Imperialism and
Expansion
Chapter 12
Did You Know?
(You do not have to write this one)
Hawaii is the only state that was
once an independent monarchy.
Polynesian monarchs ruled the
country from about 1800 to 1894
I. Building Support for Imperialism
 A.
Beginning in the 1800s, Americans
wanted the US to become a world
power. Change in attitude was a result
of economic and military competition
from other nations and a growing
feeling of cultural superiority.
I. Building Support for Imperialism
 B.
Imperialism – economic and
political domination of a strong nation
over a weaker nation. – view held by
many European nations in order to
protect economic investments. Used
military
 C. Example - Protectorates
I. Building Support for Imperialism
 D.
Americans wanted to develop
overseas markets to keep their
economy strong. Social Darwinists
argued that as nations compete, the
strongest survive. Justified American
expansion
I. Building Support For Imperialism
 E.
John Fiske, historian and writer,
wrote about “Anglo Saxonism,” the
idea that English speaking nations had
superior Character, ideas, systems of
government.
 F. Josiah Strong linked missionary
work to Anglo-Saxonism
II. Expansion in the Pacific
A. Americans expanded across the Pacific
Ocean & toward East Asia looking for
overseas markets; hoped to trade with
China & Japan, but Japan only traded with
the Dutch.
 B. 1852 - Pres. Pierce sends Commodore
Matthew Perry to negotiate trade with
Japan – impressed by American military
power. Trade opened.

II. Expansion in the Pacific
C. Late 1800s, a tariff raised the price of
sugar from Hawaii – economic depression.
US gains a naval base. New trade
agreements boost economy.
 D. McKinley Tariff causes Hawaiian
economy to decline.
 E. 1891 – US Planters supported by
Marines force Queen Liliuokalani out of
power.
 F. US Annexes Hawaii as a territory.

III. Latin America
A. 1800s -0 US wanted to increase
influence in Latin America by selling
products there. Wanted Europeans to
view America as economically dominant.
 B. Sec. of State James Blaine led early
efforts to expand American influence in
Latin America. He proposed the idea that
the US and Latin American work together
– Pan Americanism

III. Latin America
C. 1889 – meeting in Washington DC to
discuss creation of trade unions between
Latin America and US. Unable to work it
out.
 D. Latin America agree to create the
Commercial Bureau of American
Republics to promote cooperation. Later
became the Organization of American
States (OAS)

IV. Building a Modern Navy
A. Americans were willing to risk war to
defend interests overseas. This led to
American support for a large modern navy.
 B. Cpt. Alfred T. Mahan argued the US
needed a strong navy to compete with
Europe (Influence of Seapower Upon History).
 C. Will become important when the US
goes to war with Spain in 1898

Section 2
The Spanish American War
I. The Coming of War

A. Cuba controlled by Spain. Provided
wealth for Spain with sugarcane
plantations. In 1868 Cuban rebels declared
independence and began a guerrilla attack
against Spanish authorities. After the
attack failed, the Cuban rebels fled to the
US to plan a new revolution. Increased
American sympathy for Cuba.
I. The Coming of War
B. 1894 – US tariffs causes Cuban
economy (sugar) to collapse. Led to a new
rebellion in 1895.
 C. America was neutral at the beginning.
Yellow Journalism ran exaggerated stories
that turned opinion.
 D. Example: William Randolph Hearst
(NY Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (NY
World)

I. Coming of War


E. Rebels attacked and destroyed American
property, hoping for American intervention.
F. Spanish general Weyler served as governor.
Began to move civilians to camps. Many died,
led to American calls for intervention.
I. Coming of War

G. DeLome Letter – Spain’s US ambassador
describes McKinley's administration as weak and
working at popularity in a private letter.

i. Letter gets published in the New York Journal –
Leads to further calls for war!
I. Coming of War

H. USS Maine – Feb. 1898 – US battleship sent
to Havana to provide aid during the Rebellion
(evacuate Americans). Explodes, killing 266
American sailors. Led to call for war!

No one knows what happened for sure, but at the
time, most blamed Spain.
II. Two Front War



A. April 23, 1898, US blockades Cuba.
B. May – Commodore George Dewey destroys
the Spanish fleet in Manila, Philippines.
Occupied the Philippines and seized Guam
C. American soldiers untrained and ill-equiped.
More Americans died in training than died in
battle.
II. Two Front War
D. June 1898, American troops advanced
toward Santiago Harbor (Cuba). Col.
Leonard Wood & Theodore Roosevelt’s
Rough Riders stormed San Juan Hill.
American victories.
 E. Along with Rough Riders were the allblack 9th and 10th Cavalry; ¼ Americans
were black.

II. Two Front War


F. Spanish resistance ended with surrender of
Santiago. Aug. 12, 1898, Spain and the US
agreed to a cease-fire.
G. The war lasted 16 weeks. “Splendid Little
War!”
III. Birth of American Empire


Define: Empire
A. Many Americans supported annexing
Philippines because it would provide a naval
base in Asia, a stop on the way to China, who
would buy American products, and was a chance
to educate “less civilized” peoples.
III. Birth of American Empire
 B.
Dec. 10, 1898, US and Spain signed
Treaty of Paris.
 1. US gained Puerto Rico and Guam
 2. Cuba became independent
 3. US paid $20 million to Spain
III. Birth of American Empire
C. Philippines – Emilio Aguinaldo led
revolution against American control.
Responsibility for ended revolution was
General Arthur MacArthur.
 D. William Howard Taft was first civilian
governor. Introduced reforms in
education, transportation and health care.
Lessoned hostility toward the Americans.

III. Birth of American Empire

E. Foraker Act – made Puerto Rico an
“unincorporated territory.” Became
citizens of the US in 1917; Could elect its
own governor in 1947. Today debate
continues over whether or not they will
become a state or continue to be a
protectorate.
III. Birth of American Empire

F. Platt Amendment – US sets up military
government in Cuba after the war. 4 parts of
the Platt Amendment
1.
 2.
 3.
 4.


Cuba could not make treaties
Cuba had to allow naval bases (Guantanamo Bay)
Cuba had to keep its debts low.
US could intervene at any time.
G. Reluctantly accepted. Repealed in 1934.
Chapter 12, Section 3
- Theodore Roosevelt’s rise to Power
I. Roosevelt


A. In the 1900 election, McKinley defeated
William Jennings Bryan. On Sept 6, 1901,
McKinley was assassinated. VP Theodore
Roosevelt becomes president (youngest!)
B. Wanted the US to become a world power
II. American Diplomacy in Asia


A. 1899 the US was a major power in Asia.
Between 1895 and 1900, American exports
quadrupled.
B 1894 – war broke out between China and
Japan over Korea. Japan won – had adopted
western technology.
II. American Diplomacy in Asia


C. Japan’s rising power worried Russia. Forced
Japan to give back part of captured Manchuria
to China, who then leased it to Russia. *Sphere
of Influence.
D. McKinley and John Hay supported an Open
Door policy – all countries should be able to
trade with China.
II. Asia
E. Boxer Rebellion – secret Chinese society that
wanted foreigners out! Killed 200 and took
others prisoner. An international force stopped
the rebellion in 1900.
F. Meanwhile, TR wins the Nobel prize for his
role in ending the war between Japan and
Russia.
G. Great White Fleet – 16 new battleships sailed
around the world to show US power.

III. Caribbean



A. 1901 – Hay-Pauncefote Treaty – US and
Great Britain = Gave US rights to build and
control any proposed canal through Central
America. Decide to build it through Panama.
B. US supports Panama in their war against
Columbia for independence.
C. Construction of the Panama canal began.
USS New Jersey in the Canal
III. Caribbean
 D.
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine: US would intervene in Latin
American affairs when necessary to
maintain economic and political
stability in the W. Hemisphere. First
applied to the Dominican Republic.
III. Caribbean

E. Taft elected in 1908 – Believed that if
American business leaders supported Latin
American and Asian development,
everyone would benefit – Dollar
Diplomacy