American Imperialism
Reasons for American
Imperialism
• Internal growth.
• Religion-based cultural superiority.
• Competition with world powers for colonial
interests.
• Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, The
Influence of Sea Power upon History, 16601783.
• Foreign policy. ???/???/???
Monroe Doctrine enforced
1895-1896
• Border dispute between British Guiana and
Venezuela.
• British problem.
• German problem.
Result:
The Great Rapprochement.
Future significance???
Aloha self-determination
The Hawaiian Islands.
• Reasons for US interest.
Spanish-American War
Cuba
• American business interests.
• Revolutionary feelings.
• Shipping routes.
The Maine.
• Significance
McKinley’s stance
Remember the Maine
Fighting the war
• American preparedness.
• Commodore George Dewey.
Battle of Manila Bay.
“You may fire when ready
Gridley.”
The fight for Cuba.
• Teddy Roosevelt. “Rough Riders”. Battle
of San Juan Hill.
San Juan Hill
U.S.S. Oregon
Spoils of War
Cuba.
• War against mosquitoes. Walter Reed.
• Keep or fold.
• Teller Amendment of 1898.
• Platt Amendment of 1901.
Philippines.
• Filipinos fight for independence.
Guam.
Puerto Rico.
Commodore Dewey and the
Hero of San Juan Hill
“Fighting” Joe Wheeler
Significance of the
Spanish-American War
•
•
•
•
Respect from European powers.
National pride.
US became a Far Eastern power.
The beginnings of the might of the US
Navy.
• Closing the gap on North-South
animosities.