America Becomes a World Power Key Vocabulary Imperialism: Economic and political domination of a strong nation over a weaker nation Protectorate: Imperial power allows local rulers to stay in control and protects them against rebellions Why become imperialistic? Superiority/Power (Militarily, Culturally, Politically) New Markets Raw Materials Trade without tariffs Social Darwinism (European competition) Manifest Destiny (and beyond!) Anglo-Saxonism: English-speaking nations superior in many ways The Role of Military Captain Alfred Mahan’s Influence of Sea Power upon History ◦ Argues great nations had large naval fleets of merchant ships and naval power to defend right to trade ◦ Congress buys into the idea and decides to create a modern navy Pacific Expansionism Matthew Perry opens up Japan ◦ Japan hesitant for cultural reasons ◦ American power on display ◦ Trade and peace agreement Annexation of Hawaii ◦ Ports for merchants and military ◦ Sugarcane farming (US help during recession) ◦ Queen Liliuokalani tries to gain more power, marines and American planters overthrow gov’t ◦ New gov’t asks to join US Latin America and US Pan-Americanism ◦ US and Latin America should work together for peace and trade Spanish-American War Spain controls Cuba and Puerto Rico ◦ Cuban rebellions against Spain fairly common ◦ US-Cuba Economic Relationship Key ◦ Jose Marti: Cuban rebel exiled to US…preps for war ◦ US neutrality—rebels hoping for US intervention ◦ USS Maine exploded in Havana Bay (US in war) Role of Yellow Journalism Yellow Journalism: Sensational Reports to attract readers…often exaggerated ◦ “Blood, Blood, Blood” in Cuba ◦ Prisoners of war being fed to sharks & dogs! William Randolph Hearst (NY Journal) Joseph Pulitzer (NY World) War on Two Fronts Blockade of Cuba & Attack Philippines Philippines ◦ Manila Bay: Dewey defeats Spaniards with ease ◦ Emilio Aguinaldo: Rebel against Spain in Philippines launches new attack Cuba ◦ Armies not prepared at all (deaths by disease) ◦ Naval battles key ◦ Rough Riders on mainland crucial Results Cuba: Free Guam & Puerto Rico: US possession Philippines: ??? ◦ For US takeover: Economic & military reasons; Savior of “Less Civilized” People ◦ Against takeover: Filipino labor would hurt American workforce; cost of empire high ◦ Ultimately US buys Philippines in treaty w/ Spain Post-War Cuba ◦ Platt Amendment makes it a protectorate of the United States Puerto Rico ◦ Foraker Act: Creates PR government but allows US to have final authority Philippines ◦ Aguinaldo unhappy with US (attacks US) ◦ Taft tries to win using social improvements ◦ Aguinaldo captured and calls on end of war China European “Spheres of Influence” ◦ Russia, Britain, France, etc. with leases on Chinese land ◦ US concerned this would keep other countries out of markets Open Door Policy: all countries can trade within China regardless of leases Boxer Rebellion Society of Harmonious Fists (Boxers) attempt to destroy those corrupting Chinese society ◦ Europeans, Chinese Christians, etc. Major nations intervene after embassies are besieged ◦ Agree to not break up China ◦ Open Door Policy remains in place Roosevelt Policies Make US a World Power ◦ Negotiated peace between Russia/Japan (1905) ◦ Upheld Open Door Policy in China ◦ Display military power “Speak softly, but carry a big stick” Great White Fleet: 16 battleships on global voyage to demonstrate military might ◦ Roosevelt Corollary: US will intervene in Latin America to maintain stability in Western Hem. Latin America Dollar Diplomacy of Taft ◦ Support economies of Latin America and they will rise out of poverty Wilson & Mexico ◦ Victoriano Huerta overthrows Mexican govt ◦ Wilson refuses to recognize government not based on law—helps those against Huerta ◦ US helps Carranza becomes Mexican president, but Pancho Villa begins guerrilla attacks ◦ Wilson sends in military to find Villa without success Panama Canal Roosevelt believed a canal through Central America key to American power ◦ Hay-Pauncefote Treaty: gave US exclusive right to build canal in Central America ◦ Considered Panama and Nicaragua ◦ Problem: Columbia owns Panama and refused to give US the right to build Panamanians revolt against Columbia, worried that their economy will crash without canal Philippe Bunau-Varilla of France plans revolt w/ US Support