American Imperialism
Unit 4
Rise of World Power
Ch. 12 of American Republic Textbook pp.390-415
Imperialism
The economic and political
demonstration of a strong nation
over other weaker nations.
• Began in Europe and spread to
America
Academic Vocabulary for this unit:
• Expansionism – a policy or practice of expansion and
especially of territorial expansion by a nation
• Foreign Policy – the policy of a sovereign state in its
interaction with other sovereign states
• Diplomacy – the practice of conducting negotiations
between nations
The Roots of American Imperialism
•Economic Roots
•Political and Military Roots
•Racist roots
Economic Roots
The desire for new
markets and foreign
investment opportunities
American Imperialism – concept map
Commercial/Business Interests
U. S. Foreign Investments: 1869-1908
Commercial/Business Interests
American Foreign Trade:
1870-1914
Political and Military Roots
Denomination of
foreign markets and
need for naval strength
and connections (gas
stations – pit stops)
Racist Roots
Anglo-Saxonists and Imperialists
views that non-White races of the
world were inferior and should be
dominated
Religious/Missionary Interests
American
Missionaries
in China, 1905
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
• Military/Strategic interests
• Book written by Admiral
Mahan that urged the U.S.
to become a mighty naval
power and to build naval
bases around the globe
Alfred T. Mahan  The Influence of Sea
Power on History: 1660-1783
Anglo-Saxonism
• Based on a book by John Fiske
• Took Social Darwinism a step
further and argued that it was
the destiny of Anglo-Saxons to
dominate the globe (like
Manifest Destiny)
• P. 393 of text
Social Darwinist Thinking
The Hierarchy
of Race
The White Man’s
Burden
HAWAII
U.S. Imperialism
1875-1898
p.395
U. S. View of Hawaiians
Hawaii becomes a U. S. Protectorate in 1849
by virtue of economic treaties.
Timeline: U.S. Imperialism in Hawaii
1875 – Congress exempted Hawaii from the Sugar Tariff in exchange for
Pearl Harbor (Naval base)
1887 – American Sugar Planters secured a new Hawaiian constitution
that limited their monarch’s power
1890 – McKinley Tariff caused Hawaii’s sugar industry to collapse
1891 – Queen Lilioukalani ascended the throne and resisted American
influence and interference
1897 – McKinley becomes president and helps American planters
overthrown the Hawaiian monarchy
1898 – U.S. Annexed Hawaii
Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani
Hawaii for the
Hawaiians!
U. S. Business Interests In Hawaii
1875 – Reciprocity
Treaty
1890 – McKinley Tariff
1893 – American
businessmen backed an
uprising against Queen
Liliuokalani.
Sanford Ballard Dole
proclaims the Republic
of Hawaii in 1894.
Impact of the following on the relationship between
the U.S. and Hawaii
Queen Liloukalani
McKinley Tariff
• She disliked American influence
in Hawaiian govt. & economy
• She tried to impose a new
constitution that limited
American control
• Caused American planters in
Hawaii to overthrow her govt. &
apply for statehood
• To offset a recession in
American, it gave subsidies to
sugar producers in U.S. only
• The subsidies collapsed Hawaii’s
sugar industry
• Caused American planters in
Hawaii to want statehood
To The Victor Belongs the Spoils
Hawaiian
Annexation
Ceremony, 1898
The Spanish-American War
“Truth is the first casualty of War”
- Wm. Randolph Hearst
The Imperialist Taylor
The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
• Proclaimed by President James Monroe.
• Asserted that the Americans were not to be considered subject to any
further colonization by European powers
• And U.S. promised to not interfere in Europe’s existing colonies
FYI (for your information)
• Cuba produced 1/3 of the world’s sugar in mid 1800s
• Spain did not abolish slavery in Cuba until 1886
CAUSES: how did each of the following help to cause the outbreak of
the Spanish-American War?
• American Business Owners
• Jose’ Marti
• Valeriano Weyler
• Yellow Journalism
• De Lome Letter
• U.S.S. Maine
• Protectorate
Other key people and terms to know:
• William Randolph Hearst p. 400
• Joseph Pulitzer p.400 (described Cuba as being covered in blood)
• Theodore Roosevelt p. 401 (Assistant Secretary of Navy)
• Rough Riders p.403
• Jingoism p.401
• Emilio Aguinaldo p. 402
• Commodore Perry – attack at Manilla & also seizing of Guam)
• San Juan Hill p.403
• Check out the Geography Skills, p. 402 of text
American Business owners
• Had invested approximately $50 million in Cuba’s railroad and sugar
industry.
• Lost heavily when Cuba’s sugar industry collapsed due to the
McKinley Tariff
Jose’ Marti
• Exiled Cuban leader committed to gaining Cuba’s independence – led
Cuba’s Rebellion against Spain
• A writer/poet who fled to US and gained financial support for
rebellion
Spanish Misrule in Cuba
Valeriano Weyler
• During the Cuban Revolution of 1895, Spanish General Weyler forced
much of Cuban population into guarded camps near military
installations.
• Spain’s brutal general sent to Cuba to put down the Rebellion
• He was nicknamed “The Butcher” because of his harsh treatment of
the Cuban Rebels
• Why were Americans supporting Cuba’s fight against Spain?
• P. 401
Valeriano Weyler’s
“Reconcentration” Policy
Yellow Journalism
• Sensationalistic reporting in U.S. newspapers in which
reporters/editors exaggerated or made-up stories to attract
readers
• NY Journal William Randolph Hearst: printed stories of
Cuban Rebels being fed to sharks and dogs
• (p.400 of text)
“Yellow Journalism” & Jingoism
Joseph Pulitzer
Hearst to Frederick Remington:
You furnish the pictures,
and I’ll furnish the war!
William Randolph Hearst
De Lome Letter (Feb. 1898)
• Private letter from Spain’s ambassador that said President McKinley
was weak and sought “the admiration of the crowd”.
• It was exposed in the N.Y. Journal and Americans felt insulted
• p.401 of text
The Spanish-American War (1898):
“That Splendid Little War”
How prepared was the US for war?
U.S.S. Maine (Feb. 15, 1898)
• U.S. warship mysteriously exploded in Havan Harbor
• Yellow Journalists claimed it was a direct attack by Spain
• Led congress to declare war on Spain
• 266 Americans killed
• P. 399-400 of text
Protectorate
• A country whose imperial power allowed a foreign government to
exert their control on local government in exchange for protection
from invaders or internal rebellions
• Local leaders had to accept their assistance in running their country
• P. 393 of text
The
“Rough
Riders”
Theodore Roosevelt
Assistant Secretary of the
Navy in the McKinley
administration.
Imperialist and American
nationalist.
Criticized President
McKinley as having the
backbone of a chocolate
éclair!
Resigns his position to fight
in Cuba.
Remember the Maine
and to Hell with Spain!
Funeral for Maine
victims in Havana
EFFECTS: What happened to each of the following
territories as a result of the Spanish-American War?
• Cuba
• Puerto Rico
• Guam
• Philippine Islands
The Treaty of Paris: 1898
Cuba was freed from Spanish rule.
Spain gave up Puerto Rico and the island of
Guam.
The U. S. paid Spain
$20 mil. for the
Philippines.
The U. S. becomes
an imperial power!
Cuba
• Freed from Spanish rule, but controlled by U.S. government for
transition period
• Granted independence from U.S. by Platt Amendment
• U.S. maintained a military base at Guantanomo Bay
Cuban Independence?
Teller Amendment (1898)
Platt Amendment (1903)
Senator
Orville Platt
1. Cuba was not to enter into any agreements with foreign
powers that would endanger its independence.
2. The U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary
to maintain an efficient, independent govt.
3. Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for naval
and coaling station.
4. Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt.
Puerto Rico
• Ceded to US by Treaty of Paris
• Foraker Act of 1900 (w/o military base) p.405
• Removed military control and established a civilian government
• U.S. slowly ceded move freedom but Puerto Ricans have elected to
remain a Protectorate of U.S.
Puerto Rico: 1898
1900 - Foraker Act.
 PR became an “unincorporated territory.”
 Citizens of PR, not of the US.
 Import duties on PR goods
1901-1903  the Insular Cases.
 Constitutional rights were not automatically extended to
territorial possessions.
 Congress had the power to decide these rights.
 Import duties laid down by the Foraker Act were legal!
Puerto Rico: 1898
1917 – Jones Act.
 Gave full territorial status to PR.
 Removed tariff duties on PR goods coming into the US.
 PRs elected their
own legislators &
governor to enforce
local laws.
 PRs could NOT vote
in US presidential
elections.
 A resident commissioner was sent to Washington to vote
for PR in the House.
Guam
• Ceded to U.S. by Treaty of Paris
• U.S. set up a system of government similar to Puerto Rico but with a
military base
Dewey Captures Manila!
Philippine Islands
• Per Treaty of Paris it was sold to U.S. for $20 million
• U.S. maintained control despite Filipino resistance – until 1946 than
granted independence by U.S. government with a permanent military
base
Is He To Be a Despot?
William H. Taft, 1st
Gov.-General of the Philippines
Great administrator.
Emilio Aguinaldo
Leader
of the Filipino
Uprising.
July 4, 1946:
Philippine independence
The Spanish-American War (1898):
“That Splendid Little War”
Our “Sphere of Influence”
The American Anti-Imperialist
League
Founded in 1899.
Mark Twain, Andrew
Carnegie, William
James, and William
Jennings Bryan among
the leaders.
Campaigned against
the annexation of the
Philippines and other
acts of imperialism.
The Spanish-American War
The Aftermath
Chronology
Feb 15, 1898 – USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba
April 25, 1898 – US declared war on Spain
July 1, 1898 – US expeditionary force landed at Manilla, Phillippines
August 12, 1898 – Cease-fire agreement signed between U.S. & Spain
December 10, 1898 – Treaty of Paris signed
Total duration of the Spanish-American War –
16 weeks
Teller Amendment:
• Attached to the Congressional approval that gave McKinley the
authorization for war against Spain
• It pledged that the U.S. would NOT seek to annex Cuba once it wa
free of Spain
• Amendment to Declaration of War
Platt Amendment (amendment to Cuba’s constitution)
Since Cubans were viewed as too
ignorant to govern themselves – U.S.
“helped” them write new constitution
with these conditions:
1. Cuba would not make any treaty with
a foreign power without U.S. approval
2. U.S. reserves right to intervene in
Cuban affairs to preserve
peace/independence
3. Cuba must lease Naval Base to U.S.
indefinitely (Guantanomo Bay)
p.405
The Philippines – Annexation Debate
Arguments for:
Arguments against
1. Would enhance U.S. Trade
1. Any denial of self-govt. is
contrary to principals which
founded America
2. Some feared they would
undercut American labor
(work too cheap)
• market for exports in Asia
2. They are too underdeveloped and
ignorant to self-govern
Philippine Insurrection:
*Feb. 4, 1899 – Filipinos began a 3 year
rebellion to overthrow U.S. control – U.S.
eventually resorted to same tactics Spain
used
McKinley Administration
First Term:
Elected 1896 – began March 4, 1897
V.Pres. - G.A. Hobart (N.J.)
Second Term:
Re-elected 1900 – began March 4 ,1901
V. Pres – Theodore Roosevelt
(for only 6mos)
Sept 6, 1901 – McKinley assassination
President McKinley shot at the
Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY
by an anarchist factory worker who fired
2 shots from a pistol hidden in a
handkerchief
• McKinley died 8 days later (Sept 14, 1901)
• T. Roosevelt becomes youngest president
in U.S. history (age 42)
• The assassin is executed in the electric
chair
The “Rest”
American Influence in CHINA p. 410-411
• China was a highly desired market for all industrialized nations,
including the U.S.
• All had established strongholds in China except the US
• To keep china from being carved into colonies that would exclude
American traders, U.S. Secretary of State, John Jay issued a series of
letters that convinced these powerful countries to agree to
Open Trading Rights to All – Later known as “The Open Door Policy”
Stereotypes of the Chinese
Immigrant
Oriental [Chinese]
Exclusion Act,
1887
Boxer Rebellion
Boxers were a secret society
Vowed to drive foreign control out of China
Killed hundreds of foreigners in China
Caused U.S., Britain, France, Germany, & Japan to send troops to put down
the rebellion
Thousands of Chinese died in the fighting
The Boxer Rebellion: 1900
The Peaceful Harmonious Fists.
“55 Days at Peking.”
The Open Door Policy
Secretary John Hay.
Give all nations equal
access to trade in China.
Guaranteed that China would NOT be taken
over by any one foreign power.
The
Open Door
Policy
America as a Pacific Power
American Influence in JAPAN p.394
• President Fillmore sent Commodore Perry to persuade Japan to open
its doors to trade
• Japan agreed because they feared America’s technologically superior navy
• So Japan worked quickly to build a powerful modern navy to prevent attack
and to seize some of China
• Russia & Japan competed to claim China & Japan attacked Russia
when Russia seized Manchuria
Nobel Peace Prize
• Awarded to Theodore Roosevelt
for his successful mediation of
the Russo-Japanese War
• He is the 1 of 4 U.S. presidents
to win this Peace prize (1906)
• Others (Wilson, Carter, Obama)
American Influence in LATIN AMERICA
1904 – Dominican Republic
unable to pay their debts to
Europe
Fearing that Europe’s leaders
would send their military to seize
control  Theodore Roosevelt
issued the Roosevelt Corollary
Roosevelt Corollary pp.412-413
• An addition to the Monroe
Doctrine
• U.S. would make sure Latin
America paid its debts – would
also police the Caribbean to
prevent any interference from
Foreign Powers.
Roosevelt and “Big Stick Diplomacy”
“speak softly and carry
a Big Stick”
1907 – Theodore Roosevelt sent
the “Great White Fleet” on a
world tour to show all the other
Great Powers (esp. Japan) that
U.S. technology and might was
superior.
Dollar Diplomacy
The policy of the American Government guaranteeing Loans made to
Latin American counties in order to justify keeping European powers
out of the Caribbean
Taft’s “Dollar
Diplomacy”
Improve financial
opportunities for American
businesses.
Use private capital to
further U. S. interests
overseas.
Therefore, the U.S.
should create stability and order
abroad that would best promote
America’s commercial interests.
“Seward’s Folly”: 1867
$7.2 million
“Seward’s Icebox”: 1867
The
Open Door
Policy
Panama: The King’s Crown
1850  Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty.
1901  Hay-Paunceforte
Treaty.
Philippe Bunau-Varilla,
agent provocateur.
Dr. Walter Reed.
Colonel W. Goethals.
1903  Hay-BunauVarilla Treaty.
Panama Canal
TR in Panama
(Construction begins in 1904)
The Cares of a Growing Family
Constable of the World
Treaty of Portsmouth: 1905
Nobel Peace Prize for Teddy
The Great White Fleet: 1907
Mexico
The Mexican Revolution: 1910s
Victoriano Huerta seizes control of Mexico
and puts Madero in prison where he was
murdered.
Venustiano Carranza, Pancho Villa, Emiliano
Zapata, and Alvaro Obregon fought
against Huerta.
The U.S. also got involved by occupying
Veracruz and Huerta fled the country.
Eventually Carranza would gain power in
Mexico.
The Mexican Revolution: 1910s
Emiliano Zapata
Pancho Villa
Venustiano Carranza
Porfirio Diaz
Francisco I Madero
Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy”
The U. S. should
be the conscience
of the world.
Spread democracy.
Promote peace.
Condemn colonialism.
Searching for Banditos
General John J. Pershing with Pancho
Villa in 1914.
U. S. Global Investments &
Investments in Latin America, 1914
U. S. Interventions in
Latin America: 1898-1920s
What’s Next?
Uncle Sam: One of the “Boys?”
Just following the leader…