Chapter 21 America as a World Power
Imperial Presentations Notes
Hawaii
 American missionaries came to convert the Hawaiians to Christianity
 Some missionary families became rich sugar planters
 1875 Hawaiian sugar shipped duty-free to US- Sugar production boomed
 Planters forced King Kalakaua to sign new constitution (Bayonet Constitution) 1887
- More power to Hawaiian Parliament (planter controlled)
- King just a figurehead
- Limited Hawaiian’s rights to hold office
- US got the rights to create a naval base (Pearl Harbor)
 1891 King died and sister Queen Liliuokalani took over
- “Hawaii for Hawaiians”
- 1893 She tried to replace Bayonet Constitution
 John L. Stevens (US minister) called 150 marines to help support planter revolt- no shots fired
 Sanford Dole led a new government acknowledged by Stevens
 President Cleveland disapproved of revolt and refused to annex Hawaii (met Queen Lil before)
 1898 Hawaii was annexed
 Became a territory in 1900 and 50th state in 1959
China
 Japan defeated China in 1895 and gained trade privileges similar to other European countries
 Each country seized a Sphere of Influence- area where they controlled trade and natural resources
- Germany, France, Japan, Russia, and Great Britain- US on the outside looking in
 1899 US Sec of State John Hay announced an Open Door Policy- all nations have = access to trade w/ China
 China resentful of foreign influence- led to Boxer Rebellion
- Fists of Righteous Harmony
- Also frustrated by hunger and homelessness, poor governance by China
- 200 people killed but Boxers where put down by Chinese & US forces
 Chinese paid 333 million to foreign govts (25 million to US)
 Open Door policy remained in effect
Cuba
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1895 Cuba wanted to gain its independence from Spain
Unsuccessful revolts led Spain to send in Valeriano Weyler (the butcher)
- Put 1000s into concentration camps
- 200,000 Cubans died of starvation & disease in 1st 2 years
US press helped increase US support
- Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst exaggerated stories to sell newspapers- yellow journalism
- Hearst to Remington “you furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish war.”
Spanish minister to US wrote letter “US pres weak” – leaked to press- US ticked off
2/15/1898 American battleship Maine exploded killing 260 US sailors- Spain blamed
Congress approves Cuban independence- Spain declares war on US
- Congress attached Teller Amendment- stated US had no interest in taking control of Cuba
5/1/1898 Commodore George Dewey attacked Spanish fleet in Manila Bay Philippines
- Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo helped US forces capture Manila (capital)
- McKinley dubbed Spanish-American War the “Splendid Little War”
T Roosevelt led a volunteer cavalry (Rough Riders) up San Juan Hill while US navy trapped Spanish fleet in
Santiago Harbor
7/17/1898 Spanish surrendered
Peace treaty put Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines, & Guam under US control.
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Set up a military government to help with Cuban transition
- Oversaw Cuban constitution and included Platt Amendment
* Limited Cuba’s right to make treaties
* US could interfere in Cuban affairs
* Cuba would let US establish a naval base – Guantanamo Bay
Philippines
 As part of Spanish-American War Treaty US gave Spain $20 Mil for Philippines
 Filipinos expected to gain independence after Spanish-American war- helped US forces in Manila
 Emilio Aguinaldo set up govt and named himself president
 War broke out between US and Philippines – 3 years
 Us forces placed Filipinos in concentration camps- hundreds of thousands Filipinos killed
 Philippine Government Act established new government (governor and 2 house legislative system)
- Lower house would be elected
- William H. Taft - 1st governor
 Jones Act of 1916 gave Filipinos right to elect both houses
 Philippines gained its independence on July 4th 1946
Puerto Rico
 Like Cuban & Filipinos, Puerto Ricans hoped for independence
 US made it a territory
 April 12 1900- Foraker Act established government (governor and 2 house legislature)
 1916 Jones Act granted Puerto Ricans US citizenship and allowed them to vote for 2 houses
 1946 Gave them the vote for Governor
 1952 became a US commonwealth
- Island had own constitution and elected officials
- Can change constitution as long as it doesn’t conflict with US Constitution
Panama
 Link Atlantic & Pacific by cutting 8,000 miles off voyage
 Allow Atlantic & Pacific fleets to link up quickly
 1881 France began building canal but never finished it (lost $300 mil & 20,000 lives)
 1902 US paid France $40 mil for canal property & rights to build
 1903 Hay-Herran Treaty rejected by Colombia (US would have given $10 mil & 250,000 per year for 99 years)
- Colombia wanted $25 mil
 Panama wanted to break away from Colombia
 11/2/1903 we sent in 10 warships & money- revolt began
 US warships naval blockade on Colombia
 Panama declared itself a new nation- we recognized them as such
 Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty (same deal as Hay-Herran) approved 11/18/1903
 Malaria & Yellow fever big problems when building canal- lost 6,000 lives
 Panama Canal opened 8/15/1914- paid $375 mil on top of what France paid
 1921 US paid Colombia $25 mil for losing Panama (they had been mad at us)