US Imperialism 1890-1919
“Speak softly and carry a big stick;
you will go far.”
- T. Roosevelt
From jellyfish to eagle?
Speaking in 1891 Rudyard Kipling said of
the USA: ‘The big fat Republic that is
afraid of nothing because nothing up to the
present day has happened to make her
afraid, is as unprotected as a jellyfish’.
Key Question:
Why did the USA change its foreign policy,
1890-1919?
Imperialism
• US. Imperialism – response to EUROPEAN
Imperialism
• Principal Cause: INDUSTRIALISATION
Industrialized nations wanted colonies to provide:
• cheap supply of RAW MATERIALS
• A MARKET for the mother country’s goods
• large profits with minimum risk on investment of
SURPLUS CAPITAL
Imperialism (other reasons)
• Used NATIONALIST arguments to gain support for
EMPIRE BUILDING.
• gain glory & achieve a “PLACE IN THE SUN”
• secure essential MILITARY BASES & war materials
• provide an outlet for surplus population
• provide safety - missionaries spread CHRISTIANITY
• bring to the ‘BACKWARD’ areas the “blessings of the
CIVILIZED culture” of the West [Europe & USA]
This “Duty” of the West
• Labeled by RUDYARD KIPLING as
• The “White Man’s Burden”
REASONS for U.S. turn to
IMPERIALISM (turn to pp. 54/55)
• 1) Industrial Revolution
• 2) Closing of the FRONTIER – leads
investors to look ABROAD for economic
opportunity
Key long-term cause: The Monroe
Doctrine, 1823
• Announced by President Monroe and John Quincy
Adams (Secretary of State).
• Main points:
1. US policy to avoid involvement in European wars
UNLESS American interests were involved
2. The ‘American continents’ were not to be
colonised by any European power
3. Any attempts of European colonisation would be
regarded as ‘unfriendly acts’.
Was the Spanish-American War of 1898 a
turning point in American foreign policy?
• Causes of the War:
1. Tyrannical Spanish rule over Cuba:
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Spain denied civil liberties & political rights
Levied heavy taxes – restricted foreign trade
Ruthlessly suppressed rebellions
Spain finally abolished Slavery in 1886
Economic depression brings another
revolt for INDEPENDENCE in Cuba.
Causes of Spanish-American War
(cont.)
2. American Humanitarianism & sympathy
• Sympathized with desire for independence
• Outraged when over 200,000 Cubans died
in concentration camps of hunger and
disease
Causes of Spanish-American War
(cont.)
3. Economic Interests
• American merchants traded with Cuba to
the amount of $100 million a year
• American investors placed $50 million in
sugar and tobacco plantations.
Causes of Spanish-American War
(cont.)
4. “Yellow Journalism”
• William Randolph Hearst – NY Journal
• Joseph Pulitzer – New York World
• Both Newspapers sought to increase
circulation by sensationalized news stories.
Eg Hearst’s Journal printed the Delome Letter
Spanish ambassador calls McKinley “weak”
Causes of Spanish-American War
(cont.)
5. Sinking of the USS Maine
• American battleship visiting Cuba blown
up: 260 Americans killed
• Cause: probably fire in a coal bin. But,
American public persuaded by the Yellow
Press – blames SPAIN
Outbreak of the War
• McKinley demands Spain ends camps and
negotiate with Cuban rebels
• April 11, 1898: McKinley asks Congress to use
American armed forces in Cuba
• Congress approves on 4-20, and recognizes
Cuba’s INDEPENDENCE from Spain
• Congress adopts Teller Amendment which stated
that the United States would not COLONIZE Cuba
The Teller Amendment (1898)
• Made PRIOR to Sp-Am War
• U.S. could NOT ANNEX Cuba
• US must “leave control of island to its
People”
• Superceded by PLATT AMENDMENT
(1903)
Conduct of the War
• Battle Cry = “Remember the Maine, to
HELL with Spain!”
Defeat of Spain
• April 1898, simultaneous attacks on
Spanish territories of Philippines and Cuba
• Attack on Philippines lead by Admiral
George Dewey was a success
• Army in Cuba successful but badly
organised.
Treaty of Paris December 1898
• CUBA independent, US influence over
constitution and possession of
Guantanomo Bay
• Puerto Rico and Pacific island of Guam
‘given’ to the USA
• USA able to purchase the Philippines for
$20 million