U.S. Imperialism: 1870-1914
The Urge to Expand
 Countries rushed to establish overseas empires
 U.S. had little interest in expanding after Civil
War
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Primary concerns were: Rebuilding South,
Settling West, Developing industry
Major expansion: 1867 purchase of Alaska from
Russia
Bought by Sec. of State Seward for $7 million
Worth it when first gold & later oil were
discovered
Industrial expansion will lead to colonial
expansion
An Imperial Era
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European countries were responsible for
Imperialism
Gaining colonies served 2 economic
purposes
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provided more raw materials
provided new markets to sell goods
Colonies were established to protect new
markets from competition from other
industrialized nations.
Areas of Africa, Asia, & Pacific Islands were
quickly claimed.
Why Expand???
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Economic growth made expansion necessary
U.S. had surplus of food & manufactured goods
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We needed new markets
U.S. needed to compete for colonies to
maintain its economic & military strength
One supporter, Alfred T. Mahan, wrote a
book supporting American expansion: The
Influence of Sea Power Upon History
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Believed U.S. needed protect its economic interests
in foreign markets
Best way to do that was to build a strong navy
Josiah Strong: supported expansion in order
to spread democracy & Christianity to inferior
peoples
 Frederick Jackson Turner: believed that
America’s vanishing frontier necessitated our
expansion to prevent unrest.
U.S. Action it the Pacific
 U.S. showed strong interest in Samoa & Hawaii
 Both would serve as naval bases & commercial
ports. Both were in U.S. control by 1900.
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Movement For War Against Spain
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U.S. avoided war in late 1800s: growing naval
strength
U.S. citizens & leaders confident in the nation’s
power
 Resulted in jingoism – exaggerated national
pride
U.S. had economic investments in Cuba
 Upset at brutal tactics Spain used to rule Cuba
 Some Americans wanted to annex Cuba
American journalists reported the atrocities
Used a style of reporting called yellow journalism
 Reporting helped anti-Spanish feelings grow in
U.S.
 Would lead to the Spanish-American War in
1898
Protection of Interests in Cuba
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To protect American interests, Pres. McKinley
sent the U.S.S. Maine to Havana
 Mysteriously exploded in Feb. 1898; killed
266 men
 U.S. journalists blamed Spain; wanted
revenge
 Pres. McKinley gave in to public opinion
 Congress declared war on Spain in April 1898
 Quickly defeated Spain in the Philippines
 Fighting also in Cuba
“Splendid Little War”
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Most famous battle was the Battle of San
Juan Hill led to Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
 “splendid little war” was over in less than
4 months
 Cubans were given their independence
 U.S. gained Philippines, Guam, & Puerto
Rico
 U.S. emerged from the Spanish-American
War as a leading world power
Challenge of an Empire
***U.S. debated over colonization***
Ultimate Question: What to do in the Philippines?
 Many believed we should make the Philippines a U.S.
colony
 Others fought colonialism w/ the following
arguments
 Constitution had no provision about it
 Fear that an overseas empire would involve us in
war w/ other powers
 Length of distance b/t Philippines & U.S.
 Would involve U.S. closely in Asian affairs
 Although the Filipinos resisted, U.S. made
Philippines part of our empire until after WWII
Imperialism EQ’s 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discuss 2 reasons why the U.S. had no
interest in expanding after the Civil War.
Explain the 2 economic purposes for
gathering colonies.
What was the main cause of the Spanish
American War?
Discuss the results of the Spanish American
War.
Explain the views of Alfred T. Mahan, Josiah
Strong, and Frederick Jackson Turner.
Asserting Power: Rivalry vs. China
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Annexation of Guam & Philippines increased U.S.
interest in Asia, esp. in China
China had been divided into spheres of influence
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U.S. proposed equal trade for all nations w/ China:
called Open Door Policy--No one else interested
Chinese tried to expel all foreigners in 1900 Boxer
Rebellion
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U.S. sent help to stop the rebellion
Feared European powers would divide China like Africa
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Restricted U.S. trade w/ China
U.S. proposed Open Door Policy again stressing that China
remain independent
Accepted the second time
U.S. & everyone else could freely & equally trade w/
China
The Panama Canal
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Since 1500s, Americans & Europeans had longed for
canal to connect the two oceans
U.S. especially wanted it
1) would shorten the length of the trip from east to
west
2) would reduce cost of merchant shipping
3) would eliminate heavy expense of maintaining two
separate navies
1901, U.S. signed a treaty that gave us sole right to
build, operate, & defend a canal in one of two places
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Nicaragua or Panama
U.S. decided on Panama, then controlled by Colombia
Problems for the Canal
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Tried to negotiate w/ Colombia
 Offered to pay $10 million up front
 $250,000 as an annual rent thereafter
 No deal; Colombians held out for more money
Panamanians were upset; wanted their independence
 U.S. helped Panama plan a revolt
 Sent a warship to make sure the revolt was
successful
 Panama declared its independence in 1903
 Treaty was negotiated w/ Panama
 Provisions were the same offered Colombia
 Canal zone ended up being wider
Problems continued……….
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Before construction, the mosquito problem had to
be solved
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Carried malaria & yellow fever
Solved by draining swamps, cutting brush, paving muddy
roads, destroying marshes, spraying insecticide everywhere,
& putting screens on windows
Canal construction began in 1906 & was completed in
1914
Next 7 years 43,400 workers labored on the canal
Cost 5,600 lives
About 40 miles long
Minimum depth is 41 ft.
Minimum width is 300 ft.
Takes 7-8 hours to travel through the canal
U.S. Foreign Policy: Early 1900’s
**T.R. believed we had a superior civilization**
 Gave us the right to lead in world affairs
 Was fond of the West African proverb, "Speak
softly and carry a big stick, you will go
far"
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Considered the Caribbean a sphere of
influence
Believed the U.S. should be active in the affairs
of the Western Hemisphere
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The beginning of a new policy in the Americas
called Big Stick Diplomacy: use U.S. power to
keep peace & prevent wrongdoing
Roosevelt Corollary
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1904, Roosevelt announced his new policy
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said U.S. had the right to exercise "international
police power" over Latin America countries that
couldn't or didn't take care of their own affairs
Became known as the Roosevelt Corollary
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Was added on to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823
(said the W. Hemisphere was no longer open to
European colonization)
Told European nations to keep out of Latin America
for any reason.
Dollar Diplomacy: Taft
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**Pres. Taft modified America's foreign policy**
Believed American investment abroad would bring
stability to troubled regions
Would also add power & profit to the U.S. w/o the
use of force
U.S. followed this new policy in Asia & Latin America
Taft encouraged U.S. bankers to replace European
bankers as the major lenders to the countries in Latin
America
U.S. didn't want to give the European nations any
reason to send troops to the Americas
Overall goal of "Dollar Diplomacy" was to reduce
the chance of armed intervention by European nations
Moral Diplomacy: Wilson
**Pres. Wilson had little interest in foreign diplomacy**
 World affairs would leave him no choice (WWI)
 Believed U.S. had mission to lead the world
 Goal of Moral Diplomacy was to make the U.S. the
“conscience of the world”
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condemned colonialism
spread democracy & promoted peace
Result of 3 Diplomacies
 U.S. kept ships & troops in Asia & Latin America
 American business interests spanned the globe
 U.S. was resented & despised by Latin American
nations
 U.S. was a powerful part of the world community
 Meant the U.S. could not ignore the war in Europe
that had started in 1914
Imperialism Assignment
1.
2.
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4.
Who was Queen Liliuokalani? Explain the role of
sugar in the acquisition of Hawaii. Why was Queen
Liliuokalani removed from power?
Explain specific economic reason for Imperialism.
Define: imperialism, protectorate, Anglo-Saxonism,
Pan-Americanism, yellow journalism, jingoism, Platt
Amendment, Rough Riders, Sphere of Influence,
Open Door Policy, Boxer Rebellion, Great White
Fleet, Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, Roosevelt Corollary,
Dollar Diplomacy.
Identify Significance: Panama Canal, T.R.,
Spanish American War, Foraker Act, Jose Marti,
Clara Barton, Alfred T. Mahan, Henry Cabot Lodge,
Josiah Strong, Matthew C. Perry