Chapter 18 – America Claims an
Empire
18.1 – Imperialism and America
Why did Americans support
imperialism?
• Imperialism: stronger countries
taking control over weaker
countries
• Desire for military strength
• Create new markets
• Superiority of American culture
(ethnocentrism)
Bell Ringer:
1. What do you see in this
picture?
2. What do you think this
picture is showing or
representing?
• Military Strength: Alfred T. Mahan built
up the U.S. Navy, built modern
battleships, and the U.S. became the
largest naval power.
• New Markets: businesses needed markets
for their goods and raw materials for their
factories
• Superiority: Americans were believed
they were better than people in other
countries and some wanted to spread
their Christianity and culture to others
The U.S. buys territory
• Alaska in 1867 from Russia for
$7.2 million
• -The U.S. forced Hawaii to build
Pearl Harbor, a naval base, in
1887.
• -William McKinley annexed
Hawaii in 1898.
18.2 – The Spanish-American War
• Cuba and Spain were at war with
one another and Cubans wanted
American aid. Yellow journalism
exaggerated the news.
Why did Americans become angry with
Spain?
• A Spanish official insulted
President William McKinley saying
he was a weak leader
• The U.S.S. Maine was in Cuba to
protect Americans, but the ship
exploded and 260 people died.
Newspapers blamed Spain
War with Spain erupted on April 1898.
• First battle was in the Philippines – a Spanish
colony for 300 years
• In May, an American naval commander sailed to
the Philippines and destroyed the Spanish fleet.
• For the next 2 months, U.S. soldiers fought on
the side of Filipino rebels.
• Spanish surrendered to the U.S. in August in the
Philippines.
Cuba
• In Cuba, the U.S. blocked off a harbor
and Spanish ships couldn’t leave.
• Volunteer soldiers, called the “Rough
Riders,” helped win the battle of San
Juan Hill.
• The Spanish surrendered on July 25 in
Cuba.
The Treaty of Paris was signed
• Cuba became independent
• Spain gave Puerto Rico and Guam to
the U.S.
• The U.S. bought the Philippine
Islands for $20 million
• Americans had mixed feelings about
imperialism
18.3 – Acquiring New Lands
• How did Puerto Ricans feel about U.S.
control?
• -Resented them because U.S. military
officials insulted them and limited their
freedom.
• -The Foraker Act ended military rule and
set up a civil government
• -In 1917, Congress made Puerto Ricans U.S.
citizens
How did the U.S. keep control over
Cuba?
• -Cuba was independent, but the U.S. army
stayed there for 4 years
• -Cubans wrote a constitution and the U.S.
insisted they add the Platt Amendment
• Platt Amendment: Limited Cuba’s rights when
dealing with other countries and gave the U.S.
special privileges.
•
-Cuba became a U.S. protectorate
•
Protectorate: a country that is
controlled by a stronger power
Why did the Filipinos rebel against the
United States?
•Thought the U.S. promised
independence; felt betrayed.
• -The U.S. won the
rebellion and set up a
government like Cuba’s
What were U.S. interests in China?
• -They wanted to trade with China
• -Open Door Notes: message sent to
other countries to protect U.S.
trading rights in China.
• -Boxer Rebellion: Chinese rebellion
against Western influence, 1900.
18.4 America as a World Power
• How did Roosevelt use American power?
• Roosevelt became president in 1901 and he used
American power to help settle the RussoJapanese War.
• Helped build the Panama Canal.
• Created a statement called the Roosevelt
Corollary:
▫ The U.S. wouldn’t allow Europeans to
influence the Western Hemisphere.
Why did Woodrow Wilson send troops
to Mexico?
• He wanted countries to have democratic
governments
• Mexicans rebelled, but the U.S. sent in
troops
• In 1917, he took his troops out and
Mexico adopted a constitution
• Wilson faced a possible war with Europe