America becomes a world power:
Imperialism
1
TRADITIONAL UNITED STATES FOREIGN
POLICY WAS ISOLATIONIST
“It is our true policy
to steer clear of
permanent
alliances with any
portion of the
foreign world”
PRESIDENT GEORGE
WASHINGTON, 1796
2
“Manifest destiny” extended beyond
the borders of the United States
3
DEFINITION OF IMPERIALISM
The policy of extending a
nation's authority by
territorial acquisition or
by the establishment of
economic and political
hegemony (control) over
other nations.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
4
REASONS AND RATIONALIZATIONS FOR
IMPERIALISM
•To gain more power in the
international arena by following
the European example
•Missionary zeal (enthusiasm)
•To gain more wealth
5
Which countries were the most powerful in
the early 20th century based on this map
alone?
6
Great Britain, a major world power, served
as a role model of an imperialist power
7
Missionary zeal, the desire to convert
“heathen, non-believers” led to
people moving to “uncivilized” areas in
hopes of helping natives
8
SOCIAL DARWINISM
The wealthy are the strong and therefore
have the right to rule the poor who are weak.
The United States, as a strong nation, must
dominate the weaker nations.
philosopher
Herbert Spencer
who developed
the theory of
social Darwinism

9
How is the burden portrayed?
10
The United States became an
imperialist power to gain more
wealth.
THE UNITED STATES
NEEDED NEW
MARKETS TO EXPORT
THE SURPLUS
PRODUCTS OF ITS
FARMS AND
FACTORIES
Year
Imports
Exports
1870
$300 Million
$350 Million
1875
$900 Million
$800 Million
1880
$1.22 Billion
$1.0 Billion
1889
$900 Million
$800 Million
1892
$1.2 Billion
$1.42 Billion
1899
1.3 Billion
1.35 Billion
1903
1.7 Billion
1.8 Billion
1914
1.6 Billion
2.8 Billion
11
America’s first attempt at
imperialism took place in Samoa
•In 1889, 1 British, 3 German, 3 American ships faced off
•Wanted naval bases
•Typhoon destroyed all but the British ship
12
•In 1890, Samoa surrendered to us (Eastern Samoa) & Germany
Missionaries from the U.S. went to Hawaii
in the late 18th century
•After the Spanish American war, US interested because near
china & had rich soil
•Already Christian missionaries there
•American businessmen & planters rose up against Hawaiian king
in 1886
•New constitution written in 1887, pearl harbor rights given to
us, then king died
•daughter Queen Liliuokalani protected Hawaii from brief
British takeover before us annexationists forced queen to give
13
up land rather than shed blood
Monroe Doctrine: in 1823, president Monroe vowed that
the U.S would not interfere with European colonies in
Latin America, but Europe should stay out of
independent Latin American countries
14
SANFORD DOLE
Became president of the republic of Hawaii after
the queen was overthrown. Hawaii was annexed as
part of the u.s. in 1898; became a state 1959 15
Dethroned
“The cause of Hawaii and independence
is larger and dearer than the life of
any man connected with it. Love of
country is deep-seated in the breast
of every Hawaiian, whatever his
station.”
- Queen Lili`Uokalani, 1894
“Hawaii is ours. As I look back upon the
first steps in this miserable business,
and as I contemplate the means used
to complete the outrage, I am
ashamed of the whole affair.”
- (former) President Cleveland, 1898
16
CUBA
PROBLEMS BETWEEN CUBA AND THEIR SPANISH
RULERS DOMINATE AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY17AT
THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY
Yellow Journalism
PULITZER
•American
press called
spanish
general
putting down
cuban revolt
“the
Butcher”
HEARST
•Articles
increased
american
public
support for
actions on
behalf of
18
cubans
ALL THAT WAS NEEDED TO START A WAR WAS A
SPARK AND THIS CAME ON FEBRUARY 15TH,
1898, IN HAVANA HARBOR.
USS MAINE IN HAVANA, CUBA HARBOR
•President McKinley wanted to stay neutral, as a
civil war veteran himself
•Unclear that ship was actually destroyed by Spain
(think: Gulf of Tonkin)
19
The US got
involved in CUBA
because of the
explosion of U.S
Maine (U.S Ship)
20
Yellow journalists were quick to blame the
Spanish
21
US GATLING GUNS: AN EARLY TYPE OF
MACHINE GUN
22
THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND THE “ROUGH
RIDERS” IN CUBA
23
The Battle of San Juan Hill in Santiago, Cuba
•US troops led by lt. col. Teddy Roosevelt led cavalry “Rough
riders” unit up hill without horses
24
Teller Amendment, 1898
-adopted by US Congress during the war
Resolved, First. That the people of the Island of Cuba are, of
right ought to be, free and independent.
Second. the Government of Spain at once relinquish its
authority and government in the Island of Cuba and
withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters.
Third. The United States may use military force to enforce the
resolutions.
Fourth. The United States has all authority over the island
until the people of the island prove fit to form self-rule.
25
US FORCES CONQUER THE PHILIPPINES
•Less than 2 weeks after congress
declared war on spain in cuba, us
navy commander dewey attacked city
of manila with native support &
succeeded in less than 4 months
•US then debated over annexation
until it was annexed in 1899; they did
not receive independence until 1946
26
US DESTROYS THE SPANISH FLEET AT MANILA BAY
27
ADMIRAL DEWEY, HERO OF THE NAVAL BATTLE
OF MANILA BAY
28
ONE RESULT OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR WAS
A RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE NORTH AND
SOUTH HELPING END THE LEGACY OF BITTERNESS
SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
• We were United in fighting the Spanish
29
US OCCUPIES TWO MORE SPANISH
COLONIAL POSSESSIONS
•Both ceded to us after spanish
american war in 1898
•Both had hoped for independence
•Neither are us states
30
THE US BECOMES AN IMPERIAL
POWER
HAWAII: 1898
MIDWAY ISLAND: 1867
WAKE ISLAND: 1898
GUAM: 1898
SAMOA ISLAND: 1899
PHILIPPINES: 1898
PUERTO RICO: 1898
Cuba: 1898 occupation;
1902 Platt amendment
gives us rights to
intervene, gives us base @
Guantanamo bay, limits
Cuban treaty ability
What is happening in this cartoon?
31
FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN CHINA TAKES
CENTER STAGE AT THE END OF THE 19TH
CENTURY
•China resisted foreign
influence for decades, but
after losing territory in a
war with japan, european
influence increased
•US responded with open
door policy which called for
all nations having equal
access to china
RUSSIA 18961898
BRITAIN
1898
GERMANY
1898
BRITAIN 1842
32
33
BOXER REBELLION, 1900
THE CHINESE PEOPLE REACT TO IMPERIALISM
Boxer rebel
•Chinese secret society
launched a rebellion in 1900
against foreigners
•Ultimately an international
force rescued the
foreigners
BOXER SOLDIER
•China had to pay foreign
nations $333 million
34
Boxer troops entered the foreign
held Peking (Beijing)
35
An international force
retaliated and seized control
of Peking
36
OPEN DOOR POLICY
The intention is for the U.S. to trade with China, but
everyone wants a part of China.
37
JAPAN ENTERS THE WORLD STAGE AS AN
INDUSTRIAL/IMPERIALIST POWER
•Japan defeated Russia in war in 1905
•T. Roosevelt negotiated peace & got the
Nobel peace prize
38
To show the naval
power of the United
States, in 1907
President Teddy
Roosevelt sent the
great white fleet of
ships around the
world on a 46,000
mile cruise.
39
TEDDY ROOSEVELT’S FOREIGN
POLICY
SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK, TR'S
PROVERB IN PURSUING HIS GOALS AS
US INTERESTS TURNED TOWARD CENTRAL AMERICA AND A
QUICKER WAY OF MOVING SHIPS BETWEEN THE EAST AND
WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA
15,000 MILES
•US sought to cut travel time
between seas; land route slow; trade
with china
•US & Great britain had old plans to
construct canal
•France started it but ran out of $
•US negotiated with columbia which
governed panama; columbia never
ratified treaty
•US encouraged panamanian revolt
for independence so US could
negotiate canal treaty with panama
ADVANTAGE OF AN ISTHMIAN CANAL
8,000 miles
42
PANAMA, A PROVINCE OF COLOMBIA, WAS CHOSEN
FOR THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED CANAL
43
Construction of the canal
44
45
1914 Opening of the Panama
Canal
Panama canal today
47
IN 1917, THE UNITED
STATES BOUGHT THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS: FOR
A COALING
(REFUELING) STATION
FOR MERCHANT AND
WAR SHIPS.
According to the political cartoon, the United States said that
it took over nations to rescue them (help oppress or dominate
them), but really the United Stated took over nations in order to
Big Stick
Diplomacy
Roosevelt
corollary:
Latin American
debts will be
paid to Europe
by US in order
to limit
European
interference
in Latin
America
President Theodore
Roosevelt
50
Dollar diplomacy
President William Howard Taft
51
Moral diplomacy
However,
President
Wilson sent
marines to
several
Caribbean
countries to
put down
rebellion and
limit foreign
influence
President Woodrow
Wilson
52
IMPERIALISM IN THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH
CENTURIES
53
54
55
PACIFIC ISLANDS “UP FOR GRABS”
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