American Imperialism
What is Imperialism?
• Imperialism is an extension of
national territory and economy.
• This can be done to open new
markets for the economy.
• It can be done to gain access to
new natural resources for
industry to use.
• It can be done to gain greater
security for a country.
• Imperialism can also boost
national pride.
• Finally, Imperialism can be seen
as a mission for different groups.
It can be social (think Social
Darwinism) and religious.
How the Media Played a Role
• Different newspapers of the
day promoted US Expansion.
• The way they achieved this
was to promote US
Nationalism.
• Jingoism is the extreme form
of this.
• Famous names tied to this
movement were W.R. Hearst
and Joseph Pulitzer.
• Their papers (In NYC and
other cities) advocated US
involvement in foreign affairs
as well as territorial
expansion.
Examples of US Imperialism Pt.1
• The Spanish American War
• In the 1890s, Cuba was still a Spanish colony.
• The Cubans tried to revolt several times and
the Spanish fought back with great brutality.
• The US Media (newspapers of Hearst and
Pulitzer) sensationalized the events in what
would be known as “Yellow Journalism”
• President McKinley resisted the call to help
the Cubans until…….
Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 1
• February 15, 1898
• The US Battleship Maine explodes
and sinks in Havana, Cuba.
• 260 American sailors die in the
attack.
• The Yellow Journalists jump on
the story, accusing the Spanish of
attack.
• In April of 1898 Congress
authorizes the US to take action
to liberate Cuba.
• Congress also passed the Teller
Amendment, stating we would
not colonize Cuba, allowing selfdetermination.
Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 1
• The first move occurred in the Spanish
colony of the Philippines.
• The US quickly took control of the
Philippines with the help of Filipino
rebels.
• The US then annexed the Philippines,
making it a new US territory.
• The US also annexed Guam, which is
still a US territory today.
• During this time, the US was fighting
in Cuba and decisively beat the
Spanish in Santiago Bay and San Juan
Hill.
• By 1909 Cuba was out of US control,
but Puerto Rico was annexed. Puerto
Rico is still a US territory today.
• Out of the Cuban conflict emerged a
national hero—Teddy Roosevelt and
his “Rough Riders”
Discussion Question
• In the space below, write the question and
your answer:
• Why might the US want to annex the
Philippines? Why Puerto Rico?
Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 2
• The Annexation of Hawaii
• Hawaii offered many strategic advantages for the
US.
• Midway between N. America and Asia, it was an
excellent place for a Navy base (Pearl Harbor was
began in 1887).
• It had a strong agricultural base (plantations for
sugar cane, tropical fruit.
• One of the biggest producers in Hawaii (at the
time an independent nation) was Sanford Dole.
Examples of US Imperialism Pt. 2
• Due to lobbying of Congress from
US sugar producers, Hawaiian
Sugar producers now had to pay
tariffs on imported sugar.
• A way to avoid this and become
profitable again was to have
Hawaii become part of the US.
• Sugar producers, helped by
members of the US military,
overthrew Hawaii’s Queen and
formed a new government with
Dole as its leader.
• The US then annexed Hawaii as a
territory in 1897.
• Hawaii became as state in 1959.
Other Imperialistic Moves
• The US sought to offset European power in Asia.
• The US worked with European countries that had
“Spheres of Influence” in China to create an
“Open Door Policy”.
• This policy would allow the US to trade with
China.
• This policy was not very successful.
• When the US took part in putting down the
nationalistic Boxer Rebellion in China (1900), the
treaty allowed for the US to gain trade privileges
with China.
“Big Stick” Diplomacy
• On the assassination
of President McKinley,
Theodore Roosevelt
became President.
• Roosevelt believed in
the US being involved
in foreign affairs to
protect its “sphere of
influence”.
• The “Stick” is US
military power.
But wait, there’s more! (Imperialism)
• To use “the big stick” of military power,
the US had to be able to move it quickly.
• The US sought a quick way to move the
navy and troops from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
• The best way would be through a canal in
Panama.
• But there were problems..
• Panama was controlled by Columbia and
they did not want the US to build the
canal.
• The US backed the Panamanian
nationalist rebels and removed the
Columbians from Panama.
• In exchange, Panama allowed the US to
govern and control the canal zone.
• Construction began in 1904 and ended in
1914.
• The canal is still in use today, but now
Panama has full control of it.
A New Manifest Destiny
• Manifest Destiny is an American policy dating to
the early 19th century.
• It stated that had the right to expand across the
North American continent.
• Teddy Roosevelt changed this a little and said that
the US has the right to intervene in the Western
Hemisphere to protect its interests. It gave the US
“International Police Power”.
• This policy still is a major practice in US foreign
policy today.
Discussion Question
• In the space below, write the question and
your answer:
• Should the US have been/still be an
International Police Force? Why or Why not?