HIST 202
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We are Anglo-Saxons, and must obey our blood
and occupy new markets, and, if necessary, new
lands. - Sen. Albert Beveridge (1898)
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Our form of government, our traditions, our
present interests, and our future welfare, all forbid
our entering upon a career of conquest. - William
Jennings Bryan (1898)
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Isolationism
Looking westward in
U.S.
George Washington’s
final speech
Civil War changes the
way we see ourselves in
the world
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William H. Seward
 Secretary of State
 Under Lincoln and
Johnson
 Helped prevent British
and French from entering
war
 Convinced annexation of
Hawaii and purchase of
Alaska

Alaska (“Seward’s Folly”)
 Russia and Great Britain
claimed it
 Russia – used it for hunting
 Economic burden
 Found a buyer in Seward
 1867 – purchased Alaska for
$7.2 million
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19th Century
industrialization led to
 Worldwide markets
 Growing surpluses
 Open sources for raw
materials
 U.S. NEEDED TO
STRETCH OUT AND
EXPAND!!!!
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Only the strong survive!
Expansionists believed:
 U.S. had to be strong
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Militarily
Religiously
Economically
Politically

Imperialism
 To gain territory
 Gain political and
economic life of other
countries
 Britain, France, Russia,
and Japan had
possessions throughout
the world!
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Missionaries
 Josiah Strong – Our
Country
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Politicians
 Henry Cabot Lodge (MA)
 Theodore Roosevelt (NY)
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Military
 Alfred Mahan – The
Influence of Sea Power
Upon History

Popular Press
 Increased circulation
 Told Americans about
exotic places abroad
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America was the
protector of Latin
America
Pan-American
Conference (1889)
 James Blaine
 Pan-American Union
(1948)

President
Cleveland/Richard
Olney (1895-96)
 Venezuela/British Guiana
 Used Monroe Doctrine
against Britain
 Britain sided with U.S.
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Causes:
 Jingoism – aggressive
foreign policy
 Cuban revolt – Cuba v.
Spain
 Yellow journalism –
sensational stories
 Joseph Pulitzer
 William Randolph Hearst
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Causes (cont.)
 De Lome Letter
 Dupuy De Lome – critical of
Pres. McKinley
 USS Maine
 260 Americans killed
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April 1898
 Protect Cuban interests
 Protect American
interests (sugar)
 Protect commerce and
trade
 End “constant menace to
our peace”

April 20, 1898
 U.S. declared war on
Spain
 Teller Amendment
 U.S. did not want to take
anything away from Cuba
 Cuba would be in control of
its govt.
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Philippines
 Under Spanish control
since 1500s
 Roosevelt ordered
George Dewey to invade
Philippines
 War was won quickly by
capturing Manila Bay
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Cuba
 Ill-prepared Army
 San Juan Hill
 Theodore Roosevelt
 “Rough Riders”
 Buffalo Soldiers
 U.S. Navy crushed Spanish
at Santiago Bay
 War ended August 1898
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Hawaii
 Settled by missionaries
and businessmen
 1893 – U.S. overthrew
Queen Liliuokalani
 1900 – U.S. territory
 U.S. state in 1959
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William McKinley - R
W
William Jennings Bryan - D
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John Hay
 Sec. of State under Pres.
McKinley
 “Open Door” trade with
China
 Boxer Rebellion (1900) –
Society of Harmonious
Fists
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“Speak softly and carry
a big stick”
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Panama Canal
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Roosevelt Corollary to
the Monroe Doctrine
 More extension in Latin
American affairs
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William Taft (1909-1913)
 Focus was in China and
Latin America
 Believed that investors
and cash could help with
relations
 Financial investments =
greater stability
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Henry Cabot Lodge
 R – Massachusetts
 Attention was on Latin
America and Asia
 Believed that no nonwestern countries should
own territories in West
 Infuriated Asia
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Woodrow Wilson
 First term – 1913-17
 Wanted to “right” all of
the “wrongs”
 Set up over 30
conciliation treaties
throughout the world
 Puerto Rico
 Panama Canal