Chapter 10
Becoming a World Power
The Pressure to Expand
The Spanish-American War
A New Foreign Policy
Debating America’s New Role
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The US had developed into an “INDUSTRIAL POWERHOUSE”
US needed to export goods to the world. To protect its
interests, the US, like Europe, looked to colonize/imperialize
Growth of Imperialism – stronger nations attempts to create empires
by dominating weaker nations
◦ Why Imperialism Grew
 Economic Factors – need for natural resources, new markets
 Nationalistic Factors – (devotion to one’s country) – believe their culture,
ideas, ways of life are superior and must be shared (manifest destiny, divine right)
 Military Factors – superior forces and need to protect economic interests
 Humanitarian Factors – duty to spread blessings of western civilization (law,
democracy, religion, medicine, etc)
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Europe Leads the Way – better transportation made expansion possible
British Empire - “the sun never sets on the British Empire”
Competition for new territory grew very intense
By 1890 – US eager to join competition. MONROE DOCTRINE meant US
would stay out of Africa, but Central/South America and Pacific OK
The Pressure to Expand
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Use colored markers or pencils to
complete the map. (p. 351)
◦ Identify the major countries colonizing
◦ Identify which parts of the world EACH took
control over
◦ Designate a color for each country
◦ Color map to show regions colonized by each
Map Activity
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Expanding U.S. Interests
◦ MONROE DOCTRINE – Foreign Policy from 1820’s that stated the US
would not expand into Africa and Europe would not expand in the
Western Hemisphere (N/C/S America)
◦ US foreign policy focused on Central America in mid-1800’s
◦ Seward’s purchase of Alaska (Seward’s Folly) extended US reach - 1867
◦ US also showed interest in the Pacific Ocean (1853 Japan, 1860’s China)
 Midway Islands and Hawaii for ports
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Arguments for US Expansionism
◦ Economic – needed markets for goods
 BANANA REPUBICS – US investments in central Americans countries brought US
control to some degree. Money went, but rights did not follow
◦ Protecting US Security/Interests – US economic interests needed to be
protected. A strong NAVY was deemed necessary
 By 1900 – US had one of the strongest, most powerful navies on the seas
◦ Preserving the US Spirit – Americans loved to explore
 MANIFEST DESTINY – our right/responsibility to expand, share our way of life
 SOCIAL DARWINISM – those more powerful should/would dominate weaker.
Sadly, this was driven much by racism
The Pressure to Expand
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YELLOW JOURNALISM – American newspaper used
sensationalism to stoke to flames of war
◦ Young Cuban girl rescued from evil Spanish
◦ Creative headlines sold papers and created an outcry for gov’t action
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US ready to expand, this gave them the reason
◦ To expand, the US would have to take on another country (to prove
they were legitimate players in the game)
◦ Spain’s treatment of native people in Cuba the excuse needed
The Spanish American War
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Displays of US Power –
◦ Chile –
mobs against American sailors attacked, killed - US gov’t reacted strongly,
demanded payment to families
◦ Brazil – when rebellion possible, US sent in troops to protect US interests. Stopped rebellion
◦ Venezuela – When GB got involved in dispute between V and neighbor, US demanded it go
to arbitration (Monroe Doctrine). GB said Monroe Doctrine had not standing in international
law. US threatened retaliation and GB backed down
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The Cuban Rebellion –
When GB backed down, US got more confident
◦ Cuba –
Spain controlled Cuba, violently. Cubans had tried to rebel but failed. In 1895,
Cubans tried again when economy dropped. Spain sent troops and put hundreds of thousands
of Cubans into “reconcentration camps”. Prisoners lived on little food in horrid conditions for
over 2 years. Starvation killed more than 200,000 in this time
◦ Jose Marti – Cuban journalist whipped up US support for rebellion. People wanted to help,
but presidents McKinley and Cleveland did not. To ‘get the attention’ of the great American
presidents, the rebels attacked and burned US interests in Cuba. As a result, US businessmen
pressured government to intervene
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Yellow Journalism –
US newspapers took up the cause
◦ Hearst and Pulitzer competed to see who could show most horrors. Nationalism and JINGOISM
pushed US towards war with Spain
◦ JINGOISM – burst of national pride and desire for aggressive foreign policy
Setting the Stage for War
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Early 1898, riots broke out in Havana, Cuba
◦ President McKinley sent warships to Havana Harbor (USS MAINE)
◦ Several events will push the US towards war
 The deLome letter – a letter stolen from Spain’s ambassador called President McKinley
“weak and a bidder for the admiration of a crowd.” Press used to intensify anti-Spanish
sentiment
 The explosion of the USS Maine – An explosion sank the USS Maine in Havana
Harbor. More than 250 US sailors killed. The explosion was probably an accident but the
press used yellow journalism to blame Spain. The enraged US public demanded war
 Preparing in the Philippines – US attacked another Spanish colony, the Philippines.
It was a key location the US wanted. Used conflict to take from Spain. Told US Navy to
attack if war broke out with Spain
 McKinley’s War Message – McKinley made demands of Spain (end
concentration camps, Cuban independence, compensation). Spain agreed to
all but Cuban independence. McKinley decided it wasn’t enough and asked
Congress to declare war on Spain
The Spanish American War
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“A splendid little war” ◦
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1st Action in Philippines – surprise attack on Spanish Fleet
In 7 hours, entire Spanish Pacific Fleet destroyed
US troops gathered in Florida to prepare to invade Cuba
Spanish Fleet tried to escape, sunk in Havana Harbor
Though 1,500 Americans died, only 400 died in battle
The Treaty of Paris
◦ Cuban independence recognized by Spain
◦ US paid $20 million but got Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam
◦ Treaty met with great debate before narrowly passing
◦ Some wanted annexation for new territories
◦ Others horrified at tactics used by US to drum up war and take territory
The Spanish American War
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Dilemma in the Philippines
◦ Now need to take control, Filipino people wanted their independence
◦ Uprising against US troops, 100,000’s filipino’s died
◦ US finding imperialism/expansion messy
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Fate of Cuba
◦ US set up military occupation, Cuban people wanted independence
◦ US did not believe Cubans capable of self-government
◦ Platt Amendment – limited independence
 US reserved right to intervene is US interests were at risk
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The US and Puerto Rico
◦ US took Puerto Rico as a territory with no plans to make a state
◦ Puerto Ricans agreed to follow US control
◦ Still a territory today
New Challenges After the War
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Annexation of Hawaii
◦ Economic control taken by US capitalists. Governing power taken from
Queen Lilioukalani (she tried to resist and failed)
◦ Pearl Harbor used as major port for US Navy and for trade
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Samoa
◦ Deal struck with the leaders of Samoa. US only would have access to
their ports. If they allowed any other country to use, the US would
intervene/attack
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Open Door to China
◦ Spheres of Influence
 Splitting up China into regions, each colonizing country would sell/trade within
their region
◦ Open Door Policy
 China would be open to all countries to trade throughout the entire country
 US believed it could beat out all competition if the rule for trade were equal for
all
Other Claims in the Pacific
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Use your book (p. 366 – 371) to find information to fill out
a chart like the one below on a piece of paper.
Foreign Policy After the Spanish American War
Panama
Canal
Big Stick
Diplomacy
Dollar
Diplomacy
Moral
Diplomacy
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A New Foreign Policy
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Building the Canal
◦ US had need to be able to get their Navy/business goods to both the
West (China, Japan) and East (Europe)
◦ Had to sail all the way around South America or keep 2 fleets
◦ A canal had been proposed by the French in the late 1800’s but failed
due to diseases and money issues
◦ US tried to secure rights to build the canal from Colombia, who
demanded an outrageous sum ($100 million). The US refused and the
price fell to $40M. Congress passed act to OK the deal as long as
Colombia agreed.
◦ Colombia stalled, hoping french deal would expire and they could raise
the price for the canal zone
◦ The US got creative in gaining control of the canal zone
 Panamanian rebel had tried several times to gain independence from Colombia
 US made a deal with rebels to block Colombia from Panama during the
rebellion and in return, when they were independent, they would sell us the
rights to build the canal for a reasonable price ($10M)
 It worked and construction began in 1904. It would be complete in 1914
The Panama Canal
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To accomplish the task, the US had to overcome tough
obstacles
◦ Disease – malaria, yellow fever
◦ Terrain – 51 miles from coast to coast
◦ Technology of the day – no big earth moving machines, everything was
dug by hand. All that earth had to be moved out
Panama Canal
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Method used opposed by Roosevelt’s opponents “Foul play
in American politics”
Most Americans saw canal as a necessity for American
prosperity and security
This and other dealings in Central America left the region
with a really bad opinion of the US
Reaction to the
Canal
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“Speak Softly and Carry a BIG STICK” TRoosevelt
The Roosevelt Corollary – added onto the Monroe Doctrine
◦ Only wanted to see our neighbors be orderly and prosperous
◦ US would intervene if not in US interests (Platt Amendment)
◦ If forced to use “police power” to prevent other nations from taking
advantage, we would
◦ 1st attempt in Dominican Republic. It went bankrupt. When European
nations threatened to intervene, Roosevelt took over. US banks oversaw
finances. Tho Congress tried to block, President used an “executive
order” to make a deal with the D.R.
◦ US intervention in Latin America became common during this era
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Roosevelt as a Peacemaker
(wins Nobel Peace Prize for efforts)
◦ #1 issue was to keep “open door” in trade with China
◦ War between Japan and Russia threatened this
◦ Roosevelt mediated a peace agreement. Both nations sent
representatives to US. Japan agreed to small land concessions while
Russia agreed to leave Manchuria
Roosevelt’s BIG STICK Diplomacy
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Foreign Policy under Roosevelt had been to use force to get
our way (“Big Stick”). Presidents that followed saw
different methods as better
TAFT and Dollar Diplomacy
◦ 2 Goals: Open Door with China, stability in Latin America
◦ Dollar Diplomacy replaced bullets with dollars. Investing in these
nations would increase US wealth and make countries our allies rather
than our enemies
◦ Did not work as well as Taft had hoped. US invested millions in
railroads in China. Money/investments lost when revolution hit China
◦ In Latin America, US backed some bad governments because they
would protect US interests, angering local rebel leaders
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WILSON and Moral Diplomacy
◦ Revolution in Mexico risked US investments. European countries made
deals with new leader in Mexico (who had assassinated his opponent).
Wilson refused to deal with “the butcher”
◦ US would intervene in Mexico
Foreign Policy after Roosevelt
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WILSON and Moral Diplomacy
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American troops briefly arrested in Mexican town
Wilson uses as provocation, and sends in US military
After brief occupation, Mexican leader resigns. US Navy withdraws
Mexican rebel, Pancho Villa will draw US back. Attack on US town
across border give Wilson reason to send troops into Mexico. After
many clashes (and deaths on both sides), US withdraws without ever
catching Villa
◦ Moral Diplomacy did not work well at all. Wilson’s intervention in
Mexico began ill feelings between the two countries that still exists
today
Foreign Policy after Roosevelt
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Moral and Political Arguments
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“Liberty for All”
The Constitution should follow the flag (don’t benefit from US takeover)
Shouldn’t be forced to wait for liberty
Went against democratic principles
PREBUTTAL – people weren’t ready for democracy
Racial Arguments
◦ Many people, at this time, believed white people were superior
◦ Policies were racist because the US only went into areas where people of
color lived
African Americans were torn – wanted to support their country but had
been and were the subject to racial discrimination
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Economic Arguments
◦ Not right for the US to expand (cost too much in $$ and lives)
◦ People from annexed areas were coming to America and taking jobs
Anti Imperialism
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New Frontier
◦ Exploring new regions
◦ Frontier mentality
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Celebration of American power & traditions
Needed to gain new US markets to maintain economic
growth
GREAT WHITE FLEET – Navy trip designed to demonstrate
the US’s huge naval powers
Appeal of Imperialism
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Central/South American countries saw US imperialism as a
threat. It DID NOT benefit the majority of their people
◦ YANKEE GO HOME!!
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But, US was now so powerful, that needy nations felt the
only nation they could turn to for help/aid
Imperialism viewed from Outside
Compare and Contrast the 3 types of
diplomacy discussed. (big stick, dollar,
and moral)
2) According to Anti-Imperialists, how was
imperialism inconsistent with basic
American principles?
3) Why was the Roosevelt Corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine considered by many to
be a bad foreign policy?
1)
Chapter 10 Essays