US IMPERIALISM IN LATIN
AMERICA AND THE PACIFIC
Why did the U.S. expand its influence
in Latin America and in Hawaii in
the 19th century? How? Results?
Latin America as
MONOLITH
What is being handed
to Uncle Sam in this
image?
What does the
image suggest about
Latin America?
What does this and the following
images suggest about the way in
which the U.S. perceived Latin
America?
Latin America as female
What is the message of
this cartoon? How are
each of the countries
portrayed?
Latin Americans as Children
What is Uncle Sam
saying to the “children”?
What is the political
message of this cartoon?
HOW DID THE US EXPAND ITS INFLUENCE IN LATIN AMERICA IN THE 19TH CENTURY?
Policies: The U.S. as Protector / Defender
The Monroe Doctrine – 1823
Roosevelt Corollary – 1904
The Monroe Doctrine -- 1823
When it was clear
that LA
independence
movements had
succeeded, the US
acted to prevent
other European
nations from
acquiring colonies or
undue influence.
Roosevelt Corollary – 1904
War as Policy
Mexican-American War -1847
TREATY OF GUADALUPE-HIDALGO, 1848
War as Policy
The Spanish American War 1898
“How some apprehensive people picture Uncle Sam after the War”. Detroit News. 1898.
Foreign Investment
The U.S. and Europe
invested heavily in
Latin America:
• Cash crops (United
Fruit Co.)
• Mining Companies
• Infrastructure
(roads, ports,
railways)
and… The Panama Canal
How would the Panama Canal and other forms of foreign investment influence
Latin America’s relations with the U.S. in the 20th century?
LATIN AMERICA AND THE U.S.:
A POLICY AND HISTORY OF INTERVENTION
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CUBA: the Platt Amendment
PANAMA: U.S. encouraged its independence to secure an agreement to build
the Panama Canal (Panama was formerly a part of Colombia)
VENEZUELA:
NICARAGUA: U.S. took control from 1909-33 to prevent European nations
from going in to collect debts by force
HAITI: 1915– 1934
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 1916 – 1924
HONDURAS – 1924
PANAMA – 1925
PUERTO RICO – 1898 and 1948
The U.S. collected taxes and paid the debts >> GREAT resentment on the part of
Latin American nations >> Why do you think this was so? (beyond the
obvious…)
U.S. AND HAWA’II
WHY DID THE US IMPERIALIZE HAWAII? HOW DID IT DO
SO? WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?
WHAT REASON DOES THIS
CARTOON SUGGEST FOR
US INTEREST IN HAWAII?
US SUGAR INTERESTS
INCREASED IN HAWAII
DURING THE 19TH CENTURY?
WHAT REASONS WOULD THE
US PROVIDE FOR WANTING
TO ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN
HAWAII?
What does the cartoon suggest about US imperialist policy?
The peaceful annexation – or was it?
Queen Liliuokalani’s Statement
Relinquishing Power in Hawaii
“I, Lili'uokalani, by the Grace of God and under the constitution of the Hawaiian
Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done
against myself and the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by
certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for
this Kingdom. That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America,
whose Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United
States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the
said Provisional Government. Now, to avoid any collision of armed forces and
perhaps loss of life, I do, under this protest, and impelled by said forces, yield my
authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon the
facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representative and reinstate me
in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian
Islands.”
January 17, 1893
What does the statement suggest about the annexation of Hawaii?
LATIN AMERICA – U.S. RELATIONS IN THE 20TH C.
RELATIONS BASED ON / GOVERNED BY:
• FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
• LATIN AMERICA’S DEBTS
• TRADE
• NEED FOR STABLE GOVERNMENT (What does
this mean? Why would it be important?)