AMERICA CLAIMS AN
EMPIRE
Chapter 10
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Until the 1890s, the United States showed little
interest in foreign affairs. Its army, with just
28,000 soldiers, was one-twentieth the size of
France’s or Germany’s. Its 10,000 man navy
was a sixth the size of Britain’s and half the
size of Spain’s.
Toward the end of the 19th century, interest in
foreign affairs mounted. Some worried that the
United States was being left behind in the
scramble for territory, markets, raw materials,
and outlets for investment. Others, such as the
naval
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strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, believed that national
prosperity depended on control of sea lanes. Still
others believed that the United States had a special
mission to uplift backwards peoples.
Beginning in the late 1880s, a new assertiveness
characterized American foreign policy, evident in
disputes with Germany, Chile, and Britain. In 1893,
Americans in Hawaii forced Queen Liliuokalani to
abdicate; the United States annexed Hawaii five years
later. War with Spain in 1898 led to the acquisition of
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, where the
United States confronted a two-year insurrection
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Fear that the United States was being shut out
of trade with China led Secretary of State John
Hay to issue the 1899 Open Door Note. The
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
declared that the United States would exercise
“international police power” in the Western
Hemisphere. The United States assisted
Panama in securing its independence from
Columbia, in order to build a canal across the
Isthmus of Panama, and occupied Nicaragua
for 20 years, Haiti for 19 and the Dominican
Republic for 8.”
IMPERIALISM &
AMERICA
Section 1
Unit 4
Rise to World Power
The Spanish American War & WWI
Key Understandings
Foreign policy decisions by a nation’s
government often reflects the beliefs and values
of its people at the time.
A nation’s beliefs and values, as well as alliances
with other nations, may lead to involvement in
conflict.
Domestic and foreign issues affect a nation
politically, economically and socially.
Characteristics of the Rise to World Power Era
are expansionism, diplomacy, and global
“The year of the massacre at Wounded Knee,
1890, marked the close of the western frontier
according the the Bureau of Census. The profit
system, with its natural tendency for expansion,
had already begun to look overseas.”
Howard Zinn,
A People’s History of the United States
IMPERIALISM
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IMPERIALISM- The policy in which stronger
nations extend economic, political or military
control over weaker territories.
By the 1880’s, many American leaders thought
the U.S. should establish colonies overseas.
The Monroe Doctrine, 1823
Asserted that Latin American
countries were in the United States’
sphere of influence.
The ideology of expansion was
widespread in the upper circles
of military men, politicians, and
businessmen. Even some
leaders of farmers’ movements
thought foreign markets would
help them be more successful.
“…beware of foreign entanglements.”
George Washington’s Farewell Address
QUEEN LILIUOKALANI
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In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii gave
up her throne.
Hawaii was about to be taken over by the U.S.
3 FACTORS FUELED AMERICAN
IMPERIALISM:
1)
2)
3)
Desire for military strength
Thirst for new markets
Belief in the superiority of American culture
NAVAL POWER
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Admiral Alfred T. Mahan of the U.S. Navy
Supported growing American naval power so
the U.S. could compete w/other nations
U.S.S. Maine & Oregon
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U.S. built modern battleships like the Maine &
the Oregon.
The new ships made the U.S. the world’s
largest naval power.
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U.S. was producing more than Americans
could consume…..
U.S. needed foreign trade.
American businesses needed markets for their
products & raw materials for their factories.
Superiority of American Culture:
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The 3rd root of American imperialism was a
belief that the people of the U.S. were better
than the people of other countries
Believed they had a duty to spread their
culture & Christian religion among other
people.
U.S. Acquires Alaska
& Hawaii:
ALASKA
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William Seward purchases Alaska , for the
U.S., from Russia in 1867.
The price? $7.2 million!!
HAWAII
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The Background…..
The Hawaiian islands had been important to
the U.S. since 1790’s.
Merchants stopped there on their way to China
& India.
In 1920’s, American missionaries founded
Christian schools & churches on the islands
Hawaiian sugar plantations…
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B/c of American owned sugar plantations, by
1900, foreign laborers outnumbered Hawaiians
3 to 1
This weakened the influence of native
Hawaiians.
Powerful Hawaiian sugar
growers called for the U.S. to
annex Hawaii to avoid the
tariffs.
In 1887, U.S. military forced Hawaii
to let it build a naval base at Pearl
Harbor….Hawaii’s best port.
HAWAIIANS LOSE
CONTROL OF THEIR
ISLANDS:
HOW?
American business groups organized
a revolt against Queen Liliuokalani:
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U.S. ambassador John L. Stevens helped them
revolt.
Planters took control of the island
They established a temporary government .
They established a temporary
government .
Made American businessman Sanford
B. Dole the president.
1898, HAWAII BECOMES A U.S.
TERRITORY
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Stevens urged U.S. government to annex
Hawaiian Islands.
President Grover Cleveland refused unless
majority of Hawaiians favored that.
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1897, William McKinley became president.
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McKinley favored annexation.
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1898, Hawaii became a U.S. territory.
THE SPANISHAMERICAN WAR
Section 2
CUBANS REBEL AGAINST
SPAIN
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B/w 1868 & 1878, Cubans fought their 1st war
for independence from Spain.
Rebels didn’t win, but forced Spain to abolish
slavery in 1886
U.S. CAPITALISTS INVEST…
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Invested heavily in sugar cane plantations in
Cuba.
Cuban economy collapsed in 1894 when a
tariff on sugar was imposed in the U.S.
JOSE MARTI
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1895, Cubans began 2nd war for independence.
Rebellion led by Jose Marti, a Cuban poet &
journalist who had been living in exile in N.Y.
The rebels wanted the U.S. to join their cause.
WAR FEVER ESCALATES!
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1896, Spain sent an army to Cuba to restore
order.
Army led by General Valeriano Weyler.
Weyler rounded up 300,000 people as
prisoners in Concentration camps.
The U.S. started to criticize the actions of
Spain toward Cubans…priming the
American people for probable war.
“The duplicity and cruelty of the Spanish
character, this is something the Spaniards have
always been and still continue to be in Cuba.”
U.S. Senate on Foreign Relations Committee, 1898
And they were very brutal to the Cubans… they
had concentrations camps, mass shootings, murder,
beatings, in an attempt to crush this rebellion. They
violated the Sentiments of Humanity Doctrine.
Excerpts from primary documents
illustrating American desires to
annex Cuba long before the
Spanish American War began.
John Quincy Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Buchanan
Henry Clay
“It is scarcely possible to resist the conviction that
the annexation of Cuba to our federal republic
will be indispensible to the continuance and
integrity of the union itself.”
Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams 1823
IN OTHER WORDS…..
We must have Cuba to continue to be a
strong country.
“…the islands of Cuba will give itself to us
when able to do so. Cuba’s addition to our
confederacy is exactly what is wanted to
round our power as a nation to the point of its
up most interest.”
Thomas Jefferson
IN OTHER WORDS…..
We need Cuba in order to become a fully
powerful nation and it is super important that it
happens.
“Under our government, Cuba would speedily be
Americanized as Louisiana has been. We can’t do
without Cuba and above all we must not suffer its
transition to Great Britain. We should acquire it by
coup d'état at some time.”
Secretary of State, James Buchanan
n
IN OTHER WORDS…..
It won’t take long with our expertise to Americanize Cuba.
We have to have it and we certainly can’t let Great Britain
have it. They are too strong. If we have to we can just
overthrow the Cuban government and take it by force.
“We could not consent to the
occupation of those islands (Cuba
and Puerto Rico) by any other
European power than Spain.”
Henry Clay
IN OTHER WORDS…..
If someone else is going to rule Cuba besides
the U.S. it is best that it is Spain. Spain is weak
and is losing its colonies all over the world.
1875 Secretary of State and Congress sent letters
back and forth about making war with Spain over
Cuba after a 3rd failed attempt to buy the island.
•U.S. Leaders had long coveted Cuba
•Cuba was referred to as “the pearl of the Antilles”
•It is one of the world’s largest islands, much U.S.
investment there
•Very fertile lands
Why Cuba?
•Many natural resources
•Great harbors, Sugar
•Temptingly situated just 90 miles off the Florida
coast
•Called the “gateway to the Gulf of Mexico”
The U.S. government said it
was concerned with the safety
and sovereignty of the Cuban
people but when Mexico and
Venezuela tried to mount an
expedition to help the Cuban
freedom fighters, the US
threatened them both to stop.
“If the U.S. was really interested in helping
the Cuban cause it would support a
program of material aid including arms and
ammunition for the insurgency. The
Americans continually fill their newspapers
with sympathy for our cause, but what do
they do? They wont even give us a rifle.”
Maximo Gomez, Cuban Military Leader
Spain, on the other hand, was allowed
to buy as much as they wanted…
In spite of all the obstacles, the Cuban Liberation
Forces were close to winning by 1898.
Spain’s army was mainly 15-18 year old boys
They were poorly trained, underfed, and illequipped
Disease had killed 35,000 in 1897 alone
5,000 were killed in battle
Between 1895-1898 Spain lost 100,000 soldiers
and by 1898 the Spanish army was no longer
mounting offensives.
Cuba was winning their independence! Who
thought this was a bad idea?
If everyone agrees that Cuba is
winning their independence,
including Spain, then why would the
U.S. get involved at such a late date?
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Stories of concentration camps widely reported
in U.S. newspapers.
Rival N.Y. newspapers exaggerated the
brutality to attract readers.(“yellow
journalism”)
William McKinley became
U.S. President in 1897.
Since many Americans wanted the U.S. to
help the rebels against Spain, McKinley
tried to find a peaceful solution.
McKinley’s efforts pay
off….
1) Spain sent General Weyler home
2) Changed the concentration camp
policy.
3) Gave Cuba limited self-government
But then, 2 events made
Americans very angry at
Spain….
1) The publication of a letter that insulted the
American president….The de Lome letter was
written by a Spanish diplomat. It criticized
McKinley for being weak.
U.S.S. MAINE..
2) The battleship U.S.S. Maine exploded on
February 15, 1898.
The ship had been stationed in Cuba to protect
American lives.
Cause of the explosion was not known….. But…
Newspapers blamed Spain.
The U.S.S. Maine
The story was sensationalized in the media…
made into something it wasn’t…to gain the
support of patriotic Americans who mostly
believed in Cuban Independence.
U.S. Politicians, with the help of the media and U.S.
business owners hungry for new profits, markets and
resources, moved rapidly toward war.
“In strict confidence… I should welcome almost
any war, for I think this country needs one.”
Theodore Roosevelt
TR advocated for the
start of, and fought in,
the Spanish American
War. He later used that
experience to advocate
for U.S. entrance into
World War I.
WAR WITH SPAIN
ERUPTS!!!!
April 20, 1898, U.S. went to war
w/Spain.
By 1898, when the U.S. gets involved, the
war had been raging for years.
The Teller Amendment: An attempt to
prevent the United States from annexing
Cuba promoted by anti-imperialist in the
U.S. government.
On March 25th a telegram for McKinley arrived to the White
House that said, “Big corporations here now believe we will
have war… believe all would welcome it as relief to
suspense.”
Two days later McKinley presented Spain with an
ultimatum- demanding a cease fire. Spain didn’t
respond and the U.S. went to war with Spain. Less
than three months later the treaty process was
underway.
The Treaty of Paris, December 10, 1898
THE PHILIPPINES
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1st battle took place in the Philippines.
Philippines had been a Spanish colony for 300
years.
In 1896, Philippines rebelled against Spanish.
George Dewey
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On May 1, 1898, American naval commander
George Dewey sailed into Manila Bay in the
Philippines.
His ships destroyed the Spanish fleet there.
For the next 2 months, U.S. soldiers fought on
the side of the Filipino rebels.
Spanish surrendered (in the Philippines) to
the U.S. in August.
Meanwhile, back in Cuba……
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American navy blocked off the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba.
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Spanish ships could not leave.
American troops then landed on the island in
June 1898.
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ROUGH RIDERS:
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Unit of volunteers
Theodore Roosevelt one of their leaders.
Rough Riders helped win the important battle
of San Juan Hill
American newspapers made Roosevelt a hero.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The Rough Riders
U.S. Army 1st Volunteer Cavalry
commanded by
Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
Spanish Surrender
July 25, 1898!
When the Spanish ships tried to leave the
harbor, their fleet was destroyed.
Spain then surrendered to U.S.
(The entire war only lasted 113 days!)
American troops entered Cuba and were
welcomed as liberators… thinking it would lead to
Cuban independence.
“Even before the Spanish flag was down in Cuba, U.S.
business interest set out to make their influence felt.
Merchants, real estate agents, stock speculators,
reckless adventurers, and promoters of all kinds of get
rich schemes flocked to Cuba by the thousands. Seven
syndicates battled each other for control of the franchises
for the Havana Street Railway, which were finally won by
Wall Street interest in NY. Thus, simultaneously with the
military occupations began commercial occupation.”
Philip Foner
U.S. took over railroad, mines, and
sugar properties.
Within a few years 30 million American
dollars were invested.
United Fruit and American Tobacco
Companies moved into the Cuban sugar
industry and bought up 1.9 million acres
for 20 cents each.
Cubans protested this and took to the streets. Their
rebellion was crushed…they were arrested…
After the war, the U.S. established a military
government in Cuba. Although the U.S. had
promised to grant Cuba it’s independence,
President McKinley took steps to ensure that
Cuba would remain tied to the U.S. He
allowed the Cubans to prepare a new
constitution, but he attached conditions. A
special amendment that Senator Orville Platt
attached to the 1901 army appropriations bill
described those conditions.
The Gilded Age
Part Three: External Imperialism
By the end of the occupation in 1901
over 80% of the export of Cuba’s
minerals were in American hands.
TREATY OF PARIS
Spain quickly agreed to a peace
treaty….
What were the terms?
1) Cuba is granted
independence!
2) Spain gave Puerto Rico & the
Pacific Island of Guam to the U.S.
3) U.S. paid Spain $20 mill. For
the annexation of the Philippine
Islands and Wake Islands
Debate in U.S. about
Imperialism:
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Treaty of Paris touched off debates in U.S. .
President McKinley was in favor of it.
Some Americans said annexing territories
violated the spirit of the Declaration of
Independence.
The U.S. Senate approved the treaty on
February 6, 1899.
http://www.historywiz.com/primarysources/treatyofparis1898.htm
ACQUIRING NEW
LANDS
Section 3
RULING PUERTO RICO:
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American forces landed in Puerto Rico in July
1898.
Many Puerto Ricans began to resent the
military government.
In 1900, Congress passed the Foraker Act
which ended military rule & set up a civil
government
IN 1917, PUERTO RICANS
BECOME U.S. CITIZENS!
Control over CUBA…
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Although Cuba was officially independent
after the war, the U.S. army remained there for
4 years
It punished Cubans who were against this
American occupation.
PLATT AMENDMENT:
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=55
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When Cuba’s new government wrote a
constitution in 1900, the U.S. insisted they add
the “PLATT AMENDMENT”
This limited Cuba’s rights in dealing w/other
countries….gave the U.S. special privileges,
including the right to intervene to preserve
order.
The Platt Amendment stated:
1. Cuba could not make any treaty with another
nation that would weaken its independence
or allow another foreign power to gain territory
in Cuba
2. Cuba had to allow the U.S. to buy or lease
naval stations in Cuba
3. Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent
foreign countries from enforcing payment
4. The U.S. would have the right to intervene to
protect Cuban independence and keep
order.
Pressure from U.S. military occupation and refusal
to allow Cubans to set up their own government
lead Cuban officials to sign the agreement…
Very limited independence was left for Cuba.
This Amendment led to annexations..
Puerto Rico
Guam
Wake
Island
Philippines
*When the U.S. gained control of Hawaii a
permanent military base was built.
“In disregard of our pledge of
freedom and sovereignty to Cuba
we are imposing on that island
conditions of colonialism.”
Anti-Imperialist League
The Platt Amendment was eventually
repealed in 1934.
PROTECTORATE….
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Cuba became a U.S. “protectorate”.
A “Protectorate” is a country whose affairs
are partially controlled by a stronger power.
The U.S. insisted on these rights b/c of its
economic interests in Cuba.
FILIPINOS REBEL
They were angry that the U.S. had
annexed their islands after years of
fighting for independence.
In the Philippines the citizens,
or “rebels”, didn’t take
occupations by another
outside military force lightly.
They fought back and paid
the price in blood. Another
war began with the people of
the Philippines.
African American soldiers faced a
harsh reality… they saw
themselves in the faces of the
Filipinos… and had a hard time
carrying out certain orders.
*Prelude to Vietnam
EMILIO AGUINALDO
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Filipino rebel leader who believed that the
U.S. had promised independence.
He felt the U.S. had betrayed the Filipinos
after helping them win independence.
1899, Aguinaldo started a rebellion that lasted
3 years. (Philippine-American War)
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Pictured below are Filipino P.O.W.’s
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U.S. won & set up a government similar to the
one it had set up in Cuba.
CHINA:
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By 1899, many countries had economic
interests in China
U.S. wanted to be able to trade with China too.
Secretary of State John Hay sent the “OPEN
DOOR NOTES” to these countries calling for
China’s port to be open to ALL countries.
BOXER REBELLION:
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In 1900, a secret society in China started a
rebellion to protest “western influence”.
Troops from countries (including U.S.) fought
the rebel, or “Boxers”.
After the Boxer Rebellion was defeated, U.S.
issued more Open Door notes to make sure
other countries didn’t make colonies out of
How did Americans feel about U.S.
imperialism?
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With the reelection of President William
McKinley in 1900, it seems that most
Americans agreed w/imperialism.
An Anti-Imperialist League formed including
former president Grover Cleveland, Andrew
Carnegie, Jane Addams, & Mark Twain.
AMERICA AS A
WORLD POWER
Section 4
President McKinley Assassinated!
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Pres. McKinley assassinated in 1901.
Teddy Roosevelt becomes president &
continues policies of “imperialism”
TEDDY ROOSEVELT &
THE WORLD….
Roosevelt 1st used U.S. influence to
help settle the Russo-Japanese War
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

Began in 1904 when both Russia & Japan
wanted to control Korea.

Japan captured Korea & also invaded
Manchuria… which was controlled by Russia
Roosevelt mediates…
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1905, representatives of Russia & Japan met.
Roosevelt used his personal charm to help
them negotiate a compromise.
They signed a treaty, and Roosevelt received
the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
The Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway.
PANAMA CANAL
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Idea was to build a canal to connect the
Atlantic & Pacific Oceans.
Such a canal would cut travel time for ships
b/c they wouldn’t have to go all the way
around South America.
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Panama was a province of Columbia.
Columbia did not agree to the canal.
So, U.S. helped Panama rebel against
Colombia.
Panama became
independent…
Then, U.S. got Panama’s permission
to build the canal.
Construction of the Panama Canal:
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Work began in 1904 & took 10 years
In 1913, there were 43,400 workers on the
hard & dangerous project.
Building the Panama Canal Challenges
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10 years to complete
Geography – different elevations
Series of locks were designed by engineers to
address this issue
Dr. Walter Reed discovered that mosquitoes
spread yellow fever.
Dr. William Gorgas (U.S. Army) discovered
how to reduce the spread of yellow fever –
drained swamps, cut down vegetation, treated
standing water with oil to prevent mosquito
breeding
Human Factors Physical Factors
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Panamanian Revolution
supported by the U.S.
The U.S. divided
Colombia with the
Canal Zone which
causes tension in the
region through the 20th
century.
Jimmy Carter returns
the Canal Zone to
Panama in 1999.
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Canal Zone is a 48 mile
international waterway
that allows ships to pass
between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.
The canal saves about
8,000 miles as the
alternate route in a
journey around Cape
Horn at the southern
Canal officially opens Aug. 15, 1914
Over 1,000 ships passed through that 1st year

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Locks are used to raise and lower ships a total
of 170 feet during the 51 mile trip through the
Panama Canal.
Ships from the Atlantic Ocean are lifted by the
Gatun Locks to the level of Gatun Lake. The
ships cross the human-made lake, then move
through another waterway, the Galliard Cut.
The Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks then
lower the ships to the level of the Pacific
Ocean
Panama Canal Today

http://www.history.com/videos/panama-canallocks
Panama Canal
One of the most dramatic actions taken by Teddy
Roosevelt once he became president in 1900.
Roosevelt and others viewed the
construction of a canal through Central
America as vital to American power in the
world.
ROOSEVELT
COROLLARY
Roosevelt’s statement to Congress in 1904… He
wanted the U.S. to be the major power in the
Caribbean & Central America
Roosevelt Corollary was the logical
result of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823
Roosevelt now said that the U.S had the right to intervene in
Latin American countries to protect U.S. business interests.
(“Big Stick” policy)
NICARAGUA
In 1911, Pres. Taft used Roosevelt’s
policy in Nicaragua.
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A rebellion had left the country in debt.
Taft arranged for U.S. bankers to loan
Nicaragua $...
In exchange, American business took control
of the railroads & banks…also collected
Nicaragua’s custom duties
DOLLAR DIPLOMACY:
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Nicaraguans didn’t like this arrangement.
They rebelled. The U.S. sent in troops to
Nicaragua preserve peace.
Those who didn’t like this kind of intervention
called it “dollar diplomacy”.
WOODROW WILSON’S
MISSIONARY DIPLOMACY
Why did President Wilson send
troops to Mexico?
President Wilson took a step beyond
Presidents Monroe & Roosevelt…
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Wilson added a “moral” tone to Latin
American policy.
His “missionary diplomacy” meant that the
U.S. could not officially recognize
governments that were oppressive,
undemocratic, or opposed to U.S. business
interests.
A revolution in Mexico tested this policy…….
MEXICAN PEASANTS &
WORKERS REBEL:

They rebelled in 1910 against their military
dictator.
The start of the Mexican Revolution:
the Serdán family opens a revolt in Puebla, Nov.18.1910

2 new governments followed, the 2nd headed
by General Victoriano Huerta.
Wilson refused to support
the Huerta government b/c it
came to power through
violence.
When a new leader, Venustiano
Carranza, took power in Mexico, Wilson
withdrew the troops
THEN…..
Francisco “Pancho” Villa….
Leader of rebels who revolted against Carranza
Some American’s killed
by Villa’s followers…..
U.S. wanted to capture Villa.
Mexican government gave U.S.
permission to send in troops
Wilson sent General John J.
Pershing to Mexico with
15,000 soldiers
A year later, Villa was still free.
Wilson then stationed 150,000
Natl’Guardsmen along the border.
General John J. Pershing
PERSHING, JOHN J.
Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Commander
decorations U.S. Army, Supplement V, 1941
Home Town: Laclede, Missouri
Date of Action: June 15, 1913
Mexicans angered by
U.S. invasion.
1916, U.S. troops fought w/Carranza’s
army.
In 1917, Wilson withdrew U.S. troops b/c
U.S. was facing possible war in Europe.
Mexico finally adopted a
constitution, regained control of
their own resources & put limits
on foreign investment
American intervention in Mexico
showed how far the U.S. was willing
to go to protect its economic interests.
COMING NEXT…..
WORLD WAR I