The Age of American Imperialism Imperialism 101 • Motives behind imperialism: – Economic – Military – Philosophical • • • • Manifest Destiny, Part II Social Darwinism and Scientific Racism Missionary impulse “The White Man’s Burden” – Rudyard Kipling The Imperialist Chorus • Josiah Strong – Our Country: Its Possible Future and Present Crisis (1885) • Anglo-Saxon people are the “fittest to survive” • Protestant Americans have a duty to colonize other lands to spread Christianity and the benefits of “superior” civilization • Alfred Thayer Mahan: The Influence of Seapower Upon History (1890) • A strong navy is essential to securing foreign markets and becoming a world power • Thesis used to argue for construction of a modern (steel/coal) navy, acquisition of overseas islands, and construction of a canal across Latin America. • Albert Beveridge: The Beveridge Report • “American factories are making more than the American people can use; American soil is producing more than they can consume. Fate has written our policy for us; the trade of the world must and shall be ours.” American imperialism • US naval build-up – The Great White Fleet • Hawaii, 1890s – America’s relationship with Hawaii – protectorate, trading partner, military base – The sugar interest: The McKinley Tariff, 1890 raises sugar prices. – Queen Liliuokalani and the planter revolt • Samuel Dole – Grover Cleveland refuses annexation – President McKinley annexes in 1898. The Spanish-American War • Causes • Cuban Rebellion, 1895 – Jose Marti – Cuba Libre! – Scorched earth policy and US property interests • $50 million year invested/$100 million year trade – General Valeriano Weyler • Reconcentration policy • Atrocity stories abound Puck cartoon depicting the Cuban crisis The Spanish-American War (con’t) • Causes – Con’t • DeLome Letter – Dupuy de Lome -- Spanish ambassador – Calls McKinley “weak” and a “bidder for the attention of the public” – Published in Yellow Press • The Maine Explosion (Feb. 15, 1898) – Occurs one week after the release of the DeLome letter – “Remember the Maine” – 260 killed The USS Maine before… …and after Yellow Journalism and the War • William Randolph Hearst: New York Journal – Frederick Remington: "There is no war. Request to be recalled.” – Hearst: "Please remain. You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war." • Joseph Pulitzer: New York World The Reaction of the Yellow Press McKinley’s War Message • After the sinking of the Maine… – Demands a cease fire from Spain – Public pressure continues… McKinley’s War Message • April, delivers war message • Promises to: – “Put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries” in Cuba – Protect the lives and property of US citizens in Cuba – End “the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, and business of our people.” – End “the constant menace to our peace” arising from disorders in Cuba. • April 20 – Congress declares war, along with the Teller Amendment – Teller Amendment: US is fighting for Cuban independence; does not intend to make Cuba a territory. The Sp-Am War • The “Splendid Little War” • War begins in the Phillipines with the defeat of the Spanish fleet – Admiral George Dewey – Spain loses all its ships and 381 men; the US loses 1 (died of a heat prostration) – America troops would invade the Phillipines with the help of a Filipino nationalist, Emilio Aguinaldo “You may fire when ready, Gridley.” • The War in Cuba – Problems: logistics, supplies, uniforms – Rough Riders • Theodore Roosevelt • San Juan Hill Treaty of Paris, 1898 • Ratified in 1899, provides for: 1. 2. Cuban Independence recognized US gains two Spanish islands – – 3. Philippines bought for $20 million – – • Puerto Rico (Caribbean) Guam (Pacific) Debate between the imperialists and anti-imperialists in the US Anti-imperialism and isolationism: fear of entanglement in Asian conflicts. W McK’s justification for taking the Philippines: – – – Christianity Democracy Manliness v. cowardice The Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 The Philippine-American War • • • • Guerilla war Emilio Aguinaldo Atrocities (water torture, attacks on women and children) reported on both sides Racial dimensions of the conflict: “This country won’t be pacified until the niggers are killed of like the Indians” - Kansas infantryman • Larger conflict than the Sp-Am War • • • • • 70,000 US soldiers stationed $400 million spent 10,00z 0 US casualities 16,000 Filipino casualties 200,000 civilian deaths. Anti-Imperialist Cartoons Making Sense of the American Empire • Insular Cases (1901-1903) – – A series of Supreme Court cases addressing the question: “Does the Constitution follow the flag?” Court rules that constitutional rights are not automatically extended to territorial possessions; Congress has the power to decided whether or not to grant such rights. Making Sense of the American Empire • Platt Amendment (1901) – – US troops remain in Cuba from 1898-1901 Withdrawal of troops conditioned upon Cuba’s acceptance of the Platt Amendment: • • • – – No foreign treaties that impair independence (except this one, of course!) US is allowed to intervene in Cuba’s affairs to preserve Cuban independence and maintain law and order US may maintain naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Overall: US oversight and control Amendment is bitterly resented by Cuban nationalists Foreign Policy & the New American Empire • Asia: – The Open Door Policy (1899) • John Hay • “sick man of Asia” and “spheres of influence” • Open Door note neither accepted nor rejected by European powers European “spheres of influence” – Boxer Rebellion (1900) • Society of Harmonious Fists, aka Boxers • Nationalism and xenophobia on the rise • Attacks on Christian missionaries and foreign settlements. • International force sent in (inc. Ams) to crush it. – Prompts a second round of “Open Door” notes from Hay calling for powers not to use the rebellion as an excuse to gain more territory. Asia (con’t) • Japan – Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) • Imperialist rivalry between Japan and Russia breaks out into war • TR arranges the Portsmouth Conference (1905) to settle dispute • Japanese feel betrayed after failing to gain Sakhalin Island – Gentlemen’s Agreement (1908) • Japan upset by California laws preventing Japanese children from attending public schools • Compromise calls for Japan restricting emigration in return for TR persuading California to repeal laws. – Root-Takahira Agreement (1908) • Important agreement that pledges: a) respect for each others territories, and b) to support the “open door” in China. Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” Policy • 1901, TR becomes Pres after McKinley is assassinated in Buffalo, NY • TR declares his philosophy of foreign policy: “talk softly, and carry a big stick” The Big Stick in the Americas • Panama Canal – Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901) • US gets okay from Britain to “go it alone” – The Nicaragua v. Panama debate – Colombian control of Panama; resistance – The Panamanian Revolution (1903) • Banau-Varilla • Hay-Banau-Varilla Treaty (1903) • Colombia compensated for $25 million in 1921 • Panama Canal (cont’) – Construction of the Canal: • “A man, a plan, a canal: Panama” • Dr. William Gorgas: eradication mosquitos and yellow fever • Venezuela (1901) – US forces sent in by TR to force it to pay debts to European creditors • Santo Domingo (1904) – US sends troops in to occupy ports, collect taxes, and oversee debt repayment – Done to prevent European powers from doing the same thing – Policy is called the “Roosevelt Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine: US may intervene to prevent others from doing so…