Who can define “imperialism?”
The policy in which stronger
nations extend their economic,
political, or military control
over weaker territories.
By the late 19th century, what
region, or continent, was the
major focus of imperialistic
nations and who were those
nations?
Who can define “imperialism?”
The policy in which stronger
nations extend their economic,
political, or military control
over weaker territories.
By the late 19th century, what
region, or continent, was the
major focus of imperialistic
nations and who were those
nations?
•Precedent for exerting colonial control:
experience subjugating Native Americans
•Fears that natural resources would
dwindle
•Outlet for frustrations regarding
domestic problems
Foreign trade: increasingly important to
U. S. economy
Exports:
1870--$392 million
1890--$857 million
1900--$1.4 billion
Imperialism based on economy
American business & industry
producing more than Americans
could consume—needed new
markets.
Albert Beveridge
American business & industry
needed raw materials not available
in the U. S.
By 1900, U. S. had favorable
balance of trade: economic power.
Target: Africa
Nations competing: Britain,
France, Belgium, Italy, Germany,
Portugal, and Spain.
Great Britain also
had colonies in
Asia and the
Pacific region.
The sun
never set on the British Empire.
During the reign of
Queen Victoria . . .
the British Empire
included 25% of
the world’s land
and people.
In Asia, Japan competed with
European powers for colonies
and trading opportunities in
China.
Most Americans gradually warmed
to the idea of overseas expansion
Three factors:
Economic competition among
industrial nations
Political and military competition,
including creation of a strong
navy
Belief in racial & cultural
superiority of Anglo-Saxon people
New military power
Key advocate of U. S.
military expansion:
Capt. Alfred T. Mahan
Nations with sea power
were history’s great
nations. To be great,
the U. S. would need to
become a sea power.
Mahan argued for a strong U. S.
navy defend peacetime
shipping lanes crucial to U. S.
economic growth.
Mahan’s Principles (1890)
U. S. needed strategically
located refueling bases
U. S. needed a modern fleet
U. S. needed
naval bases in
the Caribbean
Sea
Mahan’s Principles (1890)
U. S. needed to construct
a canal across the Isthmus of
Panama
U. S. needed to
acquire Hawaii
and other Pacific
islands
New military power
Between 1883 and 1890, U. S.
built nine steel-hulled cruisers—
the “A, B, C, D Ships”
With construction of U. S. S.
Maine and Oregon, U. S. became
world’s third largest naval power
Belief in Anglo-Saxon Superiority
Many Americans combined
philosophy of Social Darwinism
with belief in racial superiority
of Anglo-Saxons
Shared European belief in “the
white man’s burden”—must
spread Christianity and
“civilization” to world’s
“inferior” peoples.
James G. Blaine
Secretary of State
in 2 Republican
administrations
in 1880s
Interest in South
America
Pan-American Conference –1889
Cleveland
Administration
also interested
In South Amer.
Supported
Venezuela
in a border
dispute with
Great Britain
over British Guiana
U. S. Annexes Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii had been economically
important to the U. S. since
1790s
Stopping point
for merchants
en route to Asia
Missionaries
since 1820s
Later, sugar merchants
U. S. Annexes Hawaiian Islands
1875—treaty: sale of Hawaiian
sugar in U. S. without a duty
1887—U. S. business leaders in
Hawaii forced King Kalakaua to
change constitution: only
wealthy landowners could vote.
Next (1887) U. S. “persuaded”
King Kalakaua to allow the U. S.
to construct a navy base at
Pearl Harbor on Oahu.
U. S. Annexes Hawaiian Islands
1890—McKinley Tariff eliminated
duty-free status of Hawaiian
sugar
Hawaiians faced
competition from
Cuban sugar
American planters in Hawaii
called for U. S. annexation of
Hawaii—so would not have duty
Liliuokalani became
queen when her
brother, Kalakaua,
died in 1891
Proposed a new
constitution
removing property
qualifications for voting.
American businessmen led a
revolt backed by a U. S. warship.
A volunteer army, backed by U. S.
Marines, took over the
government building; placed
queen under house arrest.
American businessman
Sanford B. Dole (Dole
Pineapple) proclaimed
himself president of a
provisional government
President Grover
Cleveland directed
that Queen
Liliuokalani
be restored to throne
Dole refused to yield power
Cleveland unwilling to use force
Recognized Republic of Hawaii;
refused to annex
William McKinley, a
Republican, became
President 1897.
August 12, 1898—
Congress proclaimed
Hawaii a U. S. territory
Hawaiians not given
opportunity to vote
on annexation.
Samoa:
3000 miles south of
Hawaii
Way station for U. S.
merchant ships
1878—Pres. Hayes
treaty for navy station
at Pago Pago ( U. S., U. K., Germany
The Spanish-American War
centered around the island of
Cuba
Late 1800s, Cuba one of the few
possessions of dwindling Spanish
Empire.
Since 1850s, people in the U. S.
had had an interest in Cuba.
Spaniards tended to treat Cubans
with cruelty.
1868-1878—unsuccessful war
for independence.
Did force Spaniards
to end slavery on
the island
Following emancipation of Cuba’s
slaves in 1886, U. S. businesses
invested heavily
in sugar cane
in Cuba.
1884, U. S.
abolished the
tariff on Cuban sugar—production
soared.
U. S. restored tariff 1894—Cuban
economy ruined (Wilson-Gorman.)
1895, Jose Marti
launched second
revolution against
Spain.
Guerrilla warfare
“Cuba Libre!”
American public opinion split.
American business interests
favored Spain to protect
investments
1896, Spain sent
Valeriano Weyler
to be new governor
of Cuba.
Weyler moved all of
the rural population
into concentration camps.
During next two
years, thousands
died from hunger
and disease.
Weyler’s actions fueled a newspaper war in the U. S.
William R. Hearst
Joseph Pulitzer
New York Journal New York World
Engaged in Yellow Journalism—
exaggerating legitimate reports
of Cuban suffering to lure new
readers.
Hearst sent Frederick Remington,
a famous artist,
to illustrate stories.
“You furnish the
pictures, I’ll
furnish the war”
President McKinley
sought diplomatic solution.
Some success
February 1898, a
Cuban rebel stole a
letter written by Enrique
Dupuy De Lome, the
Spanish ambassador to the
U. S. criticizing McKinley.
Sent to/published by Hearst’s New
York Journal.
Publication of de Lome letter
caused American outrage toward
Spain.
McKinley responded by sending
the U.S.S. Maine to Havana to
protect American lives & property
February 15, 1898, explosion
sent U.S.S. Maine to bottom of
Havana Harbor.
Hearst, et al
inflamed the
American people with the phrase,
“Remember the Maine.”
Even though Spain agreed to
almost all American demands,
Congress declared war on Spain
on April 20, 1898.
First battle of the war took place in
the Philippines.
Anticipating war with
Spain, Undersecretary
of the Navy, Theodore
Roosevelt, ordered
the U. S. Asiatic Fleet
to sail for the
Philippines in Feb.
May 1, 1898, the fleet,
under Admiral George
Dewey, sunk the Spanish
Pacific fleet in a few
hours—no U. S. killed.
Commander of Spanish army
force in Manila refused to
surrender.
Dewey blockaded the harbor and
requested Army forces
Army forces arrived
late July (15,000
troops); linked with
Philippine rebels
under Emilio
Aguinaldo
Spanish commander, when
noting the superior rebel/
American force, agreed to
surrender but wanted to do so
with a “fight” to save face.
American General Merritt agreed
to stage a bloodshed-free battle.
Aguinaldo’s rebels would not
cooperate; actual battle with
casualties on both sides before
final Spanish surrender.
The War in Cuba
Navy was strong and battle-ready.
Army was poorly prepared
Very small professional force
125,000 volunteers
Poorly equipped, poorly led,
limited transportation,
inadequately trained.
The War in Cuba
Rear Admiral William
Sampson
Commander of the
U. S. North Atlantic
Fleet, located a
Spanish fleet in
Santiago, Cuba,
Harbor. Established
a U. S. blockade
The War in Cuba
Although the Army was not ready
for battle, public opinion, due to
Hearst’s and Pulitzer’s editorials,
compelled McKinley
to send the Army
to Cuba.
Sent V Corps under
General William
Shafter
The War in Cuba
Deployment was a near disaster
Only enough ships in Tampa,
FL to move 17,000 of Shafter’s
80,000 person force
No deployment plan--“catch as
catch can”
Disorganized loading in Tampa
and off-loading on Daiquiri and
Siboney beaches
The War in Cuba
Terrible food: “embalmed beef”
Wrong uniforms for the climate
Not prepared for an amphibious
landing—if Spanish had opposed,
U. S. may have had to withdraw.
Not prepared for jungle warfare
Not prepared for insect-borne
diseases native to tropics
The War in Cuba
Shafter’s force consisted of
regular troops, African-American
Buffalo Soldiers
(White officers),
and volunteers
under Colonel
Leonard Wood.
Despite the many
problems, U. S.
forces moved
inland, June 23
The War in Cuba
Most famous volunteer force:
Rough Riders
Led by Wood & Teddy Roosevelt
The War in Cuba
First skirmish: 24 June at Las
Guasimas
U. S. twice as many casualties
as Spaniards
Major battle: Battle of San Juan
Heights—1 July 1898.
Preceded by victory at El Caney.
The War in Cuba
Kettle Hill
Rough Riders
Buffalo Soldiers
9th & 10th Cavalry
San Juan Hill
U. S. Regulars
The War in Cuba
Costly American victory: 1,600
casualties.
But, U. S. now had Santiago in
danger.
3 July, Spanish governor ordered
Spanish fleet to try to “run” the
U. S. blockade.
All Spanish ships sunk or
beached; no U. S. ship damaged.
17 July: Spanish surrendered
Santiago, ending war in Cuba
25 July, U.S. force, under
General Nelson Miles
invaded Puerto Rico
Little Spanish resistance;
hostilities cease August 1898
August 12, 1898, the U. S. and
Spain signed an armistice ending
the war.
Secretary of State
John Hay: “A splendid
little war.”
Fighting: 16 weeks
300,000 Americans
served; 5,400 died but only 460
in battle; the rest from disease
and other causes.
Results of Dec. 10 Peace Treaty
Cuba gained independence
Spain gave U. S. Puerto Rico &
Pacific island of Guam
U. S. paid Spain $20 million
to annex Philippine Islands
Spanish-American war, plus the
annexation of Hawaii, began the
Age of U. S. Imperialism.
The Foraker Act
Joseph B. Foraker
Puerto Rico
Ended military rule
Established a formal colonial government
U. S. governor; 2-chamber legislature
U. s. could amend or veto local legislation
What to do regarding the Philippines?
McKinley’s options
1. Turn PI back to
Spain (“Cowardly
and dishonorable”)
2. Give to another
imperialist power
“Bad business and discreditable”
3. Grant independence
“Irresponsible” (felt Filipinos not
capable of self-government)
4. Annex
Educate, uplift and Christianize
Chosen option; Treaty of Paris
December 1898; $20 million to Spain
The Anti-Imperialists
Carnegie
Clemens
(Twain)
Gompers
J. Sherman
Some: immoral and a repudiation of
the U. S. commitment to human freedom
Some feared introducing “inferior” Asian
races to American society
Industrial workers: feared cheap labor
The Imperialists
Lodge
Roosevelt
An American empire would reinvigorate
the U. S.
Strongest argument: ease of annexation
Some: opportunities for profit
The Treaty of Paris
William Jennings Bryan, a
fervent anti-imperialist,
backed ratification because
it would be a subject of the
1900 election. (It wasn’t)
Cuba
Leonard Wood:
Governor to 1902
Platt Amendment (1901)
Barred Cuba from making
treaties
U. S. right to intervene in
Cuba to “preserve
independence
Permit U. S. naval stations (Guantanamo)
Cuba: only nominal independence
Philippine-American
War
1898-1902
200,000 U. S.
troops
4,300 US deaths
At least 50,000 Filipino deaths
U. S. same pattern of brutality as Weyler
in Cuba
Philippine-American War
Arthur MacArthur
Summary executions
Concentration camps
U. S. troops destroyed
villages, farms, crops &
livestock
Growing spirit if savagery
15 Filipino KIA/1 WIA
Philippine-American War
Aguinaldo captured
Declared allegiance to
the U. S.
Civilian governor:
William Howard Taft
Broad local autonomy
U.S. built roads, schools,
bridges and sewers
Public health system
Economy linked to that of U. S.
China
Europeans &
Japanese carving up
Many in U. S. feared
the U. S. would be
cut out
John Hay: “Asking only the open
door for ourselves, we are ready
to accord the open door to
others.”
Open Door Notes
Each nation with a sphere of
influence in China: respect the
Rights and privileges of other
Nations in its sphere
Chinese officials: continue to collect
tariffs in all spheres (existing tariff
favored the U. S.)
No discrimination in levying port dues
and railroad rates
Elihu Root
Secretary of War
Overhauled armed forces
Regular Army:
75,000 to 100,000
National Guard: federal
Army standards
System of officer training schools
1903: General Staff