Imperialism and America
Section 18-1
pp. 548-551
Preview Questions
 What were the major factors that contributed to the growth of
American imperialism?
 How did the United States acquire Alaska and Hawaii?
American Expansionism
 Imperialism: Policy in which stronger nations extend
their economic, political, or military control over weaker
territories
 Why Imperialism?
 Desire for military strength
 Thirst for new markets
 Cultural superiority
American Expansionism
 Military Strength
 Establish a global military presence
 Alfred T. Mahan: Urged creation of modern navy
American Expansionism
 New Markets
 Industrialization created need for new markets and raw
materials
 Cultural Superiority
 Social Darwinism
 Racial Superiority
 Duty to spread Christianity
US Acquires Alaska
 “Seward’s Folly”
 Bought Alaska for $7.2m from Russia in 1867
US Takes Hawaii
 Annexation
 US businesses want annexation to avoid sugar tariffs
 Businessmen overthrow Hawaiian Queen
 Sanford Dole heads temporary gov’t
 Republic of Hawaii annexed in 1898
The Spanish-American War
Section 18-2
pp. 552-557
Preview Questions
 How did Americans feel about the Cuban revolt against
Spain?
 What events escalated the conflict between the US and
Spain?
 What were the consequences of the war for Spain and
the US?
Cubans Rebel Against Spain
 Americans invest heavily in Cuban sugarcane
 Cuban War for Independence
 Led by Jose Marti
 US sugar mills attacked to provoke involvement
 American opinion split
War Fever
 Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba
 Sent 300,000 Cubans to concentration camps
 Headline Wars
 Yellow Journalism: Reporting that exaggerates news to
make it exciting
 Deepens American sympathy for the war cause
War Fever
 DeLome Letter
 McKinley tries diplomacy to
avoid war
 Letter from Spanish diplomat
insults McKinley
 Americans outraged
War Fever
•U.S.S. Maine Explodes
•Cause unknown,
newspapers blame
Spain
•Americans call for war
War Erupts
 War in Philippines
 George Dewey led U.S. attack on Spanish fleet at Manila
 Filipinos support Dewey in hopes of independence
 Spanish troops surrender in August 1898
 War in the Caribbean
 U.S. navy blockaded Cuba
 U.S. relied heavily on ill-equipped volunteer soldiers
War Erupts
•Rough Riders
•Volunteer regiment led by
T. Roosevelt
•Clear path for victory at
San Juan Hill
•US Navy destroyed Spanish
fleet
•US invaded Puerto Rico
July 25, 1898
War Erupts
 Treaty of Paris
 Granted Cuba independence
 Puerto Rico and Guam given to U.S.
 U.S. paid Spain $20m for Philippines
War Erupts
 Debate Over the Treaty
 Controversy over U.S. right to annex Philippines
 “Christianize” Filipinos?
 Violated Declaration of Independence?
 U.S. approved annexation in 1899
Acquiring New Lands
Section 18-3
pp. 558-564
Post-War Events
 US took control of Puerto Rico in 1898
 Foraker Act: Ended military rule, set up civil government
 US occupied Cuba after war
 Platt Amendment:
 Limited Cuba’s rights in dealing with other nations
 Gave U.S. right to intervene
Post-War Events
 Philippines
 Emilio Aguinaldo
leads protest against
US
 Rebellion 1899-1902
that led to self-rule
Foreign Influence in China
 Open Door Policy
 Calls for China’s ports to remain open and independent
 No nation gets special privileges
 Boxer Rebellion
 Rebellion against Western presence in China

Troops sent to supress rebellion
Impact of Imperialism
 McKinley’s election in 1900 showed US supported
imperialism
 Anti-Imperialist League
 Cleveland, Carnegie, Twain, and Addams
 Wrong for U.S. to rule others without consent
America as a World Power
Section 18-4
pp. 565-571
Preview Questions
 How did Theodore Roosevelt exercise American power?
 Why did President Wilson send troops into Mexico?
TR and the World
 TR negotiated Treaty
of Portsmouth
 Ended Russo-Japanese
War
 TR won Nobel Peace
Prize
 US prestige increased
TR and the World
 U.S. sent warships to secure Panama’s independence
 U.S. gained rights to build canal
 Damaged relationship with Latin America
 Panama Canal is completed in 1914
 Decreased travel time between Atlantic and Pacific
 U.S. increased power and prestige
TR and the World
 Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine
 Said U.S. would be willing to use military power to protect
its economic interests in Latin America
 Leads to “Dollar Diplomacy”
 U.S. will use military force to guarantee loans made to
foreign nations
 Leads to U.S. military intervention in Nicaragua
Wilson’s Missionary
Diplomacy
 Wilson refused to recognize any oppressive,
undemocratic, or hostile government
 Conflict with Mexico
 Wilson refuses to recognize Huerta’s government
 Uses minor incident to occupy Veracruz
 Recognized Carranza government
Wilson’s Missionary
Diplomacy
 Rebellion in Mexico
 Pancho Villa
 Wanted war between Carranza
and US
 Killed 16 Americans in raid
 U.S. General Pershing invaded
Mexico and crushed Villa’s forces
in 1916