Imperialism:
The Spanish-American War,
Acquiring New Lands
Chapter 18
Just Do It!
• Take out your notes from last class!
• Answer under the summary box
on your notes:
When, if ever, is it justified for a
country to colonize another
country?
Imperialism
Imperialism: – def.
– the policy in which
stronger nations extend
their economic,
political, or military
control over weaker
territories
Imperialism
Reasons for Imperialism:
1. Access to natural resources such
as rubber, petroleum, etc…
2. Outlet for a country’s growing
population (send people to
colonies)
3. Merchant ships and naval
vessels needed bases around the
world to refuel (coal and
supplies)
4. Spread Christianity
5. Make the world like the West
(Europe and U.S.)
6. Markets
Imperialism
Reasons for Success
1.
2.
3.
Well-organized
governments
Powerful armies and
navies
Superior technology
(medical and military)
Imperialism
Types of Imperialism:
• Colonies – Territory settled and ruled by people from
another land
• Protectorates – Country with its own government but
under the control of an outside power (Egypt was a
protectorate of Great Britain)
• Spheres of Influence – Areas in which an outside
power claims exclusive investment or trading
privileges (many European countries claimed spheres
of influence in China)
Imperialism
• How did the U.S.
abandon its
traditional
isolationist policy?
• How did the U.S.
expand its influence
in the world?
Imperialism
 Main Idea – The
“global economy”
caused the U.S. to
compete by
expanding. The U.S.
went to war with
Spain in order to help
Cuba win its
independence. As a
result, the U.S.
gained new territories
but had conflicts in
several territories.
Imperialism and America
• Imperialism
• Hawaii
Causes of Imperialism
– Causes of
Imperialism in the
U.S.
• Desire for military
and naval strength
• “Global economy” –
def. - growth in
international trade –
U.S. looking for new
markets for raw
materials and for
finished goods
• Belief in cultural
superiority
Hawaii
 Background: Hawaii
was important to the
U.S.
 location in the Pacific
= halfway to China
 U.S. wanted to
establish a naval base
in Hawaii = Pearl
Harbor
 U.S. military helped to
overthrow Hawaiian
Queen Liliuokalani
 Annexation of Hawaii
by U.S. complete by
1898
Spanish-American War
• Background :
– Cuba was under control of Spain
– Americans were heavily invested in Cuba – millions of dollars
were invested in Cuba’s large sugar cane plantations
– Cubans resented Spain’s control and wanted their
independence
• Cuban rebelled against Spain between 1868 – 1878 (they were
not successful)
Cuba
 Background: Cuba
revolted against rule by
Spain, revolt led by
Jose Marti
 Yellow journalism –
def. – sensational
reporting that
exaggerates the news
to enrage readers
•
 Used to make
American public
sympathize with Cuba
and fight Spain
De Lome Letter – insulted
U.S. President McKinley –
angered American public
Rudyard Kipling
• The White Man’s
Burden
– Poetry Analysis
Unites States Reaction
• U.S. Press wants war with Spain
• Hearst and Pulitzer very vocal
• Pres. McKinley wants to avoid war
Cuba and the Spanish
American War
– U.S.S. Maine – U.S.
naval ship that
exploded in Havana,
260 U.S. sailors
killed
• Explosion was an
accident, but
reporters blamed
Spain
– SIG – U.S. declared
war on Spain
Spanish American War
Spanish American War
(1898)
– U.S. navy defeated
Spanish navy in the
Philippines
– U.S. army defeated
Spanish army in
Cuba
• San Juan Hill – U.S.
victory that featured
a cavalry charge by
Teddy Roosevelt’s
“Rough Riders”
Treaty of Paris (1899)
• Cuba received
independence from
Spain
• U.S. got territories of
Philippines, Guam,
and Puerto Rico from
Spain
• Spain got $20 million
from U.S.
– SIG – U.S. = major
world power
PLATT AMENDMENT
• Platt Amendment: U.S. asserted the
right to intervene in Cuban affairs
– SIG- made Cuba a “protectorate”- def. – a
country whose affairs are partially
controlled by a stronger power
• Limits Cuba’s right to make treaties with
other countries
• Allowed U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs if
necessary
• Made Cuba to sell or lease land for U.S. naval
or fueling stations (Guantanamo Bay)
New Lands Acquired
• China
• Panama
China
 viewed as a potential
market for U.S. goods
 Open Door Policy
(1899) – developed by
Secretary of State
John Hay, stated that
all nations should have
equal trading rights in
China
 Goal was to end
“spheres of
influence” by
European powers and
Japan
China
• China’s weakness leads to
European powers (Great Britain,
France, Germany, Russia) making
China to divide into spheres of
influence
• Spheres of Influence- where a
foreign nation has exclusive rights
over trade, mines, and railroads
BOXER REBELLION
• Caused by Chinese resentment of
foreigners
• Fists of Righteous Harmony begins
rebellion
• In 1900, they attacked Western
missionaries and traders in northern
China, killing 300
• Laid siege to foreign settlement in
Beijing
• Rebellion ends as international force
Panama
 U.S. (and President
Teddy Roosevelt)
wanted a canal
across Central
America
 Goal was to shorten
the distance, time and
costs between Atlantic
and Pacific
 U.S. encouraged and
supported Panama
rebellion against
Colombia
Panama Canal
– The Panama Canal
was built by the
U.S. and opened in
1915
• U.S. paid Panama
$10 million for the
canal zone, and
leased land for
$250,000 each year
for 99 years
• U.S. paid Columbia
$25 million for lost
territory
• SIG – canal was a
success, but it hurt
Influential Presidents
• Roosevelt
• Taft
Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt
 “Big Stick Diplomacy” –
def. – use diplomacy
when possible but have a
strong military to back
up your policies if needed
 Roosevelt Corollary –
def. – added to the
Monroe Doctrine, said
that U.S. would be the
police power in the
Western Hemisphere in
dealing with Latin
American nations
 SIG – hurt relations
between Latin American
countries and U.S.
GREAT WHITE FLEET
• 1907- President
Roosevelt sends 4
destroyers and 16
battleships on
world cruise
• Roosevelt- “the
Pacific was as much
our home waters as
the Atlantic”
William Howard Taft
 “Dollar Diplomacy” – def.
– Taft urged American
banks and businesses to
invest in Latin America
 Promised business
interests that the U.S.
would intervene if
investments were
threatened
 SIG – hurt relations
between Latin American
countries and U.S.
US Foreign Policy Activity
• In your groups,
travel to each
station and read
each information
sheet. Complete the
chart provided.
• You will have
approximately 5
minutes to
complete each
station.