American Imperialism at the Turn of the Century

1. American Imperialism at the Turn of the Century

2. The Gilded Age and growing Imperialism, 1878 – 1901 • The Gilded Ages refers to the time in the United States where injustice and abuse of power were abundant, and where a few achieved great wealth and the expense of many. • In foreign policy, it was during these times that the United States pushed to become an IMPERIAL power – a nation that possessed and exploited foreign colonies. Why? • Improvements in transportation made global travel easier. • The Industrial Revolution and capitalist system created a need for markets for manufactured goods and agricultural products, as well as for new sources of raw materials. Began with “CONTINENTAL IMPERIALISM” – finished settling the West and forcing an end to native resistance.

3. Prelude to war: US interests in Latin America, Early 1900s

4. International Imperialism – The Spanish – American War • Once the expansion west was complete, the Americans began to look elsewhere to expand. • They began looking in Cuba. • The Spanish – American War began as a crusade to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule. • It ended with the U.S. seizing Spanish colonies for itself. • Made the U.S. an imperial power.

5. The Spanish – American War • The reason for the declaration of war against Spain was to liberate Cuba. • 1895 – Cuban partisans rebelled against their rulers. • The Spanish did not have the resources to defeat the rebellion, but they set up concentration camps where more than 200000 people died of starvation and disease. • Many Americans sympathized with the rebels; additionally, a letter from a Spanish diplomat was found which criticized the president, and Americans were outraged by it. • There was a desire to expand America military power into the Pacific. • This required naval bases, which would open up economic opportunities for the U.S. in China and Japan.

6. On Jan 25, 1898, the US battleship Maine arrived at Havana, Cuba. • The Maine was there to protect American citizens during an uprising against Spanish rule. • 3 weeks later the ship exploded, killing 260/350 officers aboard. • Spain was blamed by the American press for the explosion (in 1950, the US navy concluded that the explosion was actually caused by a faulty boiler). • 2 months later the countries were at war.

7. The USS Maine. This image is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties.

8. The War begins... • They started in May 1898 with the Philippines. • Americans defeated the Spanish navy here in a matter of hours. • In June 1898, the Americans were able to establish a base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which enabled them to defeat the Spanish who occupied the country. • In August of the same year, the Americans took Puerto Rico.

9. The Spanish – American War made the U.S. an imperial power. • As a result of their victory over the Spanish, the US now controlled Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island. • In 1898, Hawaii was annexed after American business leaders, with the help of the US marines, overthrew the government. • This gave the American position in the Pacific strength.

10. Political cartoon scanned from 1898 book re Spanish American War. Symbolizing the extension of United States domination from Puerto Rico to the Philippines.In the public domain at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:10kMiles.JPG

11. After the Spanish – American war, Cuba and the Philippines expected that they would be given full independence. This was not the case.

12. The Philippines • June 1899, the Philippines declared victory over Spain and declared a rebel leader to be president of the Philippines. • The US refused to recognize this government, so war was declared. • Resistance continued until the rebel leader was caught in 1901. • The US did not want to give up this territory because of its proximity to China and the Asian market. • America governed the islands, and the Philippines did not become completely independent, until 1946.

13. Cuba • Touchy, because the Americans had fought for Cuba’s independence from Spain (therefore it would be wrong to annex the country itself). • The US remained committed to maintaining its presence there to protect American economic interests, and to reform the country’s education and agricultural systems. • After one year, the Cubans wanted the Americans out. • A constitution was drafted for the Cubans by the Americans, but it included the following restrictions: • Cuba could not make treaties or negotiate loans with other countries; • The US had authority to establish 2 naval bases on the island; • The US could send troops into Cuba whenever it deemed necessary. • In the 1930s, Havana became very popular for American tourists and businessmen (the mafia primarily). • Cuban nationalists resented the American presence, even though US investment was very good for the Cuban economy. • Eventually, their anger would lead to the revolution in 1959 that put Fidel Castro in power.

14. Puerto Rico • The US intended to keep Puerto Rico after winning it from Spain. • in 1917, President Wilson passed the Jones Act, making it a US territory and its people US citizens. • It is controlled by the US, but does not have the status of an American state.

15. Latin America • In 1904, President Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine • It was an amendment claiming the right of the United States to intervene in stabilizing the economic affairs of small nations in the Caribbean and Central America if those nations were unable to pay their debts. • This was a warning to other nations that the US would intervene in Latin American affairs whenever a crisis threatened American commercial and security interests. • It was also a reminder to stay out of the region!

16. Dominican Republic • US marines were sent to collect customs duties and divide the money between the Dominican government and European debtor nations • The marines remained there until all the debts were paid off.

17. Colombia and Panama • The construction of the Panama Canal was Roosevelt’s greatest foreign policy adventure • The canal would shorten the distance by freighter between New York City and the Pacific coast ports by 12000 km, which would boost the American economy. • Colombia administered Panama as its own province. • Roosevelt began negotiations with Colombia for the canal zone, but the talks broke down because he demanded that the French be compensated for the work they already completed on the Canal. • Once the talks ended, Roosevelt engineered a revolution which resulted in an independent Republic of Panama. • Weeks after, Panama agreed to lease the zone to the US, and the construction of the canal began.

18. Further Expansion • In the Caribbean  expansion of naval power purchased Virgin I. from Denmark & marines sent to Nicaragua, Haiti, Dom. Rep. (to keep the Germans from taking control)