Becoming a
World Power
Unit 6
Imperialism
Guiding Questions
• Why did the United States assert itself as a world
power?
• Why did the United States look to the Pacific for
new markets?
• How did the United States attempt to strengthen its
ties and influence with the nations of Latin
America?
Terms to Know
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Imperialism
Nationalism
Protectorate
Pan-Americanism
Annexation
Building Support for
Imperialism
• Imperialism- economic and political control of a
strong nation over weaker nations
o “New Imperialism”
• During the 1880’s, the United States was facing
economic and military competition from various
European countries
• American’s gradually warmed to the ideas of
expanding overseas and were convinced that the
United States should become a world power
Factors Fueling American
Imperialism
Feeling of Cultural
Superiority
Desire for New Markets
•
U.S. needed raw
materials for its factories
and new markets for its
goods
• Viewed foreign trade as
the solution to American
overproduction,
unemployment, and
economic depression
• Followed the European
model by establish
colonies or protectorates
overseas
* Protectorate- country
that is independent but
under the control of
another country
•
•
John Fiske argued that
English-speaking nations
had the best character,
ideas, and systems of
government
*Anglo-Saxonism
Argued that U.S. had a
responsibility to spread
Christianity and
“civilization” to the
world’s “inferior
peoples”
Desire for Military
Strength
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Many Americans believed
the U.S. needed to build up
its navy and have bases
overseas in order to not be
shut out of foreign markets
Needed its military presence
to match the global military
presence
Admiral Alfred Mahan of
the U.S. Navy said the U.S.
needed a strong navy to
defend the right to trade
with other countries
U.S. became the 3rd largest
naval power
The United States
Acquires Alaska
• Secretary of State, William Seward, arranged for the
purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867
o $7.2 Million dollars (~2 cents an acre)
• Had trouble persuading Congress to approved the
funding
o “Seward’s Icebox” or “Seward’s Folly”
• Alaska became the 49th state of the United States in
1959
o Very rich in timber, minerals, and oil
Annexing Hawaii
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Hawaiian islands were economically important to the U.S.
o
Sugar plantations sold most of their crop to the United States
o
Did this to keep Hawaii from asking European countries for help during an economic recession
o
Wanted Hawaii to become a part of the U.S.
o
Planters and U.S. marines organized a revolution, overthrew the Queen, and set up a government
under Sanford B. Dole
United States agreed to treaty that did not place tariffs on
Hawaiian sugar in 1975
In 1887, U.S. leaders pressured Hawaii to allow the U.S. to build a
naval base at Pearl Harbor
Also in 1887, white planters forced Hawaii’s king to accept a
constitution that limited his power
Queen Liliuokalani took power in 1891 and tried to regain the
Hawaiian monarchy’s power
President Cleveland recognized the Republic of Hawaii after Dole
refused to surrender power
Congress proclaimed Hawaii an American territory on Aug. 12,
1898
o
Became the 50th state in 1959
Expansion in the Pacific
JAPAN
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In 1852, President Fillmore ordered
Matthew Perry to negotiate a trade
treaty with Japan
In 1853, U.S. warships under Perry’s
command entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay
Japanese realized they were not
powerful enough to resist modern
weapons
Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa in
1854- gave the United States trading
rights at two Japanese ports
SAMOA
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United States opened a naval base on
Pago Pago in the Samoan islands in 1878
as a place for ships to port to refuel and
resupply on the Pacific crossings
In 1899, the U.S made an agreement
with Germany to split Samoa
Diplomacy in Latin
America
• The United States wanted to show Europe that it was the
leading power in Latin America
o
o
U.S. bought raw materials from Latin American countries
Latin American countries bought goods mostly from Europe
• Pan-Americanism
o
Idea that the United States and Latin American nations should work together
• Goals for the Pan-American conference
o
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Create a customs union that would require all nations of the Western Hemisphere to
decrease tariffs against one another and treat one another equally in trade
• Hoped it would turn Latin Americans away from European goods
Create a system for nations of the Western Hemisphere to work out disputes
peacefully
• Wanted to keep Europeans from getting involved in American affairs
• Latin American delegates rejected ideas but did agree to
create the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics
o
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Promoted cooperation among nations of the Western Hemisphere
Known as the Organization of American States today
Discussion Questions
• How did the search for new overseas markets push
the United States to become a world power?
• Why did the United States want to reduce European
influence in the Western Hemisphere?
Spanish-American War
Guiding Questions
• Why was the United States willing to go to war with
Spain over Cuba?
• How was the Spanish-American War different from
earlier U.S. wars?
• How did the United Sates develop an overseas
empire?
Terms to Know
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Yellow journalism
Autonomy
Jingoism
Intervene
Rough Riders
American Interest in Cuba
• Americans long held interest in Cuba
• In 1854, diplomats recommended to President
Franklin Pierce that the United States buy Cuba from
the Spanish
o Spanish responded by saying they would rather see Cuba sunk in the
ocean
• American’s sympathized with the Cubans after their
failed revolution attempt between 1868-1878
• American capitalists began investing millions of
dollars in large sugar can plantations
o Spain abolished slavery in 1866
nd
2
War for Independence
• Launched by Jose Marti in 1895
o Active guerilla campaign
o Deliberately destroyed property, especially American-owned sugar mills
and plantations
• Hoped to provoke American involvement
• General Valeriano Weyler was sent by Spain to
resolve the conflict
o Put hundreds of thousands of Cubans in “reconcentration camps” where
many died from starvation and diseases
• Prevented villagers from helping rebels
• American opinion was split
o Businesses wanted government to help Spain to protect their investments
o Some were enthusiastic about the rebel cause
War Fever Escalates
Yellow Journalism
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Sensational style of
writing, which
exaggerates the news to
lure and enrage readers
(Often untrue)
New York Journal and
New York World
published stories to
enrage Americans and
deepen their sympathies
Joseph Hearst and
Joseph Pullitzer
Sent artists to Cuba to
draw sketches of
reporter’s stories
The De Lome Letter
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President McKinley tried •
to end the dispute with
Cuba and Spain
diplomatically
Efforts were initially
sucessful (Spain recalled •
Weyler; Modified
reconcentration camp
policy; offered Cuba
•
limited autonomy)
On Feb.8, 1898, the NYJ
published a letter from
the Spanish minister (De
Lome) to the U.S.
criticizing McKinley and
calling him weak
Bombing of the U.S.S.
Maine
President McKinley sent
the U.S.S. Maine to
Havana in January of
1898 to protect American
interests there
On Feb. 15, 1898, the
Maine exploded in
Havanna harbor
American newspapers
claimed the Spanish
blew the ship up and
offered a reward for
those responsible
* Nobody knew the
actual cause at that
point
“Remember the Maine”
• The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was the spark that led
America to declare war on Spain
• McKinley faced a lot of pressure from within the Republican
Party to go to war
o
Jingoism- strong, forceful nationalism
• April 11, 1898
o
McKinley asked Congress to allow war
• April 20
o
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Congress said Cuba was independent, demanded Spain to leave the island, the U.S
would not annex Cuba(Teller Amendment), authorized McKinley to use force
Spain reacted by cutting all ties with the U.S.
• April 22
o
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McKinley imposes a blockade on Cuba
Spain declared war on the U.S.
• April 25
o
U.S. declares war on Spain
Two Front War
War in the Pacific
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Commodore George Dewey was
ordered to attack the Spanish fleet based
in the Philippines to prevent them from
sailing east to attack the United States
U.S. troops took control of Guam and
the Philippines
Worked with Emilio Aguinaldo,
Philippine revolutionary leader
U.S. took control of Manila, Philippian
capital, and Aguinaldo and his rebels
took control of most of the islands
War in the Caribbean
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U.S. sought to destroy Spanish fleet in
Santiago Harbor
U.S. army recruited thousands of volunteers
but had no resources to train them
Began landing between June 22-24
Army troops pushed towards Santiago to
force Spanish fleet out and into battle with
more powerful U.S. navy (
“Rough Riders” (Calvary unit/T. Roosevelt
(2nd in command)) and the all-African
American 9th and 10th Cavalry attacked and
held Kettle Hill, then helped capture San Juan
Hill (July 1)
Spanish commander in Santiago panicked
and ordered Spanish fleet to leave harbor
U.S. warships destroyed Spanish fleet (Jul. 3)
Spanish left in Santiago surrendered
“Splendid Little War”
• The United States and Spain signed an armistice,
cease-fire agreement, on August 12
o Fighting only lasted 15 weeks
• On December 10, 1898 the U.S. and Spain met in
Paris to agree on a treaty
• Treaty of Paris (1898)
o Cuba was given its independence
o Guam and Puerto Rico were turned over to the United States
o Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million
• Senate approved the treaty in Feb. 1899
o U.S. became an imperial power
Debate over Philippine
Annexation
SUPPORTERS
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Philippines would provide the U.S. with
another Pacific naval base
Could be a place to stop on the way to
China
Could be a large market for U.S. goods
Thought that it was the U.S.’s job to help
people and countries that were not as
well off
OPPOSERS
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Argued the empire would cost too
much
Cost would not be worth the economic
benefits it would provide
Worried competition from cheap
Filipino labor would drive down U.S.
wages
Believed imperialism went against U.S.
principles
Post-War Cuba
• Although independent, Cuba was still occupied by
American troops
• In 1900, Cuban government wrote a new constitution
o Did not specify the relationship between Cuba and the United States
• Platt Amendment- conditions President McKinley insisted
that Cuba added to its constitution
o Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation that would weaken its
independence
o Cuba had to allow the U.S. to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba
o Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent foreign countries from landing
troops to make them pay
o The U.S. had the right to protect Cuban independence and keep order
• Platt Amendment became part of the treaty in 1903
o Cuba became a protectorate of the U.S.
o Remained in effect for 31 years
Puerto Rico
• Foraker Act (1900)- created a civil government for
Puerto Rico
o Ended military rule by the U.S.
o Gave the president of the U.S. power to appoint Puerto Rico’s governor
and members of its upper house of its legislature
o Puerto Ricans could elect only members of the legislature’s lower house
• In 1917, Congress gave Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship
and allowed them to right to elect both houses of
their legislature
• In 1947, Puerto Ricans were allowed to elect their
own governor
• Still debate on Puerto Rico’s status
Conflict in the Philippines
• Filipinos revolted against the U.S. after learning of their
annexation in Feb. 1899
• Aguinaldo turned to guerilla tactics to try and defeat the
Americans
• U.S. began using reconcentration camps to separate
Filipino guerrillas from civilians
o Just like Spanish had done in Cuba
• William Howard Taft, first civilian governor of the islands,
trued to win over the Filipinos
o Improved education, transportation, and health care
o Slowly lessened Filipino hostility
• U.S. declared the war over on July 4, 1902
o Captured Aguinaldo in March 1901
• U.S. set up a government very similar to Puerto Rico
• The Philippines gained its independence in 1946
Discussion Questions
• Why might the United States have considered
intervening in the war?
• What was the main strategy of the American forces
on each front of the war?
• What were the military and economic arguments
for annexation of the Philippines?
New American Diplomacy
Guiding Questions
• Why did the United States want to eliminate spheres
of influence in China?
• Was President Roosevelt correct in his belief that a
strong military presence promoted global peace?
• How did “moral diplomacy” shape President
Wilson’s policy?
Terms to Know
• Sphere of influence
• Open door policy
• Dollar diplomacy
American Diplomacy in
China
• U.S. exports to China grew four times greater
between 1895-1900
o Still only accounted for 2% of total U.S. exports
• U.S. businesses were excited about the large
Chinese markets
o Especially textile, oil, and steel
Spheres of Influence
• War between China and Japan in 1894
o Japan easily won
o Korea became independent
o Japan gained territory in Manchuria (Border between Russian and China)
• Russia was concerned about Japan’s growing
power
o Russia forced Japan to return the Manchurian territory to China
o Then, Russia demanded China rent the territory to Russia instead (1898)
o China still owned the territory, but Russia had complete control
• Sphere of influence- an area owned by a country
where a foreign nation controlled the economic
growth and development
o Germany, Britain, France soon followed Russia in demanding ”leaseholds”
o Only those countries could trade in their “Sphere of influence”
Open Door Policy
• U.S. Secretary of State John Hay proposed that all
countries could trade with China
o U.S. feared being shut out of Chinese markets
o Asked countries with leaseholds in China to allow other nations to do
business in their sphere of influence
o Created an “Open Door” for trade
• Each nation accepted the Open Door policy
reluctantly
o Would only follow it if all other nations agreed
o Were told the U.S. expected all the nations to uphold the policy
The Boxer Rebellion
• Chinese secret societies formed to fight foreign control in
influence
o Did not like foreigners dominating most of China’s large cities
o Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Boxers)
• In 1900, the Boxers and some Chinese troops attacked
foreign embassies, killed missionaries, Christian converts,
and other foreigners
• In August 1900, troops from eight nations, including the
United States, marched on the Chinese capital
o Rebellion was put down within 2 months
• Secretary of State John Hay worked with British diplomats
to convince powers not to break up China
o Agreed not to break China up into European-controlled colonies
o Made China pay for damages caused by the rebellion
o U.S. kept access to China’s profitable trade and gained a larger market for its
own goods
Roosevelt’s Diplomacy
After President McKinley’s assassination, Theodore Roosevelt became
president
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Wanted to increase U.S. power
Accepted some of the “Anglo-Saxonism” ideas (U.S. had a duty to shape the “less
civilized” parts of the Earth
East Asia
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Supported the Open Door
Policy
Helped negotiate an end to
the Russo-Japanese War
(1905)
* Russia would recognize
Japanese territorial gains
* Japan would stop seeking
more territory
* Won the Nobel Peace
Prize
Strained relationship
between Japan and United
States
Panama Canal
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Thought a canal through
Panama was necessary to
U.S. power in the world
Would save time and
money for commercial and
military shipping
In 1902, Congress agreed to
the purchase of the rights
to build a canal in Panama
Roosevelt Corollary
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“Big Stick” policy
Displaying U.S. power to
the world would keep
nations from fighting
Addition to the Monroe
Doctrine
The United States would
use force to protect its
economic interests in Latin
American
Allowed the U.S. to keep
economic and political
control of Latin America
Designed to keep European
nations from intervening
Building the Panama
Canal
Gaining Permission
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Panama was a province of Columbia
(Needed to get Columbia’s permission)
In 1903, the U.S. offered Columbia
money and yearly rent to build the
canal. U.S. would control a narrow strip
of land on either side of the canal
Columbia refused the U.S. offer
French helped organize a Panamanian
revolution against Columbia
In November 1903, U.S. warships sat
offshore, as Panama revolted against
Columbia and declared its
independence
On Nov. 18, 1903, the U.S. and Panama
signed a treaty to build the canal
* $10 million, plus annual rent of
$225,000
Strained U.S.- Latin American relations
Construction
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One of the world’s greatest engineering
feats
Fought diseases such as malaria and
yellow fever passed by mosquitoes
Surgeon General of the Army, William
Gorgas helped create an area called the
Canal Zone where mosquitoes could not
live
The soft volcanic ash was difficult to
move
Had to clear brush and drain swamps
More than 5,600 workers died from
accidents or disease
Cost the U.S. about $380 million
Was opened for business on Aug. 15,
1915
Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy
• William Howard Taft became president after Roosevelt
o Focused less on military force and more on economic development
o Believed supporting Latin American industry would increase trade and profits
for U.S. businesses
• Would lift Latin American countries out of poverty and social disorder
• Dollar Diplomacy
o Policy of using the U.S. government to guarantee loans made to foreign
countries by American businesspeople/banks
o Designed to keep European countries out of Latin American issues
• In 1911, U.S. bankers began making loans to Nicaragua
to support its unstable government
o U.S. bankers given the right to collect customs duties
o Gained control of state-owned railroad systems and its national bank
• Nicaraguan’s revolted against the president and the U.S.
sent in troops to put down the rebellion
o U.S. troops stayed to support the government and customs until 1925
Wilson’s Moral
Diplomacy
• Woodrow Wilson became president in 1913
o Experience and interests were in domestic policy
o Only been in politics for 2 years
• Governor of New Jersey
• Was President of Princeton University for 10 years
• Opposed imperialism
• Wanted the United States to promote democracy
o Create a world without rebellion and war
o Would not recognize any Latin American government it view as oppressive,
undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interest
o Pressured Western Hemisphere nations to establish democratic governments
• Hoped the United States would lead by moral example
o International crisis ruined that hope
Mexican Revolution
• Porfirio Diaz was Mexico’s dictator for more than 30 years
o
o
Friend of United States
Encouraged foreign investment
• Foreign investors owned most of the railroads and factories
• Most Mexican citizens were poor and did not own land
• In 1910, the Mexican revolution began led by Francisco
Madero
o
o
Madero was a reformer who seemed to support democracy, constitutional
government, and land reform
Unskilled leader
Conservative forces plotted against him because of land reform ideas
o
Huerto was a cruel leader
o
New policy that groups that seized power in Latin America would have to establish a
government based on law, not force in order to be recognized
Ordered the Navy to stop weapons shipments to Huerta’s government
Allowed Americans to give weapons to Huerta’s enemies
o
• In 1913, Madero is murdered and General Victoriano Huerta
took power
• U.S. refused to recognize Huerta’s government
o
o
U.S. Becomes Involved in
Mexico
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In April 1914, American sailors were arrested in Tampico, Mexico
o
o
Quickly released
Used by Wilson as an excuse to help overthrow Huerta’s government
o
Wilson withdrew troops and formally recognized Carranza’s government
o
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Wilson sent 6,000 troops under Gen. John J. Pershing to capture Villa
Effort dragged on for more than a year with no success
o
Mexicans were angry over the invasion of their land by the U.S.
o
Wilson’s growing concern over the war in Europe caused him to bring back Pershing and his troops
Wilson ordered U.S. warships to Veracruz and U.S. marines took
the city by force
In 1915, Huerta’s regime collapsed and Venustiano Carranza
became president
In March 1916, forces opposed to Carranza led by Pancho Villa
raided Columbus, NM killing 17
In June 1916, U.S. troops clashed with Carranza’s army
Carranza demanded the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, but Wilson
refused
Ultimately, both the U.S. and Mexico backed off and avoided a
war
Wilson’s Policy Hurts U.S.
Foreign Relations
• British laughed at Wilson’s attempts to force the
Mexicans into self-government
• Latin Americans though his “moral diplomacy” was
no better than Roosevelt’s “big stick” diplomacy
o In 1914, Wilson negotiated sole rights for naval bases and a canal with
Nicaragua
o In 1915, Wilson sent marines into Haiti to end a rebellion
• Marines stayed in Haiti until 1935
o In 1916, Wilson sent troops into the Dominican Republic to keep order and
to create a more stable and democratic government
Discussion Questions
• How did the Open Door policy differ from spheres of
influence?
• How did Roosevelt’s foreign policy expand U.S.
influence to other countries?
• How were moral diplomacy and dollar diplomacy
the same? How were they different?