Chapter 27 Notes
Isolationism is disappearing/Imperialism emerging
Imperialism
•Many began looking beyond our borders(population, wealth,
production-labor violence & agrarian unrest-Overseas markets
•Yellow Press contributed-adventures of expansion
•Overseas missions-spread superior values to “backward” peoplesuperiority of Anglo-Saxons(Rev J. Strong-Our Country: Its
Possible Future & Present Crisis)
•Teddy Roosevelt/Henry Cabot Lodge expressed Darwinism
•Alfred Thayer Mahan-Influence of Sea Power Upon Historyhelped to stimulate Naval competition
•New international interest-James G. Blaine-”Big Sister Policy”open L. American markets to America
Incidents emerging from aggressive attitudes:
• US & German navies-1889-Samoan Islands
• Lynching of 11 Italians in New Orleans-1891
• 1892-death of 2 US sailors in Chile-damages paid
• Argument over hunting rights in Pribilof Islands off Alaska
resolved in 1893
• New Aggressive Mood!
Monroe Doctrine & Venezuelan Squall
• Anti-British feeling flared in 1895-96 over Venezuela-Jungle of
British Guiana & Venezuela under dispute
• Venezuelans made strong claims which went our the door once
gold was found
• President Cleveland/Sec of State Olney presented London
w/letter claiming they were in violation of the Monroe DoctrineLondon needed to submit to arbitration & we were calling the
shots in the Western Hemisphere
• Britain took 4 months to respond-rejected Doctrine and
arbitration
• Cleveland sent a special message to Congress to put together
a commission of where the boundary should go-if Britain would
not accept we would fight(War?)
• Sober minds prevailed-Germany-S. Africa-Britain
• Monroe Doctrine enhanced
Hawaii
• Long attracted the attention of US-1820 first missionaries
• Some saw as an extension of US coastline-1840s State
Department warned others to stay out-Reciprocity in 1875-1887
naval rights to Pearl Harbor
• TROUBLE: 1890 McKinley Tariff raised barriers vs. sugar-white
planters thought US should annex-Queen L. insisted natives
should rule-tiny white minority led a successful revolt in in 1893
assisted by American forces
• Grover Cleveland thought we had wronged Queen L. and
withdrew treaty from Senate and sent investigators to Hawaii
• Majority of natives did not support annexation yet Americans
did-put off for 5 years
Cuban Revolt
• Roots of revolt economic and in the US-1894 Tariff
• Adopted a scorched earth policy-damage enough and Spain
would move out and US would help-insurrectos
• Us sided with the Patriots-investment of $50 million -$100
million in trade-Spanish misrule also harmed shipping routes &
future canal
• 1896 Spanish Gen. “Butcher” Weyler herded many into barbed
wire concentration camps to keep many from helping the
resistance-many died!
• Congress in 1896 asked Grover Cleveland to recognize the
Patriots-he would not
Maine
• “Yellow Journalism” ruled the day-exaggerated events-Weyler
removed in 1897 yet conditions worsened
• Spain talked of some self-government in Cuba yet Spaniards
resisted
• 1898 US sent Maine to Cuba to evacuate Americans if needed
• Spanish minister in DC wrote a letter about McKinley saying he
was an “ear to the ground politician”-De Lome letter
• Feb 15, 1898 Maine blew up in Havana Harbor-260 US sailors
died
• Who was responsible? American reaction?
McKinley & War
• US diplomats had worked-1.) End reconcentration camps 2.)
Armistice between Spain and rebels
• McKinley pressured to ask for declaration of war
• McKinley did not trust Spain, believed in Democracy & give
people what they wanted
• Congress declared war in April, 1898 w/ Teller Amendment?
Victory
• American people plunged lightly into war-Ready?
• Spain’s dominance on paper?
• Navy prepared-TR took over for Sec of Navy John Long-cabled
Comm. George Dewey to move on Philippines in event of warmoved to Manila in May of 1898 destroyed Spanish fleet
Imperialist Plums
• Dewey had destroyed fleet yet could not move on Forts of
Manila-had to wait for reinforcements
• Foreign warships began to gather to protect nationals in Manila
• British helped ease hostilities between US and Germany
• August 13, 1898-US forces finally arrived and took forts-Joint
Resolution-Hawaii on July 7, 1898-McKinley approvedresidents of Hawaii granted full citizenship rights & full territorial
status in 1900
Cuban Invasion
• Shortly after we declared war Spain sent a fleet to CubaProblems! Panic seized Eastern US & government had to
dispatch old worthless ships for marale
• Blockade by US yet invasion struggled-led by Wllm Shafter yet
unprepared for war in the tropics
• Rough Riders emerged-led by TR-Political pull landed him the
spot since he was so nearsighted
• Great success for US-not much opposition
End for Spain
• American fleet closing in on Spanish fleet-Spanish fleet
destroyed-500 Spaniards died-Signed armistice Aug 12, 1898
• If Spain could have held out? US was dying due to other factors
• 400 died from bullets-5,000 from sickness
McKinley Heeds Duty
• 1898 negotiations began: easily picked up Guam & Puerto
Rico-Biggest problem was the Philippines-larger that British
Isles-7 million people
• McKinley felt we could not free them from Spain & just leave
• Maybe Germany would take over and give freedom later
• Missionaries eager for new converts, Wall Street wanted profitsA “Voice” told McKinley to take all of the Philippines &
Christianize, and civilize
• Manila was captured the day after the armistice-deadlock
broken when US agreed to pay Spain $20 million
America’s Empire
• Growing Empire and we had acquired about all we would end
with
• Anti-Imperialist League sprang up-many prominent members
• Filipinos desired freedom-would we deny them that?
• Imperialists:trade profits, natural resources, must uplift!
• In Senate the treaty was hotly debated-WJ Bryan threw his
support behind and barely passed
Puerto Rico/Cuba
• Foraker Act of 1900-allowed limited amount of popular
government-in 1917 granted Puerto Rico US citizenship-helped
to modernize & still many wanted independence
• Legal Issues? 1901-Insular Cases-Filipinos & Puerto Ricans may be
subject to US rule yet did not enjoy US rights
• Cuba-US government(military) set up under Gen. Leonard Wood &
brought much advancement-went after cure for yellow fever(Dr
Walter Reed)-mosquitoes carried
• US withdrew in 1902(Teller Amendment)-wrote own constitution
which included the Platt Amendment: not to impair themselves
w/treaty, not contracting debt beyond resources, US could intervene
w/ troops to restore order & protect, promised to sell coaling and
naval stations(Guantanamo-28,000 acre beachhead)
New Horizons
• Spanish War-Coming Out Party---World Power!
• War lasted 113 days-more respect from Europe
• New Spirit(Souza)-”Splendid Little War”-rush to empire
• Ally-Britain, L. America-suspicious, Germany-envious
• Philippines made US a far eastern power-unwilling to defend
dangerous commitments
• Mahan’s big navy seemed vindicated
• Elihu Root took over War Department-established a general
staff & War College
• End of Bloody Chasm between N & S
• Many Southerners fought under General Joe Wheeler-Union
cavalry hero
• Makers of America