citizens • Imperialism threatened the nation’s democratic foundations

2. Racial Arguments • Many anti-imperialists saw racism in imperialism • Racism is a belief that differences in character or intelligence are due to one’s race • Most believed that Anglo-Saxon heritage was superior • African-Americans were especially torn by the racism involved in imperialism • Wanted to support their country • Recognized racism clearly was underlying imperialism

Southern Democrats feared imperialist policies would encourage people of different racial backgrounds to move to the U.S. • Hence, most opposed imperialism

3. Economic Arguments • Expansion involved too many costs • Having such a large military involved raising taxes and maybe even creating a compulsory (required) military service • Laborers from other countries coming to the U.S. would lower workers’ wages because of more competition

Becoming a World Power