American Imperialism
Expansionism 1867-1914
Reasons for Expansion
• Global Economic
Competition- need for
colonies and places for
new investment.
• Security Needs- need for
Panama Canal, Hawaii,
and a Caribbean island.
• Need for Resources
• Depression of 1893- War
was a diversion.
• Industrialization- created
a need for more markets.
• Scientific
Racism/Eugenics- served
as a justification.
• White Man’s BurdenCivilize and Christianize.
• World Power- desire for
military strength.
• Nationalism and Jingoism
Terms
• Imperialism- policy in
which stronger nations
exert their control
militarily, politically, or
economically over
weaker territories.
• Expansionismincreasing the size of a
nation’s territory.
• Nationalism- a devotion
to the interest and
culture of one’s nation.
• Interventionism- one
nation interfering in the
affairs of another to
pursue their interests.
Interventionism
• Open Door Policy (1900)- First
used in China. Guarantee of
equal trading opportunities
while protecting the territorial
integrity of China. Later
applied to other parts of the
world.
• Lodge Corollary (1912)- First
used in Mexico when they
tried to sell part of Baja
California to Japan. It
prevented Latin American
countries from selling any of
their land to non-European
countries.
• Roosevelt Corollary (1903)First used in Venezuela. U.S.
claimed that it had the right
and obligation to militarily
intervene under the Monroe
Doctrine in any nation in the
Western Hemisphere that
appeared politically or
financially unstable to
withstand European control;
enforcement mechanism of
the Monroe Doctrine.
Leadership “Architects of Empire”
• William Henry Sewardengineered purchase of
Alaska in 1867 and the
acquisition of Midway
Island. As Secretary of
State he argued that due
technology, the world was
becoming smaller and
more dangerous.
Therefore, it could no
longer depend on oceans
for security.
• Alfred T. Mahan- He
wrote The Influence of
Sea Power on History.
He argued nations must
expand or die; the key
to expansion was naval
power. He promoted
the Great White Fleet
because the U.S.
needed colonies.
• James “Jingo Jim”
Blaine- promoted PanAmericanism; U.S. must
resolve trade debt with
Latin America and get
them to buy from us.
• Josiah Strong- wrote
Our Country (1885). He
argued whites are
superior to other races.
His book served as
justification for
American actions.
• Frederick Jackson
Turner- wrote The
Closing of the American
Frontier (1893).
Produced concerns of
loss of opportunities
and the impact on
democracy and the
American character.
• Sanford Dole- first and
only president of the
Republic of Hawaii.
Helped to secure
annexation in 1898.
• Theodore Roosevelt- as
President provided
national leadership; saw
the importance of the
Pacific to American
interests. With the
Roosevelt Corollary, the
U.S. became
“policeman of the
Western Hemisphere.”
• Henry Cabot Lodgebelieved in American
superiority and the right
for America to engage in
conquest and expand. Key
figure in annexation of
Philippines and defeat of
U.S. in League of Nations.
He was responsible for
the Lodge Corollary.
• John Hay- author of
Open Door Policy
(1900); opened Chinese
treaty ports to equal
trading for all nations
while preserving
Chinese territorial
integrity.
U.S. acquires Alaska
• William Seward, Sec. of
State under Lincoln and
Johnson, bought Alaska
from Russia for $7.2
million in 1867. At the
time known as
“Seward’s Folly,” Alaska
turned out to be rich in
timber, minerals, and
oil.
U.S. takes Hawaii
• White sugar plantations
accounted for most of
Hawaii's wealth in the
late 19th century.
• They called for the U.S.
to annex Hawaii.
• In 1887 the U.S.
pressure Hawaii to let
them build a naval base
in Pearl Harbor.
• Business groups
organized a revolution
and with the help of the
marines, overthrew
Queen Liliuokalani and
set up a government
headed by Sanford Dole.
• In 1898 Congress
proclaimed Hawaii an
American territory
without the Hawaiian's
consent. In 1959 Hawaii
became the 50th state.
Spanish-American War
• Cuban Revolution
(1895-1898)- America
had wanted to buy
Cuba from Spain were
refused. America
invested heavily in
Cuba’s sugar cane
plantations. In 1895
José Martí led a
revolution
• 1896 Spain sent General
Weyler to Cuba to restore
order.
• He put over 300,000
people into concentration
camps where thousands
died.
• Newspapers wars
between William
Randolph Hearst and
Joseph Pulitzer were
fueled by the coverage of
Cuba.
• Yellow Journalismsensational style of
writing which exaggerates
the news to lure and
enrage readers.
• De Lome letter- letter
from Spanish ambassador
to the U.S. that criticized
Pres. McKinley and called
him “weak” was leaked.
Americans were angered
by the insult to their
President.
• A few days after the
letter, McKinley ordered
the U.S.S. Maine to
Cuba to bring home U.S.
citizens and protect
American property. On
Feb. 15, 1898, the ship
blew up in Havana
harbor.
• The newspapers blamed
Spain and the rallying cry
became “Remember the
Maine!”
• On April 20, 1898, the
U.S. declared war on
Spain.
• The U.S. Navy steamed to
the Philippines and
conquered the Spanish
there.
• Cuba was invaded in June
1898 U.S. troops including
the Rough Riders, a
volunteer cavalry under
the command of
Theodore Roosevelt.
• They were part of the
Battle of San Juan Hill.
• The U.S. defeated the
Spanish in Cuba and then
invaded Puerto Rico on
July 25.
• Treaty of Paris- signed
in 1898. Spain freed
Cuba and turned Puerto
Rico and Guam over to
the U.S. The U.S. bought
the Philippines from
Spain for $20 million.
• The United States now
had an empire.
After the War
• Puerto Rico- in 1901 in the Insular Cases, the
Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did
not apply to acquired territories. However,
Congress granted citizenship to Puerto Ricans in
1917.
• Cuba- Independent but occupied by U.S. troops,
Cuba was forced to add the Platt Amendment to
its constitution. This included the right of the U.S.
to intervene in Cuba and buy land for military
bases.
• Philippines- led by Emilio Aguinaldo, the
Filipinos wanted independence and revolted
in 1899. U.S. put hundreds of thousands of
Filipinos into concentration camps. After three
years, $400 million, 20,000 dead Filipinos and
4,000 dead Americans, the rebellion was put
down. The Philippines became independent in
1946.
• China- the Open Door
Policy left China it’s
freedom but gave trading
rights to all of the
imperialist powers.
Chinese resentment
simmered and secret
societies formed.
• Boxer Rebellion- martial
arts secret society that
killed hundreds of
foreigners fought against
2,500 troops from U.S.,
Britain, France, Germany,
and Japan. The rebellion
was put down in two
months after the death of
thousands of Chinese.
Panama Canal
The U.S. wanted the canal to
reduce the travel time for
commercial and military
shipping.
Colombia controlled Panama and
would not allow the canal. So
a Panamanian rebellion was
organized against Colombia in
1903 by the U.S.
After Panama declared its
independence the U.S. signed
a treaty to build the canal and
rented the area, the Canal
Zone. It opened in 1914.
Foreign Policy- Methods of
Imperialism
• Protectorate/Gunboat
Diplomacy- spheres of
influence and
protectorates. (Roosevelt)
• Dollar Diplomacyinternational loans and
investments in 3rd world
countries. (Taft)
• Moral Diplomacydiplomatic pressure to
democratize. (Wilson)
Mexican Revolution 1911-17
• Watchful waiting policy
Pancho Villa