GPS 14 - The student will explain America’s evolving relationship with the world at the turn of the
twentieth century.
A. Describe the Spanish American War, the war in the Philippines, and the debate over American
expansionism. [527 - 535]
B. Explain the U.S. involvement in Latin America, as reflected by the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine and the creation of the Panama Canal. [540 & 541]
Spanish American War in 1898
 Imperialism
o After Civil War, Americans supported imperialistic policies
o “New” Manifest Destiny
 Feeling of race superiority = Anglo – Saxonism
 Josiah Strong’s advocacy
o Desire and need for new markets – Big Business Interests
o To protect American Big Business Interests – Pacific Islands needed
o To compete with European Imperialism – European creating colonies in Africa and Asia
 Yellow Journalism – Pulitzer and Hearst competition [Yellow boy cartoon]
o Sensational exaggerated stories of Spanish brutality in Cuba
o “Remember the Maine” – sinking of USS Maine in Havana Harbor blamed on Spanish
o American support for Cuban Independence from Spain
 Humanitarian and noble reasons for support
 Business and profit motive reasons for support
 De Lome Letter
o Criticism of President McKinley by Spanish Ambassador to US
o American outrage over De Lome letter
 Jingoism – aggressive nationalism
o Prevalent attitude in Republican Party of President McKinley
o Theodore Roosevelt’s attitude exemplifies nation’s attitude
Philippine American War
 Philippines liberated from Spain by America?
 Annex or Not Annex Philippines
o Annexation of Philippines hotly debated and protested against in US
o McKinley’s reasons
 Could not give back to Spain – dishonorable
 Could not give to other countries – bad for business
 Could not give Philippines independence – unfit for self government
 Philippine Rebellion/Independence Movement begins after Annexation –
o Filipino independence leader – Emilio Aguinaldo orders troops to fight US
o US reconcentration Camps – thousands Filipinos die
o William Howard Taft’s policies ended Filipino independence movement
 Better education, infrastructure, Health care policies to fight diseases
 Reforms led to decrease in Rebellion and acceptance of American control of Philippines
o Filipinos gain ever greater amounts of self government, 1946 Independence
Arguments used for/against American expansionism/imperialism
 Arguments for Expansionism – After Reconstruction Americans look west again
o 1880s Shift in American support for Imperialism – Economic Reasons
 High Tariffs between industrialized nations cut off trade between nations
 Desire for new markets to sell products led to imperialism
 Europe’s new colonialism – protectorates – expansion of European power overseas
threatened US interests
 Desire by US industry for new markets
 End of Western frontier – Pacific new frontier
o Anglo-Saxonism – Moral Reasons
 part of idea of New Manifest Destiny [nation’s destiny to continue expansion west into the
Pacific]
 English – Speaking Western nation’s culture, character, ideas, system of government superior to
Asia/Africa
 Josiah Strong’s ideas – link missionary work to spread of Western Civilization


Examples of American Imperialism
o Matthew C. Perry’s opening of Japan – 1853 emboldened US to further expand
o Annexing Hawaii – Mixture of Economic/Moral reasons for takeover - Dole
o Big Navy
 Alfred T. Mahan’s book – The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
 Premise – Modern nation needs modern navy to protect commercial interests
 Steamships needs ports for refueling – need for Pacific Islands for refueling of US
Navy ships and US merchant ships
o Spanish American War
 Philippine Annexation
 Platt Amendment for Cuba
Arguments against Expansionism – Imperialism
o Cost of maintaining empire – loss of lives, expensive military outweighs benefits received from empire
o Expansionism/Imperialism goes against American principles and ideals – self government for
all/democracy
o Anglo-Saxonism another name for racism – no right to interfere with other people’s culture, religion, form
of self goverment
Open Door, Big Stick, Dollar, Missionary, Roosevelt Corollary and creation of the Panama Canal
 1899 US major power in Pacific – Purpose commerce not conquest
 Open Door Policy – President McKinley initiative
o Protected American interests in China
o America became a “broker” nation for European powers
o Increased American interests in the Pacific

Big Stick Policy
o Roosevelt’s foreign policy initiative
o Involved increasing military specifically navy
 “Great White Fleet” – used to project US power
o Involved obtaining naval bases – coal refueling
o Increased America’s status in the world
o Alfred T. Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power book
 Need for coal bases overseas for US Navy
 Fear of being shut out of foreign markets without large navy

Dollar Diplomacy
o President Taft’s foreign policy initiative
o Reliance less on military power projection
o Use of US foreign aid
 Purpose increase/decrease affects other nation’s actions
 “substituting dollars for bullets” – Nicaragua?

Missionary Diplomacy
o President Wilson’s foreign policy initiative – opposed Imperialism
o Influenced by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan
o US driven to provide blessings of democracy to other countries
o Involved spread of American Ideals by US example – moral mandate to lead the world by example

Roosevelt Corollary – US will intervene in Latin America to maintain economic and political stability
o Extension of Monroe Doctrine and Big Stick Diplomacy
o Necessary to maintain economic and political stability

Panama Canal
o Vital to American power in the world
o Cuts time, money for commercial and military shipping
o Roosevelt supports Panama’s independence from Columbia
o US helps “free” Panama from Columbia
o Roosevelt builds canal for US interests – Naval power