EXPANSION OF
AMERICAN IMPERIALISM
AFTER THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
AMERICA PURSUES
INTERESTS IN CHINA
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
• Taking advantage of
China’s political
disarray, Britain,
Germany, France, and
Russia each claimed
their own sphere of
influence
• A zone in which each
power had exclusive
access to Chinese ports
and markets
• America didn’t have a
sphere, which
threatened its ability to
trade in China
SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN HAY
• Hay began issuing notes
to foreign diplomats in
1899 stating the U.S.
expected “perfect
equality of treatment for
commerce” in China.
• This became the standard
for Americans foreign
policy in Asia
THE BOXER REBELLION
• A Chinese secret
society called the
“Righteous and
Harmonious Fists”
resented foreign
influence, so they killed
foreign missionaries
and attacked a
diplomatic district in
Beijing
• European, Japanese,
and U.S. forces brought
down the rebellion and
demanded
reparations, generating
Chinese resentment
THE OPEN DOOR POLICY
• Secretary Hay issued
another note to
foreign diplomats
stating the U.S.
wanted to “preserve
Chinese territorial
and administrative
entity”
• Basically, free trade
instead of colonies
TENSIONS RISE BETWEEN
AMERICA & JAPAN
THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR
• Japan also wanted
influence in China
and resented Russia’s
involvement there
• Japan attacked the
Russian fleet then
continued to attack
on land
• In 1905, President
Roosevelt helped
negotiate peace
between both sides
• He won a Nobel Peace
Prize as a result!
A “GENTLEMEN’S AGREEMENT”
• Anti-Asian sentiment in
the West grew
• In 1906 the San
Francisco School Board
banned Asian children
from attending schools
with white children
• Roosevelt disapproved
and to calm tensions
with Japan convinced
the school board to
end its policy if Japan
would limit emigration
to the U.S.
THE GREAT WHITE FLEET
• Although Roosevelt
utilized diplomacy, he
also wanted to
demonstrate military
preparedness
• He won
congressional support
for a new fleet of ship
and sent 16 on a
“good will cruise”
around the world.
THE U.S. IN LATIN AMERICA
THE FORAKER ACT
• Puerto Rico remained
under U.S. military rule
after the SpanishAmerican War.
• In 1900 the U.S. issued
the Foraker Act
which established a
civil government led
by a governor
appointed by the
President
• The President would
also appoint part of the
legislature, but the
Puerto Ricans could
elect the rest
THE INSULAR CASES
• Whether Puerto
Ricans had the rights
of U.S. citizenship was
unclear
• A series of Supreme
Court cases settled
the matter
• U.S. could levy taxes in
Puerto Rico
• Puerto Ricans did not
have all the same rights
as Americans
THE PLATT AMENDMENT
• The U.S. pressured
Cuba to add the Platt
Amendment to its
constitution before U.S.
troops would be
withdrawn in 1902
• Restricted rights of
Cubans
• Put Cuba in U.S. sphere
• Required Cuba to get
approval from U.S. before
signing treaties
• Required Cuba to lease
naval stations to U.S.
• Granted U.S. “right to
intervene”
“BIG STICK” DIPLOMACY
• Roosevelt liked the
African proverb,
“Speak softly and
carry a big stick; you
will go far.”
• He believed the U.S.
had an obligation to
uplift weaker nations,
but needed to
demonstrate military
strength to do so.
THE PANAMA CANAL
• Previous plans for a
canal across Central
America had failed
• In 1903, Panama was
controlled by
Colombia.
• Roosevelt sent warships
to support a
Panamanian uprising
• After Panama
declared its
independence, it
granted the U.S. control
over the land for a
canal (for a fee)
THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY
• The Monroe Doctrine
(1823) had stated the
U.S. would intervene
in any attempts by
European powers to
colonize in Latin
America
• Roosevelt asserted in
1904 that the U.S.
would act as an
intermediary in any
potential conflict
between Europe and
Latin America
• How did political, economic, social,
military, or religious factors influence
U.S. imperialism in the early 20th
century?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
• When should the U.S. get involved in
the affairs of other countries?