Imperialism to the First World
War
AP US History Period 7
1880-1920
New Imperialism
• American foreign policy: Monroe Doctrine &
Isolationism
– Continentalism
– Consent of governed
– Avoid military entanglements, appropriations,
absorbing alien races
– Occupied with domestic growth
– Obsolete navy
– Geography (oceans and weak neighbors)
New Imperialism
• Some attempts
– Purchase of Alaska, acquisition of Hawaii,
Caribbean islands
– Annexation of Santa Domingo & Canada proposed
– Naval stations in Samoa & Haiti
• Numerous Foreign Affairs
– Pan-American Conferences, Seal slaughter in
Pribilof Islands, Italian Lynching, Chilean Crisis,
Venezuela Crisis, Samoa, Hawaii
New Imperialism
• Impulses towards New Imperialism
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Closing of the frontier
Panic of 1893
Reform & protest
Growing exports
World pressure
Darwinian philosophy
White Man’s Burden
Political philosophy
Yellow Journalism
Strong navy (Alfred T. Mahan)
Spanish-American War
• 1898 – Cuba & Puerto Rico remain as Spanish
colonies in Western Hemisphere
• Cuban nationalism threatens Spanish rule
– Rebels follow scorched earth policy
– Spain build reconcentration camps to hold villages
prisoner
• Yellow journalism feeds fire (Hearst and
Pullizter)
– “You supply the pictures, I’ll supply the war”
Spanish-American War
• Events leading to war
– DeLome Letter 2/9/1898
– Battleship Maine explodes2/15/1898
• Unlcear who caused it, American think Spain, Spain
thinks its an accident
• “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!”
– War declared 4/21/1898
• Teller Amendment
– No imperiliastic motive, Cuba would get
independence if US won
Spain vs USA
• Spain has larger military, larger navy
• Spainish navy is old, US navy new
• Poorly organized war effort by US
– Too many troops, wrong uniforms,
• Teddy Roosevelt resigns Navy job so he can
fight in war
– Creates Rough Riders (cowboys, convicts, polo
players)
Spain vs USA
• Battles of San Juan Hill & El Carney
– Spain struggles to get soldiers in battle,
– Roosevelt makes name for himself through exaggerated
tails of heroism
– Puerto Rico is easily captured
– Only major battles of war, US wins easily
• 8/12/1898 Treaty of Paris (1899)
– Cuban independence as promised; Puerto Rico now US
territory
– Philippines acquisition dilemma
• For: White Man’s Burden, economic benefit
• Against: self-government, alien race incorporated into America
Significance of Spanish American War
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Showed US was world power
Increased prestige
Advantages of naval power
Lessened leftover tension from Civil War
Showed need for isthmanian canal
Post-War Issues
• Election of 1900 - McKinley (R) vs Bryan (D)
– Roosevelt as McKinley’s VP
– McKinley the safe choice over Bryan the unknown
• Foreign Policy
– Open Door Policy
• Sino-Japanese War 1894 showed China was weak
• European nations began incursion into China for
economic benefit, US wanted in too.
• Concern about aggressive Germany
Post-War Issues
• Boxer Rebellion – Society of Harmonious Fists
– 1900 – anti-foreign feelings develop in China
– Riots occur against foreign delegations
• Assassination of McKinley
– Roosevelt becomes president
– Aggressive, egotistical, energetic and loves people
– “speak softly and carry a big stick”
• Panama Canal
– US needed to move its navy from one ocean to the other quickly
– Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
• Roosevelt Corralary
– Any threat to peace in the West was a threat to the United States
– US would intervene in Latin American affairs if there was a threat to
the US involved
Foreign Policy
• Alaskan Boundary Dispute
– Klondike gold rush leads to dispute over boundary with Russia
– Roosevelt says he will use troops if needed to settle boundary
• Morocco
– Contention over anti-French speech given by Germany; war
possible
– Roosevelt says US will get involved in Europe if war there might
threaten the US
• Russo-Japanese War
– Japan & Russian seek influence in China; US praises Japan for
use of surprise attack at Port Arthur
– Treaty of Portsmouth 1905 splits land, gets Roosevelt a Noble
Prize, and angers both Russia and Japan
Foreign Policy
• Japanese Immigration restricted
• Root-Tarahira Agreement 1908
– Maintains status quo in Pacific
– Chinese territory guaranteed
• Great White Fleet
– 16 battleships travel the world, showing off US
strength
– Reflects bullying attitude of Roosevelt