18.3: Acquiring New Lands
OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe U.S. involvement in Puerto Rico
2. Explain how the United States maintained
political control over Cuba.
3. Identify the causes and effects of the
Philippine-American War.
4. Explain the purpose of the Open Door
policy in China.
5. Summarize opposing views regarding U.S.
imperialism.
US INVOLVEMENT
IN PUERTO RICO
 Puerto Rico LOSES independence when it is acquired by US
during Spanish-American War.
 Some Puerto Ricans initially welcome US. Later, calls for
independence re-surface. US’s Foraker Act denies P.R.
citizenship and self-determination.
 What did the Foraker Act say?
 Puerto Ricans granted citizenship in 1917. Remains territory of
US.
Cuba Becomes a Protectorate
 AT FIRST, US intends Cuba to become independent.
 Teller Amendment states that US will not annex or control Cuba.
 US brings many improvements in health and sanitation to Cuba,
but it does NOT give it full independence.
 US writes Platt Amendment.
 EFFECT? Cuba becomes a US protectorate.
 What is a protectorate?
What was the purpose of the
Teller Amendment?
Assure Cubans and European powers that
American intervention was not an “imperial”
land grab.
stated that the United States, "hereby disclaims
any disposition of intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said
island except for pacification thereof, and
asserts its determination, when that is
accomplished, to leave the government and
control of the island to its people."
Was it observed?
What was the purpose of
Platt Amendment?
 February 1901.
 It allowed the United States "the right to intervene for the
preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a
government adequate for the protection of life, property, and
individual liberty..."
 In effect until 1934
CUBA
 US seeks to control Cuba to protect American businesses
there.
 Marines return to Cuba 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922.
 US establishes naval bases at Guantanamo Bay.
 US troops back conservative Cuban leaders friendly to US
and US business.
Compare and Contrast
the Teller and the Platt
Amendments
PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR
How was the Philippines different from Cuba?
 Emilio Aguinaldo
 Guerilla war
 Re-concentration camps
 Atrocities
 Forced Americanization
 Remains protectorate until July 4, 1946.
CASUALTY FIGURES:
 U.S.-- 4,234 dead and 2,818 wounded.
 Filipino -- 20,000 military dead and 200,000 civilians
killed. (approximate numbers. Some historians estimate
as many as 500,000 killed).
U.S. IN CHINA
Why did the U.S. support the Open Door?
1. U.S. wanted exports to China
- especially to build railroads.
2. U.S. wanted to protect the “free market” abroad
- US Secretary of State John Hay proposes “Open Door” policy =
free market and continued Chinese independence
3. Did not want US to fall behind European Powers
- France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Russia, and Dutch are busy
“carving” up China as its empire weakens
Did the Open Door policy
work?
Sort of…
 Ignored by Great
Powers
 Boxer Rebellion - 1900
 US now entangled in
China
“The Boxers, or "The Righteous and
Harmonious Fists," were a religious
society that had originally
rebelled against the imperial
government in Shantung in 1898.
They practiced an animistic
magic of rituals and spells which
they believed made them
impervious to bullets and pain.
The Boxers believed that the
expulsion of foreign devils would
magically renew Chinese society
and begin a new golden age.
Much of their discontent,
however, was focused on the
economic scarcity of the 1890's.
They were a passionate and
confident group, full of contempt
for authority and violent
emotions.”
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/BOXER.HTM
Boxer
Rebellion
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/peopleevents/images/pande25.jp
ELECTION OF 1900
PAGE 541
The election is also a “referendum” on imperialism.
What are the arguments for US imperialism? (PG 541)
What are the arguments against it?
What argument do you find persuasive? Why?
TERMS
 Terms:
 OBJECTIVES:
 Platt Amendment
1.
Describe U.S. involvement in Puerto
Rico
 Protectorate
2.
Explain how the United States
maintained political control over
Cuba.
3.
Identify the causes and effects of the
Philippine-American War.
4.
Explain the purpose of the Open Door
policy in China.
5.
Summarize opposing views regarding
U.S. imperialism.
 Emilio Aguinaldo
 John Hay
 Open Door Notes
 Boxer Rebellion