America Becomes a World Power
Key Vocabulary

Imperialism: Economic
and political domination
of a strong nation over a
weaker nation

Protectorate: Imperial
power allows local rulers
to stay in control and
protects them against
rebellions
Why become imperialistic?

Superiority/Power (Militarily, Culturally, Politically)

New Markets

Raw Materials

Trade without tariffs

Social Darwinism (European competition)

Manifest Destiny (and beyond!)

Anglo-Saxonism: English-speaking nations superior in many
ways
The Role of Military

Captain Alfred Mahan’s Influence of Sea
Power upon History
◦ Argues great nations had large naval fleets of
merchant ships and naval power to defend
right to trade
◦ Congress buys into the idea and decides to
create a modern navy
Pacific Expansionism

Matthew Perry opens up Japan
◦ Japan hesitant for cultural reasons
◦ American power on display
◦ Trade and peace agreement

Annexation of Hawaii
◦ Ports for merchants and military
◦ Sugarcane farming (US help during recession)
◦ Queen Liliuokalani tries to gain more power,
marines and American planters overthrow gov’t
◦ New gov’t asks to join US
Latin America and US

Pan-Americanism
◦ US and Latin America should work together
for peace and trade
Spanish-American War

Spain controls Cuba and Puerto Rico
◦ Cuban rebellions against Spain fairly common
◦ US-Cuba Economic Relationship Key
◦ Jose Marti: Cuban rebel exiled to US…preps for
war
◦ US neutrality—rebels hoping for US intervention
◦ USS Maine exploded in Havana Bay (US in war)
Role of Yellow Journalism

Yellow Journalism: Sensational Reports to
attract readers…often exaggerated
◦ “Blood, Blood, Blood” in Cuba
◦ Prisoners of war being fed to sharks & dogs!
William Randolph Hearst (NY Journal)
 Joseph Pulitzer (NY World)

War on Two Fronts

Blockade of Cuba & Attack
Philippines

Philippines
◦ Manila Bay: Dewey defeats
Spaniards with ease
◦ Emilio Aguinaldo: Rebel against
Spain in Philippines launches new
attack

Cuba
◦ Armies not prepared at all
(deaths by disease)
◦ Naval battles key
◦ Rough Riders on mainland crucial
Results

Cuba: Free

Guam & Puerto Rico: US possession

Philippines: ???
◦ For US takeover: Economic & military reasons;
Savior of “Less Civilized” People
◦ Against takeover: Filipino labor would hurt
American workforce; cost of empire high
◦ Ultimately US buys Philippines in treaty w/ Spain
Post-War

Cuba
◦ Platt Amendment makes it a protectorate of the
United States

Puerto Rico
◦ Foraker Act: Creates PR government but allows
US to have final authority

Philippines
◦ Aguinaldo unhappy with US (attacks US)
◦ Taft tries to win using social improvements
◦ Aguinaldo captured and calls on end of war
China

European “Spheres of Influence”
◦ Russia, Britain, France, etc. with leases on Chinese
land
◦ US concerned this would keep other countries out of
markets

Open Door Policy: all countries can trade
within China regardless of leases
Boxer Rebellion

Society of Harmonious Fists (Boxers)
attempt to destroy those corrupting
Chinese society
◦ Europeans, Chinese Christians, etc.

Major nations intervene after embassies
are besieged
◦ Agree to not break up China
◦ Open Door Policy remains in place
Roosevelt Policies

Make US a World Power
◦ Negotiated peace between Russia/Japan (1905)
◦ Upheld Open Door Policy in China
◦ Display military power
 “Speak softly, but carry a big stick”
 Great White Fleet: 16 battleships on global voyage to
demonstrate military might
◦ Roosevelt Corollary: US will intervene in Latin
America to maintain stability in Western Hem.
Latin America

Dollar Diplomacy of Taft
◦ Support economies of Latin America and they
will rise out of poverty

Wilson & Mexico
◦ Victoriano Huerta overthrows Mexican govt
◦ Wilson refuses to recognize government not
based on law—helps those against Huerta
◦ US helps Carranza becomes Mexican president,
but Pancho Villa begins guerrilla attacks
◦ Wilson sends in military to find Villa without
success
Panama Canal

Roosevelt believed a canal through
Central America key to American power
◦ Hay-Pauncefote Treaty: gave US exclusive right
to build canal in Central America
◦ Considered Panama and Nicaragua
◦ Problem: Columbia owns Panama and refused
to give US the right to build
 Panamanians revolt against Columbia, worried that
their economy will crash without canal
 Philippe Bunau-Varilla of France plans revolt w/ US
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