Imperialism
Definition:
The policy of a stronger nation of taking
economic, political, and social control of
weaker nations.
Reasons for Expansion
• Economic Interests: Economic leaders argued that expansion
would increase U.S. financial prosperity.
• Military Interests: Foreign policy experts urged U.S. leaders to
establish a military presence overseas.
• Competition: to keep the British and French out of the
Americas.
• Cultural Beliefs: Many Americans believed that their
government, religion, and even race, were superior to other
societies.
“The White Man’s Burden”
Take up the White Man’s Burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captive’s need;
Your new caught sullen people,
Half devil and half child.
Take up the White Man’s burden--In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
Rudyard Kipling
Social Darwinism
• This term is used to describe how Darwin’s
theories of natural selection can be applied to
human social situations.
1. It is often used to justify social inequality.
2. It has been used to justify racism.
3. It was used to justify imperialism.
Examples of American Imperialism
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Hawaii
Alaska
Cuba
Puerto Rico
China
Japan
Panama Canal
Hawaii
• Hawaii gave the U.S. use
of Pearl Harbor as a
naval base.
• Useful for trade in a
new market.
• Stopping point for
merchants heading
toward Asia.
What was Seward’s Folly?
Alaska
• Seward was a strong backer of expansion.
• He was Secretary of State under Lincoln and
Johnson.
• In 1867 he arranged the purchase of Alaska
from Russia.
• At the time the 7.2 million dollar deal was
highly criticized.
“Seward’s Folly”
“Seward’s Icebox”
• Seward’s purchase ended up being the bargain of the
century.
Spanish American War
1898
Events Leading to War
The Spanish American War of
1898 began after Americans
became angry over the
Spanish policies in Cuba.
The Spanish became
increasingly more brutal
against the Cuban people.
Cuban rebels began to attack
Spanish soldiers and bring the
battleground onto American
sugar plantations.
Two Events:
• Insulting letter from Spain.
• The sinking of the Maine.
Crew aboard the U.S.S. Maine.
Dupuy de Lôme Letter
•This letter, written by the Spanish
Ambassador to the United States,
Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, criticized
American President William McKinley
by calling him weak and concerned
only with obtaining the favor of the
public.
•Publication of the letter helped
generate public support for a war
between America and Spain.
•. Cuban revolutionaries intercepted
the letter from the mail and released
it to the Hearst press.
•Americans were outraged. Spain apologized and the minister was fired.
“Remember the Maine”
• The explosion was blamed on Spain. Americans used
the incident as a rally cry to go to war.
War Rally Cries
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Mexican War
Spanish American War
World War I
World War II
War on Terror
Through the use
of yellow
journalism the
war began.
Yellow Journalism
• Yellow Journalism is a form of writing that developed
during the late 1800’s as a result of the competition
between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph
Hearst.
• This type of journalism uses exaggeration of the
truth in order to sell more papers.
“Yellow Journalism”
“You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war
William Randolph Hearst
Declaration of War
• With a little help from the press, the American people began to
clamor for war.
• On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain.
Can you think of any examples of modern
day yellow journalism?
Teller Amendment
At the same time as
McKinley’s request for
war, Congress passed
the Teller Amendment.
The amendment stated
that once the war was
over the United States
would leave control of
Cuba to its people.
The Rough Riders
• Americans were
unhappy with the draft
during the Civil War so
as a consequence the
Spanish American War
was fought entirely by
a volunteer army.
Rough Riders
The Rough Riders consisted of tough men who were
former football players, boxers, cowboys, and ranchers.
Roosevelt
• Teddy Roosevelt
brought his own
photographer to
document the trip.
• He will later use the
photos when he runs
as Vice President.
The Philippines
• The first battle of the Spanish American War took
place in the Philippines.
• Dewey engaged the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay.
• Steel- and iron-hulled U.S. ships helped to defeat the
Spaniards.
• Filipino rebels, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, had already
been fighting Spain.
• Surrounded by Dewey (at sea) and Aguinaldo (on
land), Spanish forces surrendered.
• The surprise naval attack sunk the crumbling
Spanish Navy.
• Traditionally the Spanish and English had the
most powerful navies in the world.
Unprepared for War
• U.S. War Department was unprepared for war
in Cuba.
• The America army was not prepared for a war
in Cuba. They were not properly trained and
were issued woolen uniforms.
• The climate in Cuba is very hot and humid.
• Soldiers were also not prepared for the
consequences from the mosquitoes.
Yellow Fever
• Yellow fever was first reported in Cuba in 1649, when
one-third of Havana residents died from the disease.
• From 1856 to 1879, the disease struck the city nearly
every month.
• Foreign occupiers were particularly susceptible: an
estimated 16,000 Spanish troops died from yellow fever
between 1895 and 1898.
• Despite knowing that
yellow fever was most likely
to strike in the summer
rainy season, the U.S.
invaded Cuba on June 22nd.
• Fewer than 400 American
soldiers were killed in
combat during the war. But
more than 2,000 contracted
yellow fever during the
campaign.
Battle of San Juan Hill
• In Santiago, Teddy Roosevelt’s
Rough Riders, captured San
Juan Hill and fortified
positions around the city.
• The battle was fought with the
10th Negro Cavalry. The
Spanish were outnumbered
10 to 1.
Battle of San Juan Hill
After the War
• The U.S. and Spain agreed to stop fighting on
August 12th, 1898.
• As a result of the Spanish American war the
United States acquired control of Puerto Rico,
Guam, and the Philippines.
• The acquisition of the Philippines brought up
the heaviest debate over imperialism.
Annexing the Philippines
Controversy raged in the United States over whether to
annex the Philippines.
For Annexation
Against Annexation
•
Believed the United States had a duty to
spread its values overseas.
• Believed annexation would violate
the ideal of self-government
•
Philippines had economic and strategic
value that should not fall into the hands
of other countries.
• Did not want oppression to occur;
The United States should not export
racism and violence
• Some Americans believed
annexation would increase
immigration to the United States.
The Philippines
Arguments in favor of annexation:
1. New Markets, investments, naval bases.
2. Take over and “Christianize” the islands.
3. Other countries would take it if we didn’t.
Anti-Imperialist League
• This league formed to help re-affirm that
people of all races, religions, and ethnic
backgrounds had the right to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
• Many anti-imperialists believed that the U.S.
was as bad as the Spanish were against the
Cubans.
Anti-Imperialism
• There were many people who spoke out
against imperialism including:
-Mark Twain
-Andrew Carnegie
-Jane Addams
-Samuel Gompers
Platt Amendment
• This agreement gave
the U.S. the right to
intervene in Cuban
affairs if necessary.
McKinley was well like by the
American people.
He helped the U.S. to gain
victory over Spain in the
Spanish American War.
Theodore Roosevelt was
selected as his vice president
by the Republicans to keep him
in a back seat position in the
government.
President McKinley’s House in Canton
• After winning the nomination for President,
McKinley went home and conducted his
famous "front porch campaign."
McKinley Goes to New York
• McKinley arriving at
the Pan-American
Exhibition in Buffalo,
New York on
September 4, 1901.
• He was to give a
speech on Sept. 6th.
McKinley’s Last Speech
The Assassination
• After the president’s speech he stood in the entrance
of a building to greet people and shake their hands.
• People filed in two by two and narrowed down single
file when they reached the president.
• A man in a plain gray suit approached the president.
Noticing that the man had his right hand wrapped
McKinley reached out to shake his left.
• The man sprang
forward and fired
two shots
• A group of men
began to beat the
gunman severely.
• McKinley called out
“Don’t hurt him”.
Assassination
Leon Czolgosz
• As McKinley laid dying he told his security people to be
careful how the told his wife.
• The gunman was a proclaimed “anarchist”.
• Since 1894, anarchists had taken responsibility for killing
the leaders of France, Italy, and Austria. Five months
before McKinley’s assassination Britain’s Prince of Wales
narrowly escaped an anarchist’s bullet.
McKinley Memorials
The youngest American to become President of the United States.
The Secret Service
• The Secret Service was created after
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
• Theodore Roosevelt will become the
first president fully protected by the
Secret Service.
• In 1968 the role of the Secret Service
will extend to the protection of the
presidential candidates.
• This took place after the assassination of
Robert F. Kennedy who was killed after
an acceptance speech during the
primaries.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
He was the 26th President of the
United States.
He was the leader of the Republican
Party and of the Progressive
Movement.
He was a trustbuster, conservationist,
and progressive reformer.
Presidential firsts
In the sphere of race relations, Booker T.
Washington became the first black man to dine
as a guest at the White House in 1901.
Roosevelt and the Teddy Bear
“BIG STICK DIPLOMACY”
Theodore Roosevelt had two main goals
when he became president in 1901:
1. To build a canal across Central America.
2. To keep the European powers from
interfering in Latin American countries.
“Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you
will go far.”
• This was a West African proverb that was
often quoted by Roosevelt. It described his
policy of using diplomacy and a firm hand as
a leader.
Policing Latin America
• Monroe Doctrine: this
doctrine asserted that the
Americas would not be
considered subjects of
colonization by any European
country.
Crazy Horse Monument
Roosevelt Corollary
• Roosevelt Corollary: this policy stated that the
U.S. would intervene in any Latin American
country whose stability was in question.
Dollar Diplomacy: American banks and
businesses were urged to invest in Latin
America.
It was believed that investing in Latin America
would stabilize the weak nations.
THE PANAMA
CANAL
Why Build the Canal?
Two Reasons:
1. The Gold Rush
2. The Oregon
Building the Canal
• The first attempt of building the canal was done by
the French headed by Ferdinand De Lesseps.
• The building of the canal was plagued by problems,
including disease (particularly malaria and yellow
fever) and landslides.
• As many as 27,500 workers are estimated to have
died during construction of the canal.
Roosevelt Intervenes
• There were many
obstacles to
overcome in order
to start building
the canal. One of
the largest
obstacles was
Colombia.
Revolution in Panama
• Initial plans were made to build the canal in
Nicaragua but the area was much wider.
• Colombia had control of Panama and wanted
the U.S. to pay for rights to build the canal.
• In 1903 a revolt broke out when Panamanians,
inspired by the U.S., showed their
unhappiness with Colombian rule.
Roosevelt and the Canal
• The United States, under Theodore Roosevelt,
bought out the French equipment and
excavations, and began work in 1904.
• With the diseases under control, and after
significant work on preparing the
infrastructure, construction of an elevated
canal with locks began.
Manhandling Columbia
Importance of the Panama Canal
• A canal across Panama
would save incalculable
miles and man-hours.
• A boat traveling from
New York to San
Francisco saves 7,872
miles by using the
Panama Canal instead of
going around Cape Horn.
The Locks
Building the Locks
ROOSEVELT VISITS THE CANAL PROJECT
Panama, November, 1904 President Theodore
Roosevelt made history today when he became the
first President to travel outside the continental
United states while in office.
President Roosevelt spent a number of days inspecting
the canal’s construction.
It appears the President himself would like to be
directly involved in the building as he seen here on
his last day of inspection behind the controls of a
steam shovel.
Roosevelt in Panama
Canal Facts
43,000 workers from all over the world worked on the project.
5,000 workers died during the project.
61 million pounds of dynamite was used.
The trip through the canal takes 12 hours.
12,000 ships pass through the canal each year.
The Toll
• The highest toll paid for a
transit through the Panama
Canal until 1995 paid by
the Crown Princess on
• May 2, 1993; it was
US$141,349.97.
Lowest Toll
• The lowest toll paid was US$ 0.36 and was paid by
Richard Halliburton who crossed the Canal swimming
in 1928.
Palindrome
A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!
Involvement in China
• Trade with China began in
1784 when goods such as
tea, silk, and other items
were being sold for profit
in the U.S.
• The Chinese feared
Western trade would
interfere with the Chinese
way of life.
• During the 1800’s the most
significant trade between
the U.S. and China was
people.
Spheres of Influence
• A sphere of influence
is an area or region
over which an
organization or state
exercises cultural,
economic, military or
political domination.
Open Door Policy
• As a specific policy with regard to
China, it was first advanced by the
United States in the Open Door
Notes of September-November
1899.
• Under the Open Door Policy all
nations would have equal trading
rights in China.
• European nations did not agree
with the policy, but did not flatly
reject it either.
The Boxers
• In the early months of 1900,
thousands of Boxers roamed the
countryside.
• They attacked Christian missions,
slaughtering foreign missionaries
and Chinese converts.
• Then they moved toward the cities,
attracting more and more followers
as they came.
• Nervous foreign ministers insisted
that the Chinese government stop
the Boxers.
Boxer Rebellion
• In 1900, Chinese patriots known as Boxers demanded
that all foreigners be expelled from the country.
• The started a rebellion by murdering several foreign
missionaries.
• The United States and several other nations sent
military forces to put down the rebellion.
Russo-Japanese War
• The Russo-Japanese War or the Manchurian
Campaign in some English sources, was a conflict that
grew out of the rival imperialist ambitions of the
Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over
Manchuria and Korea.
Japan Attacks Russia
• Western influence caused China to become
weakened.
• Japan adopted Western ideas and became
stronger.
• The Japanese became eager to test their new
power and launched a surprise attack against
Russia in Manchuria.
Roosevelt Intervenes
1. He wanted both Japan and
Russia to uphold the Open
Door Policy.
2. He feared if Japan won the
war, they might become too
strong. He was worried
there may be a struggle
between the U.S. and Japan
in the future.
Treaty of Portsmouth
• United States President
Theodore Roosevelt
offered to mediate, and
earned a Nobel Peace
Prize for his effort.
• The Treaty of Portsmouth
was signed on 5
September 1905 in the
U.S. naval station in
Portsmouth, New
Hampshire.
Japanese Immigration
• In 1854, trade with Japan was
opened by Matthew C. Perry.
• Soon after, ports were opened
to the U.S. and the emperor
allowed people to emigrate
from Japan.
• Many Japanese went to the
Hawaiian Islands which would
soon be annexed to the U.S.
Japanese and Korean Exclusion League
•
•
The Chinese Exclusion Act
be extended to include
Japanese and Koreans
That the action of the
School Board in adopting
policy of segregating
Japanese from white
children, be urged.
Anti-Japanese Sentiment
• Segregation and discrimination
began to grow on the West Coast
as the population of Japanese
Americans grew.
• In 1906, the mayor of San
Francisco ordered the segregation
of all Chinese, Japanese, and
Korean children from the rest of
the children in the schools.
• People in Japan were insulted and
Anti-American riots.
The Gentlemen’s Agreement
• In this agreement Japan would restrict
immigration if the ruling to segregate the
schools in San Francisco was lifted.
Roosevelt dramatically increased the size of the navy,
forming the Great White Fleet, which toured the world
in 1907.