America's Quest for Imperialism: The Pressure to Expand (1890-1915)

1. Becoming a World Power: 1890-1915

2. Section 1: The Pressure to Expand • An industrial powerhouse with a booming population, America turned its focus on becoming a world power at the turn of the century.

3. Imperialism • Imperialism- stronger nations dominate and control weaker ones in attempt to create an empire. • Historical examples: Roman Empire, Mongolian Empire, Ottoman Empire, British Empire.

4. British Empire • “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Territories that have been, or remain, part of the British Empire.

5. Why Imperialism Grew • Imperialistic activity increased in the late 1800s for several reasons… • Economic factors: need for resources • Nationalistic factors: feelings of national superiority • Military factors: Navies needed bases for fuel and supplies. • Humanitarian factors: Western civilizations often thought it their duty to spread their culture, law, and religion to other countries.

6. George Washington’s Advise • In his farewell address in 1796, George Washington warned Americans to avoid foreign conflicts and “entanglements” and to “steer clear of permanent alliances” • These values molded early America, and for the next 100 years.

7. Monroe Doctrine • Beginning in the 1820s, America embraced the anti-imperialist “Monroe Doctrine” named after a policy of president James Monroe. • The Monroe Doctrine declared the US neutral in all European wars and warned European powers not to interfere with North or South America.

8. Monroe Doctrine Sign reads, “all guests are welcome, but they must not bring their guns”

9. Manifest Destiny • The US showed early glimpses of its own imperialism. • Manifest Destiny: it was the destiny of the U.S. to control Atlantic to Pacific Oceans

10. Arguments for U.S. Expansion • By the 1890s, many Americans argued for increased involvement in international affairs, despite the US’s history of isolationism.

11. Economic Growth • Rapid industrial growth created an overproduction of food and goods. • Businesses and workers argued that the US needed to secure new markets abroad to sell goods.

12. Banana Republics • In some cases, American businesses were already invested in other countries. • United Fruit Company provided financial services to the Costa Rican government in exchange for long-term leases on land. • By 1913, United Fruit Company was exporting 50 million banana bunches to the US per year and played a significant role in the governments and economies of several Central American economies, which came to be known as “banana republics”.

13. Protecting American Security • In the 1880s, the US Navy was far inferior to that of European powers. • Many argued for a larger, more modern navy. • A powerful navy not only allowed for the possibility of imperialism, but also created a new need for naval bases around the world.

14. New Frontiers • Some believed that America needed a new frontier since they had already expanded the whole way to the Pacific Ocean. • The challenge of a new frontier, they argued, created energy and passion on which the country thrived. • Still others cited social Darwinism to justify taking over new territories; survival of the fittest.

15. Spreading Western Civilization:“White Man’s Burden” • Many Americans believed that it was their duty to spread modern civilization and Christianity to “heathen” or “savage” peoples around the world. • Even many intellectuals at the time believed that certain racial and national groups were biologically superior to others.

16. White Man’s Burden • White Man’s Burden, written by Rudyard Kipling, assumed the racial supremacy of whites and came to embody the “noble” justifications of imperialism: to liberate and civilize the poor savages of other countries. “Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child… Take up the White Man's burden--And reap his old reward:The blame of those ye better,The hate of those ye guard--The cry of hosts ye humour(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--"Why brought he us from bondage,Our loved Egyptian night?"

17. “The White Man’s Burden.”

18. White Man’s Burden • Remnants of this kind of thinking remain today, even in our well-intentioned efforts of humanitarian aid and church missions. • Many believe that developed, western governments often do more harm than good even when trying to “help”.

19. Expansion • Over time, these various arguments gained traction throughout the country and within government and the United States began to move toward foreign involvement and expansionism.

20. Arguments for Imperialism

21. Section 2: Spanish-American War • The Spanish-American War was America’s first major step towards imperialism and changed its role in world affairs forever. • A war created, sustained, and shaped by journalists.

22. Spanish-American War • “I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one.” • –Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt thought that America needed a new challenge, an adventure for young men and a unifying cause for the nation to rally behind.

23. The Cuban Rebellion • Cuba was a colony of Spain. • Cubans rebelled in 1895. • Spain sent 150,000 troops to put down the rebellion. • “Reconcentration” camps. • General Weyler Spanish General Valeriano Weyler

24. Cuba • In the prison camps over 200,000 Cubans died over 2 years due to disease and starvation. • Cuban exiles living in US, led by Jose Marti, urged US to intervene. • US government refused to help. • Cuban guerrillas began destroying American sugar plantations in Cuba to pressure US government to help.

25. Yellow Journalism • Yellow Journalism fueled support for the war. • Joseph Pulitzer: New York World • William Randolph Hearst: New York Morning Journal • Featured articles that exaggerated horrific acts that Spanish soldiers performed against Cubans.

26. Hearst to photographer: “you provide the pictures, I’ll furnish the war”

27. The de Lome letter • US newspapers published a letter intercepted from Dupuy de Lome, a Spanish ambassador to Washington. • Letter called President McKinley weak, angering Americans.

28. Explosion of U.S.S. Maine • Weeks after the letter, on February 15, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine, a US warship sank off the coast of Cuba. • The explosion/sinking was likely caused by an accidental fire. • Newspapers and the American public immediately blamed Spain for the explosion. • Enraged, the US public called for war.

29. U.S.S. Maine

30. Philippines • The Philippines were also under Spanish possession at the time. • The Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, felt that Philippines would be a key naval base in the Pacific. • Teddy Roosevelt secretly messaged naval commanders in the Pacific to prepare for war with Spain.

31. War • In attempt to avoid war, McKinley sent a list of demands to Spain. • Compensation for the U.S.S. Maine • A truce in Cuba • Cuban independence • Spain, also hoping to avoid war, agreed to all but Cuban independence. • On April 11, Congress recognized Cuban independence and declared war on Spain.

32. Action in Philippines • The first action took place in the Philippines, not in Cuba. • On May 1, US forces launched a surprise attack on Spanish ships. • Destroyed Spain’s entire Pacific fleet in seven hours.

33. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders • Teddy and the volunteer “Rough Riders” became war heroes. • Charge on San Juan Hill • Became the celebrities of thew war, even though they experienced little battle action.

34. “A Splendid Little War” • The Spanish fleet tried to escape on July 3, but the US Navy sank every Spanish ship, ending the war and setting off wild celebrations throughout the US. • The war lasted only 2 months. • 2,500 Americans died, but only 400 in battle. Most died of disease or food poisoning. • Secretary of State John Hay called it “a splendid little war”

35. The Treaty of Paris • Spain recognized Cuba’s independence and gave the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the US for $20 million. • These islands became “unincorporated” territories of the US. • The annexation of the new territories barely passed the two-thirds vote in the senate.

36. Dilemma in Philippines • Filipino rebels had fought alongside American troops against Spain with the expectation that US victory would give them their independence. • Instead, after the war the US annexed the island. • Filipino rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the Philippines an independent republic in January 1899. • America ignored him.

37. War in Philippines • War between the US and the Philippines broke out and lasted for three years. • 4,000 Americans were killed. • Americans killed 16,000 Filipino rebels and 200,000 Filipino civilians. • The Philippines did not gain independence until 1946.

38. Cuba’s Fate • Congress attached an amendment, called the Teller Amendment, to the resolution of Cuban independence, promising not to annex Cuba. • US involvement didn’t end after the war, however. • Set up a military government in Cuba.

39. Cuba • Feeling betrayed, that the US had simply replaced Spain, Cubans began to draft a constitution that did not allow American involvement. • US agreed to withdraw troops only if Cubans included the Platt Amendment in their constitution. • Platt Amendment required Cuba to allow US naval bases on the island and to intervene in the country when necessary.

40. Puerto Rico • United States had brief military government before pulling out. • Puerto Rico remains a US territory today.

41. Annexation of Hawaii • The leader of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, strongly opposed U.S. control of the islands. • In 1893, pineapple planter Sanford B. Dole and the United States Marines removed Liluokalani from power. • In 1898, Congress approved the annexation of Hawaii.

42. Open Door to China • China represented a huge market considered crucial to the expansion of American trade. • John Hay, Secretary of State, worried that other European powers would close off trade in China. • Hay proposed an “Open Door Policy” to other powers, trying to ensure that the U.S. would have equal access to Chinese trade.

43. World Map: Size according to Population

44. Boxer Rebellion • Many Chinese resented foreign influence. • In 1900, a secret Chinese society called the Righteous and Harmonious Fists ( “Boxers”) started a rebellion. • The Boxers massacred 300 foreigners and Christian Chinese.

45. Effect of “Boxer” Rebellion • Secretary Hay worried that other imperialist countries would use the “Boxer” Rebellion as an excuse to seize greater control of China. • He issued a second series of Open Door notes, reemphasizing the importance of open trade in China and the U.S. intention to preserve it.

46. Section 3: A New Foreign Policy • Given all of America’s international activity in the late 1890s, the U.S. entered the 20th century as a genuine world power and with a new, interventionist foreign policy.

47. The Panama Canal • Americans desired a shorter route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. • A canal across Central America would cut distance. • Panama was an ideal location for the canal. • At the time, Panama was a province of Colombia.

49. Panama’s Independence • Columbia refused to negotiate with the U.S. • Now President, Teddy Roosevelt, encouraged Panama to revolt for their independence. • The revolt took place in 1903 with U.S. warships waiting offshore to support the rebels. • America immediately recognized Panama as an independent country and in return Panama signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, giving the U.S. a permanent land grant to build their canal.