Unit 4: Imperialism and
Progressivism
4-1: Imperialism part I
• In the late 19th century the U.S. engaged in
imperialism:
– The economic and political domination of a
stronger nation over a weaker one
• Why did the U.S. engage in imperialism?
1. Raw materials for factories
2. More markets for goods
3. Racism: people in weaker countries are inferior,
we must civilize/Christianize them
4-1: Imperialism part I
• Foundations for imperialism laid by the Monroe
Doctrine in 1823
– Issued by the U.S., said no European intervention in
Western hemisphere
• First place U.S. engages in Imperialism—Japan
– Commodore Matthew Perry forces Japan to open Tokyo
Bay to trade with the West.
• U.S. businesses under Sanford Dole also forcibly
remove Queen Liliuokalani from the throne in Hawaii
– Businesses wanted control of sugar, fruit plantations
– Hawaii is annexed as American territory by 1898
4-1: Imperialism part I
• Supporters of Imperialism thought U.S.
needed a big navy
• They were influenced by Alfred Thayer Mahan
– President of naval war college, said U.S. needed
big navy to protect its commercial fleet
– Also supported imperialism because U.S. could
gain ports around the world
4-1: Imperialism part I
• Supporters of Imperialism in U.S. turned attention to Cuba
– Rebels had turned against the Spanish
– A famous rebel leader in exile in New York was Jose Marti
• American newspapers under Joseph Pulitzer and William
Randolph Hearst engaged in yellow journalism:
– Exaggerated stories designed to influence public opinion for war
• One situation exaggerated in newspapers was the de Lome
letter:
– Spanish foreign minister de Lome insults president McKinley,
newspapers blow it out of proportion to get country to favor
war
4-1: Imperialism part I
• Then, in Feb. 1898 U.S. battleship U.S.S.
Maine blows up in Havana Harbor
• President McKinley urges caution, doesn’t
want to go to war
• Politicians in Republican party wanted to unite
the country through pro-war feelings
– Uniting a country through pro-war sentiment is
known as jingoism
Note Quiz
1. What were the three reasons the U.S.
participated in Imperialism?
2. Why did the U.S. remove Queen Liliuokalani
from her throne?
3. What did Alfred Thayer Mahan say the U.S.
needed, and why?
4. Define jingoism
5. What was one situation where yellow journalism
was used by American newspapers to influence
people towards war?
4-2: Imperialism part II
• The United States declares war on Spain in
1898
• George Dewey leads American navy against
Spanish in the Philippines at Manila Bay—
American victory
• In Cuba, Teddy Roosevelt leads a volunteer
regiment, nicknamed the “Rough Riders”
against the Spanish
4-2: Imperialism part II
• Treaty of Paris gives Cuba independence, Puerto Rico,
Guam go the U.S.; Philippines sold to the U.S. for 20
million.
• Emilio Aguinaldo rebels against U.S. rule in Philippines,
Americans force Filipinos into concentration camps
• Congress passes the Foraker Act (1900); makes Puerto
Rico a territory, gives it some self-rule
• Platt Amendment is passed regarding Cuba
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cuba can’t make treaties with other nations
Cuba has to give U.S. naval bases
Cuba has to keep debt low
U.S. can intervene to “protect” Cuban independence
4-2: Imperialism part II
• U.S. wants a sphere of influence in China.
• Gets European nations to agree to Open Door
policy. Why?
1. U.S. doesn’t want any one European nation
dominating China
2. U.S. wants to keep China open as a market
• Boxer Rebellion was a revolt of Chinese
shadow-boxers against Western influence
– International force puts down the rebellion
4-2: Imperialism part II
• U.S. had larger navy, nicknamed “Great White
Fleet”; but it needed way to get from AtlanticPacific quickly
• U.S. asked Columbia to build Panama Canal,
Columbia refused; U.S. helped start a revolt in
Panama, Panama allows U.S. to build Canal
• President Roosevelt issues Roosevelt Corollary to
Monroe Doctrine
– U.S. will intervene in affairs of Latin American nations
to maintain political and economic stability.
4-2: Imperialism part II
• Presidents Roosevelt and Taft believed in “big
stick/dollar diplomacy”
– Belief that U.S. businesses should have an interest
in economic development of Latin America, China.
• President Woodrow Wilson believed in
“missionary/moral diplomacy”
– Belief that U.S. had a obligation to promote
human rights, self-deter in Latin America
Note Quiz
1. What was the nickname of the volunteer
regiment led by Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba?
2. What were the 4 parts of the Platt Amendment?
3. Why did the U.S. work to get the Open Door
policy in China accepted?
4. Why did the U.S. encourage Panamanians to
revolt against Colombia?
5. President Wilson’s belief that the U.S. should
promote human rights in Latin America was
known as…
4-3: Progressivism
• Many poor social conditions existed in late 19th
early 20th century:
–
–
–
–
Dirty cities/crime
Political corruption
Poverty/large gap between rich and poor
Poor working conditions/labor standards
• Muckrakers were journalists who revealed these
problems
– Jacob Riis: exposed filth, crowding of cities
– Ida Tarbell: exposed political corruption
4-3: Progressivism
• Reforms in government occur
– How to lead a city?
• City commission: city is run by board of experts, not elected
official (in theory, less corruption, political machines)
• National reforms
– Direct primary: all people can vote for their party’s
candidate to run in general election
– Initiative: voters can get issue put on ballot
– Referendum: voters can vote on issues
– Recall: voters can take elected officials out of office if
they do poorly
4-3: Progressivism
• Women push for suffrage—the right to vote,
and get it with the 19th amendment (1919)
• Women also want Prohibition of alcohol—
think alcohol a social evil
– Prohibition is passed as 18th amendment, bans
sale and consumption of alcohol
4-3: Progressivism
• Roosevelt reforms (very active in executive/legislative
branch)
– Labor: Roosevelt negotiated agreement between miners
union (United Mine Workers), management
– Business: Roosevelt known as “trustbuster” breaking up
trusts he thought created monopolies
– Consumerism: Roosevelt gets government reforms passed
after reading Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”
• A book that detailed the disgusting conditions in Chicago
meatpacking industry
– Environment: passed laws regarding water management,
set aside western lands for national parks
• Roosevelt was a friend of environmentalist John Muir, who started
the Sierra Club
4-3: Progressivism
• Taft becomes President after Roosevelt, but
does not carry on reforms, angers Roosevelt
• Roosevelt creates Progressive “Bull Moose”
Party, a third party, to run against Taft
• Democrat Woodrow Wilson wins 1912
election because Taft, Roosevelt split
Republican vote.
Note Quiz
1. Why did Woodrow Wilson win the 1912
election?
2. What constitutional amendment gave
women the right to vote?
3. Whose book convinced Teddy Roosevelt to
get reforms in food safety passed?
4. What did John Muir start?
5. What amendment banned the sale and
consumption of alcohol?