Imperialism Unit
1867-1914

Knight
Major Presidents During
Imperialism
William McKinley 1897-1901
Theodore Roosevelt 19011909
William H. Taft 1909-1913
Imperialism-Definition

The Policy in which
stronger nations
extend their
economic, political,
or military control
over weaker
territories
View Expansion Video
3 Reasons for American
Imperialism
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1. Economic competition
for raw materials and
markets for its
manufactured goods.
2. Political and Military
competition, based on the
need for a powerful new
navy
3. A belief in racial
superiority and mission to
spread Christianity and
civilization to the world
View American Expansionism around
1900
Anti-Imperialism

Not everyone agreed
U.S. should expand

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Some felt it was
morally wrong
Some felt it cost too
much money
America Expands-Alaska

“Seward’s Folly”-the
purchase of Alaska

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1867, US bought
Alaska from Russia for
$7.2 million (2 cents
an acre)
Thomas Nast cartoon of
Seward
People thought Alaska
was frozen wasteland
and a huge mistake
William Seward
America Expands-Hawaii
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Annex-to acquire/take
over
1898-United States/
President McKinley
annexed Hawaii

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Overthrow of Queen
Liliuokalani, and Native
Hawaiians
Wanted access to
China and East
Last Queen of Hawaii, Lil
Sanford B. Dole
The Spanish-American War 1898

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Cuba was fighting Spain for
Independence
Jose Marti`-Cuban leader
Spain put 300,000 civilians in
concentration camps
American newspapers began
writing exaggerated claims of
Spanish brutality towards
Cubans that became known as
Yellow Journalism exaggerated news to lure new
readers
Jose Marti
“Yellow Kid” Cartoon
Newspaper drawing about
Spanish officials strip
searching U.S. woman
Yellow Journalism


Two New York
Journalists race to sell
the most papers
Joseph Pulitzer and
William Randolph
Hearst publish lies
about the war to sell
the most papers
Joseph Pulitzer
William Randolph Hearst
The Spanish-American War 1898

3 reasons U.S. enters
War

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1. yellow journalism
2. DeLome LetterSpanish ambassador
claims Pres. McKinley
is “weak”
3. The U.S.S. Maine
mysteriously blows up
in Havana and the
U.S. blames Spain
View beginnings of Spanish-American
war
“The Splendid Little War”


U.S. attacks Spanish
fleet at Manila Bay in
Philippines (Spanish
territory)
U.S. and Filipino
forces quickly defeat
Spanish
“The Splendid Little War”

War in Cuba

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Fighting is somewhat
fierce
Teddy Roosevelt leads
a group of volunteers
called The Rough
Riders in the Battle of
San Juan Hill in Cuba
Rough Riders play only
small part, but
Roosevelt gets famous
View Spanish American War video
San Juan Hill
Rough Riders
African-American Unit that fought along
side Rough Riders
Treaty of Paris 1898

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Spain grants Cuba its
Independence
U.S. gets the Philippines,
Puerto Rico, and Guam
Platt Amendment allowed
the U.S. to intervene in
Cuba’s affairs, which U.S.
did on multiple occasions.
 Guantanamo Bay
Cuba became a
Protectorate of U.S.
“Stand back, there, gol
darn ye! If you
force this thing to a
fifth act, remember
that’s where I git in
my work” is the
caption
1. What roles has the
artist assigned to
each of the
countries?
2. What symbolic
elements does he
use to characterize
each of the three
countries?
3. In what direction is
the artist hoping to
influence public
opinion in 1896?
This cartoon dates
to 1898 shortly after
the war
1. What symbols
are used to
represent the
various nations
involved in the
unfolding drama
of the birth of
the American
empire?
2. How does the
portrayal of Cuba
in this cartoon
compare with
the previous
cartoon?
1. Is there a
contrasting underlying
message in this cartoon
compared with the
previous cartoon?
2. This cartoon says
“Its really most
extraordinary what
training will do. Why,
only the other day I
thought that man
unable to support
himself”
Interpret what that
means in regards to
American Imperialism.
“Won’t you join the stars and be
my forty-sixth?
1. What is the significance of
Cuba being represented as white
and attractive or voluptuous?
2. Explain the apparent intention
of the artist in the context of 1901,
when Spanish troops had left Cuba
and the United States continued its
military occupation of the island?
“After the First Mile” is
the title.
1. How is Cuba
characterized? Compare
this to the Cuba in the
previous Cartoon.
2. What do you suppose
is the artist’s attitude
toward the possibility of
Cuba being annexed as a
state of the United
States?
3. What symbols does
the artists use to
represent stability, order,
prosperity?
“And to think that bad
boy came near to being
your brother!” is the
caption at the bottom
1. This cartoon was
published in 1905 and
compares Cuba and
Puerto Rico. What
symbols are used to
create contrast?
2. Note the racial
representation of both
islands. What is the
historical context behind
these seemingly opposite
outcomes?
Philippine-American War
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Filipinos were outraged
when U.S. did not grant
independence
War lasted for 3 years
1899 to 1902

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20,000 Filipinos died
4,000 U.S. troops died
Needed Philippines for
easier access to China
New York Journal –example of Yellow Journalism during
Philippine-American War
China Open Door Policy

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Spheres of InfluenceEuropean nations had
divided up China for
trading purposes
1899 John Hay (Sec. of
State) called for

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1. open access to all of
China’s coastal ports to all
countries
2. eliminate special
privileges for any trading
nations
3. maintenance of China’s
independence
Boxer Rebellion


An attempt by a group of
Chinese known as the
Boxers, in which they
attempted to expel all
Westerners and Western
influences from China.
Rebellion was put down
by joint Western forces
3 American Beliefs reflected in
Open Door Policy
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1. Growth of American
economy depended on
exports
2. America had the right
to intervene abroad to
keep foreign markets
open
3. A fear that closing of
an area to American
products, citizens, or
ideas threatened U.S.
survival
America As World Power

Great White Fleet
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New all steel fleet of a
dozen or so ships that
TR sent around the
world to show U.S.
dominance
Painted white
Great White’s World Wide Tour
America As World Power
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Panama Canal
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Built to connect Atlantic
and Pacific Ocean
Cutting travel time of
U.S. ships by half
Panama was province of
Colombia, but TR helped
Panama get its
Independence to get
Canal built
Teddy Roosevelt got
credit
Roosevelt and Latin America
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Monroe Doctrine- 1823
James Monroe told
European nations to stay
out of Western
Hemisphere
Roosevelt CorollaryRoosevelt restated
Monroe Doctrine, it was
an extension to it and
called for U.S. to be
“police man” for
hemisphere
Roosevelt and Latin America
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Gunboat Diplomacy

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Use force to
accomplish goals in
world, especially Latin
America
“Speak softly and
carry a big stick; you
will go far”-famous
saying by Teddy
Taft and Latin America
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Dollar Diplomacy

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Invest money into a
country to help
strengthen that
country’s economy in
hopes of preventing
revolutions
By investing money, it
normally meant U.S.
corporations in Latin
American countries
Wilson and Latin America
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Moral Diplomacy Wilson’s philosophy of
extending moral standards
to foreign policy
 Wilson told the world the
U.S. will never take
anymore territories.
 Wilson did send in troops
to Latin American countries
to stop revolutions
Achievements During Imperialism
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U.S. expanded access to
foreign markets to
ensure economic growth
Built a modern Navy to
protect its interest
abroad
Became an international
police force to ensure
domestic dominance in
Latin America
Looking to Foreign Lands-Video
Video Quiz