18.3: Acquiring New Lands
OBJECTIVE:
Understand how US imperialism
developed.
Identify how the US acquired Cuba,
Puerto Rico, and the Philippines
US INVOLVEMENT
IN PUERTO RICO
• Puerto Rico LOSES independence when it is acquired by
US during Spanish-American War.
• Some Puerto Ricans initially welcome US. Later, calls for
independence re-surface. US’s Foraker Act denies PR
citizenship and self-determination.
• Puerto Ricans granted citizenship in 1917. Remains
territory of US.
CUBA
AT FIRST, US intends Cuba to become
independent.
Teller Amendment states that US will not
annex or control Cuba.
US brings many improvements in health and
sanitation to Cuba, but it does NOT give it
full independence.
US writes Platt Amendment.
EFFECT? Cuba becomes a US protectorate.
CUBA
• US seeks to control Cuba to protect American
businesses there.
• Marines return to Cuba 1906-1909, 1912, 19171922.
• US establishes naval bases at Guantanamo Bay.
• US troops back conservative Cuban leaders
friendly to US and US business.
What was the purpose of Platt
Amendment?
• February 1901.
• It allowed the United States "the right to
intervene for the preservation of Cuban
independence, the maintenance of a government
adequate for the protection of life, property, and
individual liberty..."
• In effect until 1934
What was the purpose of the
Teller Amendment?
• Assure Cubans and European powers that
American intervention was not an “imperial” land
grab.
• stated that the United States, "hereby disclaims
any disposition of intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said
island except for pacification thereof, and asserts
its determination, when that is accomplished, to
leave the government and control of the island to
its people."
• Was it observed?
Compare and Contrast
the Teller and the Platt Amendments
Emilio Aguinaldo
• Father of Filipino
independence
• Fought Spanish,
Americans, and
Japanese
• Leads resistance
against colonization
PHILIPPINES RESIST EMPIRE
How was the Philippines different from Cuba?
• Emilio Aguinaldo
• Guerilla war
• Re-concentration camps
• Atrocities
• Forced Americanization
• 70,000 US troops sent to Philippines
• Remains protectorate until July 4, 1946.
CASUALTY FIGURES:
• U.S.-- 4,234 dead and 2,818 wounded.
• Filipino -- 20,000 military dead and 200,000 civilians killed.
(approximate numbers). Some historians estimate as many as
500,000 killed.
US IN CHINA
Why did the US support the Open Door?
1. US wanted exports to China
- especially to build railroads.
2. US wanted to protect the “free market” abroad
- US Secretary of State John Hay proposes
“Open Door” policy = free market and continued
Chinese independence
3. Did not want US to fall behind European Powers
- France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Russia, and
Dutch are busy “carving” up China as its empire
weakens
Did the Open Door policy work?
Sort of…
• Ignored by Great Powers
• Boxer Rebellion - 1900
• US now entangled in China
“The Boxers, or "The Righteous and
Harmonious Fists," were a religious
society that had originally rebelled
against the imperial government in
Shantung in 1898. They practiced an
animistic magic of rituals and spells
which they believed made them
impervious to bullets and pain. The
Boxers believed that the expulsion of
foreign devils would magically renew
Chinese society and begin a new
golden age. Much of their discontent,
however, was focused on the
economic scarcity of the 1890's. They
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/peopleevents/images/pande25.jp
were a passionate and confident
group, full of contempt for authority
and violent emotions.”
Boxer Rebellion
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/BOXER.HTM
ELECTION OF 1900
PAGE 541
The election is also a “referendum” on imperialism.
What are the arguments for US imperialism?
What are the arguments against it?
What argument do you find persuasive? Why?
18.4 America as a World
Power
What were the key differences about how
Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson
used American power around the world?