Imperialism
Reasons for It
 Imperialism -> the policy in which stronger nations
extend their economic, political, or military control
over weaker territories
 4 Reasons for Imperialism

Global Competition
Africa primarily controlled by Europe
 Japan + Europe compete for China


Desire for Military Strength
America must match other militaries
 Construct 9 cruiser ships (including Maine and Oregon) making
U.S. 3rd largest naval force in the world

 Thirst for new markets
 Cultural Superiority
Rebellion of the Cubans
 U.S. held large interest in Cuba (only 90 miles South
of Florida)


Wanted to buy from Spain
Spain wasn’t having it
 Cubans rebel against Spain (U.S. sides with Cuban
people)

Revolt = unsuccessful but abolition of slaves happened
The Spanish-American War
2nd War for Independence
 Anti-Spanish revolts again in Cuba
 Joes Marti -> launched revolution in 1895
deliberately destroying property, especially
American-owned sugar mills and plantations

Why? Intervention?
War Fever
 Spain responds to revolt by sending General
Valeriano Weyler to restore order


Wanted to concentrate population in concentration camps
Civilians could not aid rebels
Yellow Journalism
 System of writing that exaggerates the news to lure
and enrage readers

Revolt produced stories such as poisoned wells and children
being thrown to the sharks off the coast
The De Lome Letter
 William McKinley took office in 1897
 American intervention in Cuba favored
 Tried to do so through diplomatic means
 New York Journal published private letter
 Cuban rebel had stolen it from a Havana post
 Written by Spanish Prime Minister Enrique Dupuy de Lome
 Letter called McKinley “weak”
 American’s become angry about insult
U.S.S. Maine
 President McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to
Cuba to bring home American citizens in danger
from the fighting
 Feb. 15, 1898 the ship blew up in Havana harbor
(260+ men killed)
 Newspapers claimed that the Spanish blew up the
ship

Headline read “The warship Maine was split in two by an
enemy’s secret infernal machine”

Offered reward of $50,000 for capture of Spaniards who did this
War With Spain
 “Remember the Maine”
 U.S. declares war on Spain
 Philippines
 First battle took place here
 Opened fire on Spanish fleet at Manila (easy win)
 Joined forces with Philippines who also wanted freedom from
Spain (force Spanish troops to surrender)
 Caribbean
 Started with blockade of Cuba (sealed Spanish in harbor)
 Inexperienced, poorly equipped soldiers
Rough Riders
 Forces land in Cuba
 Included the Rough Riders (Leonard Wood/Teddy Roosevelt)
 Most famous battle takes place in Santiago
 Charge up Kettle Hill by Rough Riders and 2 African American
regiments cleared way for an infantry attack on San Juan Hill
 Spanish try to escape blockade but are destroyed
 U.S. then invades Puerto Rico
Treaty of Paris
 U.S. and Spain sign armistice after 15 weeks of fighting
 Conditions of the treaty:

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
Spain freed Cuba
Turned over islands of Guam and Puerto Rico
Sold Philippines to the U.S. for $20mil.
 Debate over treaty

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U.S. have right to annex the Philippines? (Imperialistic views)
Treaty violated the Declaration of Independence? (self gov’t)
Settle race issues at home before social problems elsewhere
Competition for American jobs
 Senate approved treaty and U.S. now had Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the Philippines
Acquiring New Lands
Puerto Rico
 Became part of U.S. after Spanish-American War
 Puerto Ricans afraid they would not get independence fully
 Debate over independence or statehood…
 While there, Americans provided protection
 Ruled by military until gov’t decided otherwise
 Strategically important to the U.S.
 Foraker Act (set up civil gov’t)
 U.S. appointed governor and upper house of legislation
 Puerto Ricans elect legislator’s lower hosue
Cuba + U.S.
 U.S. recognized Cuba’s independence and stated they
had no intention of taking it over
 Cuba occupied by U.S. troops when war was over


Feared U.S. replacing the Spanish rule
Allowed Spanish officials to stay in office but also helped
eliminate disease
Platt Amendment
 Cuban gov’t wrote a constitution
 Did not specify relationship with U.S.
 U.S. insists they add provisions known as Platt Amendment
Could not make treaties or allow any county to control it
 U.S. reserve right to intervene in Cuba
 Cuba was not to go into debt
 U.S. could buy/lease land in Cuba for Naval purposes

Filipinos Rebel + China
 Not happy with Treaty of Paris (annexation)
 Thought they were promised independence (Emilio Aguinaldo)
 Began a revolt against U.S.
 Took 3 years to put down the revolt (set up similar gov’t like
Puerto Rico)
 Fearful of U.S. being shut out of China the Open
Door notes were created (established shared trade
with imperialist powers)

Boxer Rebellion

Rid china of “foreign devils”
Protecting American Interests
 2nd Open Door notes
 “safeguard for the world the principle of equal and impartial
trade with all parts of the Chinese Empire”
 Revealed American beliefs
Growth of economy depended on exports
 Had a right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open
 Feared that the closing of an area to U.S. threatened survival
