BECOMING A WORLD POWER
1872 – 1912
Chapter 12
What is “Imperialism”?
It is when a nation builds an empire by gaining
political control over other countries.
During this era, economic and
military competition from foreign
nations convinced the United States
it must be a world power.
The United States became an empire
when it acquired the Philippines and
territory in the Caribbean.
In addition, American influence in Central
and South America grew as the U.S. took
a more active role in Latin American
affairs.
I. Building Support for Imperialism (def: The
economic and political domination of a strong
nation over other weaker nations.) Reasons:
A. Desire for new markets
1. U.S. wanted to keep up with Europe (they
built empires through overseas markets)
2. New markets
would keep
the economy
strong.
3. To protect overseas investments, a country
had to exert some control over those areas.
a. Some areas became colonies.
b. Some became protectorates (technically
independent; imperial power protects them
from invasion; advises them how to
govern.)
B. Feeling of superiority
1. Idea that only strongest countries would
survive – Social Darwinism
2. The feeling that English-speaking nations had
superior ideas, character, and governments;
were destined to dominate the world.....
(Anglo - Saxonism).
3. Josiah Strong - minister who preached that
Americans had a duty to “civilize &
Christianize heathen foreigners.”
Shopping in Somalia
Shopping in Guatemala
Where would
you like to
spend your
Saturday?
Why?
Shopping in Houston
Shopping in London
II. Expansion in the Pacific
A. Japan had a closed society; wanted to avoid
contact with Westerners that would supposedly
destroy their culture.
1. Refused to trade with Americans
2. Commodore Matthew Perry
took naval expedition to Japan
to negotiate a treaty.
a. The Japanese had never seen steamships;
were awed & intimidated!
(Perry's Naval Expedition continued)
b. Realized they
couldn’t compete
with American
technology and
weapons; signed
a trade agreement.
3. Result: Japan began
to westernize AND
to build their own
Asian empire!
B. Hawaii
1. 1819 - Arrival of first
US missionaries
2. Discovered climate and
soil perfect for growing sugarcane
3. Americans established huge plantations
4. Pressured king to accept new constitution
a. Limited monarch's
power.
b. Increased planters’
power.
5. 1891 - Queen “Lil” took the throne.
a. Disliked American settlers being there.
b. Tried to reassert absolute authority as
ruler of Hawaii.
6. American planters had her overthrown.
III. Trade & Diplomacy in Latin America
A. Conference held in 1880s to create alliance of
US and Latin America - Pan-Americanism
B. Hoped to keep European influence out of Latin
America.
C. Today: Organization of
American States (OAS)
IV. Building a Modern Navy
A. Three crises that showed American willingness
to be assertive in foreign affairs:
1. 1888- US willing to go to war to prevent
Germany from taking control of Samoan
Islands in the South Pacific.
2. 1891 - Mob in Chile attacked American
sailors, killed some; US threatened
war with Chile
3. 1895 - US backed
Venezuela against
Britain in a border
dispute with the colony
of British Guiana.
** All three crises were settled peacefully, but
they showed that the US meant business!!!
B. Alfred T. Mahan wrote The Influence
of Sea Power Upon History
1. Thesis: All great nations had strong
naval power.
2. With a strong navy, US had to have foreign
refueling stations; needed to build an
empire to guarantee access to those
refueling stations.
C. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge led
the effort to modernize US Navy.
D. By 1890s - US had become one
of the top naval powers in the world.
V. The Coming of War
A. Cuban Rebellion Begins
1. Cuba was a Spanish colony; generated lots
of money for Spain; produced 1/3 of
world’s sugar.
2. 1868 - Cuban rebels declared independence;
launched guerilla war against Spain.
a. Jose Marti - exiled Cuban
leader.
b. US & Cuba were linked
economically; Cuban sugar
Jose Marti
went to the US; the US
invested in Cuba’s mines, RRs, and sugar
plantations.
B. Americans supported the Cubans
1. Compared their rebellion to American
Revolution
2. US support fueled by yellow journalism
(exaggerated/made-up stories to attract
readers).
Two newspapers owned by:
a. William Randolph Hearst Locked in huge
competition!!
b. Joseph Pulitzer
vs.
Y
E
L
L
O
W
JOURNALISM
C. Calls for War
1. US Battleship Maine exploded
in Havana Harbor; 266
Americans killed.
a. Reason unclear
b. Yellow journalism said Spanish did it!
US battle cry:
“Remember the Maine!”
2. Jingoism (aggressive
nationalism) was strong.
D. US demands Spain leave Cuba;
Spain declares war on US.
Artist’s rendition of the explosion
aboard the Battleship Maine
VI. War on Two Fronts
A. US Takes the Philippines
1. Philippines – Spanish colony;
US invaded to keep Spain from
attacking US on west coast.
2. Commodore George Dewey’s
fleet – quick victory at Manila Bay.
3. More US troops sent; seized island of Guam.
4. Enlisted aid of Filipino leader
Emilio Aguinaldo; at first he
sided with US; then turned on
them.
* American Forces Battle in Cuba
1. American army poorly trained, supplied;
hundreds died of disease in training camps.
2. “Rough Riders” - volunteer cavalry unit;
second- in-command was Theodore
Roosevelt.
Teddy Roosevelt
and the
Rough Riders
3. All-black 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments,
along with Rough Riders, charged up San
Juan Hill at Santiago; defeated Spanish.
4. US troops also occupy Spanish Puerto Rico.
5. Spanish-American War ceasefire - 8/12/1898.
http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/AP US
History II/course
files/multimedia/lesson54/lessonp.html?showTopic=2
VII. An American Empire is Born
A. Debate over annexation of former Spanish
territories
1. Imperialists’ arguments
a. Territories would be valuable naval
stations throughout the world.
b. Would provide additional large markets
for American goods.
c. Americans could “civilize &
Christianize” natives. ("White Man's
Burden")
2. Anti-Imperialists’ arguments:
(Ex: Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, etc.)
a. Competition from cheap Filipino labor
would drive down Americans’ wages.
b. Imperialism is immoral and against
American principles.
B. Treaty of Paris 1898 - terms of the treaty:
1. Cuba - becomes independent from Spain.
2. US gets Puerto Rico & Guam
3. US pays Spain $20 million for the
Philippines.
VIII. American Diplomacy in Asia
A. Open Door Policy
* China was carved up into “spheres of
influence” - areas where only certain
countries could trade.
2. US wanted in on the action; pushed for free
trade for China; eventually got it!
B. Boxer Rebellion
1. Some Chinese wanted to wipe out “foreign
devils” and Christians; thought they were
corrupting Chinese society.
2. Attacked foreign embassies in Beijing,
killing and taking prisoners.
3. International force, including US, stepped
in and quashed the rebellion.
The Boxers, also known as
the Righteous and
Harmonious Fists, were
members of a secret society
opposed to foreign influence
in China. As the Boxers laid
siege to the foreign
embassies in Beijing,
diplomats, foreign civilians,
and Chinese Christians were
trapped behind barricades for
nearly 60 days before an
international rescue team
ended the uprising.
B. Balancing Power in East Asia
1. TR helped settle war between Japan and
Russia; received Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Relations between Japan and US worsened!
3. 1907 - President TR sent 16 battleships on a
world voyage
to show US
power
– Great White
Fleet.
IX. A Growing Presence in the Caribbean
A. Panama Canal
1. 1901- US and Brits sign Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty – gave US the right
to build and control any
canal
through
Central
America.
2. French company had tried it; failed due to
bankruptcy and loss of life from disease.
3. Nicaragua or Panama (controlled by Colombia)?
B. Revolt in Panama
1. US helped to wage uprising in Panama
against Colombia.
2. US recognized Panama’s independence.
C. Roosevelt Corollary (to the Monroe Doctrine)
1. TR’s philosophy: “Speak softly and carry
a big stick” – Get what you want by
showing power; then, hopefully won’t have
to use it!
2. Known as Big Stick diplomacy.
3. Corollary: US would intervene in Latin
American affairs when necessary to
maintain economic and political stability in
the Western Hemisphere.
D. President Taft (TR’s successor)
1. Continued TR’s policies…BUT…
2. Placed less emphasis on military
force and more on helping Latin American
industry; became known as Dollar
Diplomacy (“substituting dollars for
bullets”)
U.S. EXPANSIONISM LEADING UP TO
WORLD WAR I
Reviewing Key Terms
Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on
the left.
__
A 1. the actions used by one
nation to exercise political or
economic control over a
smaller or weaker nation
__
G 2. a policy of joining the
business interests of a
country with its diplomatic
interests abroad
__
B 3. a country that is technically
independent but is actually
under the control of another
country
__
D 4. extreme nationalism marked
by aggressive foreign policy
A.
imperialism
B.
protectorate
C.
yellow
journalism
D.
jingoism
E.
sphere of
influence
F.
Open Door
policy
G.
dollar
diplomacy
Reviewing Key Terms (cont.)
Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on
the left.
__
C 5. type of sensational, biased,
and often false reporting for
the sake of attracting readers
__
F 6. a policy that allowed each
foreign nation in China to
trade freely in the other
nations’ spheres of influence
__
E 7. section of a country where
one foreign nation enjoys
special rights and powers
A.
imperialism
B.
protectorate
C.
yellow
journalism
D.
jingoism
E.
sphere of
influence
F.
Open Door
policy
G.
dollar
diplomacy
WARM-UP
WARM-UP
Briefly analyze this cartoon. Does it make a case for or
against imperialist efforts in the 19th and 20th centuries?
WARM-UP
What issue is behind this cartoon? What symbolisms does
the cartoonist use to portray his opinion?