U.S. History Chapter 18
Notes
America Claims an Empire
Global competition prompts the United States to
expand its influence and territory engage
in conflicts around the globe, and build the Panama
Canal.
Section 1
Imperialism and America
Beginning in 1867 and continuing through
the century, global competition causes the
United States to expand
United Sates expands overseas
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1906 - Fleet of 16 U.S.
battleships sail around
the world
Showed the world that
the U.S. was a power to
be reckoned with
Important step in
expanding America's
international interest
Reasons for American Expansion
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Imperialism - policy of extending control over weaker nations
- European countries practiced this in the 1700's and 1800's
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1800s - Europeans divided up most of Africa & competed for China
Japan joined race for China & U.S. decided to expand overseas
U.S. didn't want to do this in the beginning
- Once colonies ourselves
- Couldn't afford a war
Our attitude changed in the late 1800's for several reasons
- Nationalism - U.S. united again following Civil War
- People wanted to be a world power
- Needed colonies to be one
Reasons for American Expansion

U.S developed a desire
for Desire for military
strength
- Admiral Alfred T.
Mahan urges U.S. to
build up navy to compete
- U.S. builds modern
battleships, becomes
third largest naval power
Reasons for American Expansion
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New ideas - Charles Darwin
- survival of the fittest
- Social Darwinism Americans believed that their
society was superior and
would spread throughout the
world
People argued the U.S. had
duty to Christianize or
civilize “inferior peoples”
- Also used to support racism
Reasons for American Expansion
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Foreign Markets - people wanted new markets
for American goods
- U.S. farms, factories produced more than
Americans could consume
- U.S. needed raw materials& new markets for
goods
- Foreign trade was the solution to
overproduction, unemployment, & depression
- Began exporting more than we were importing
Seward and Expansion
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William Seward – Served as
Secretary of State under
Lincoln & Johnson
- Tried to gain new lands for
U.S.
1867 - ordered navy to
occupy the Midway Islands in
the Pacific Ocean
- Valuable as a Fueling
station to refuel ships
Seward and Expansion
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1867 - Arranged for the purchase of Alaska from Russia for
$7.2 million
- Had trouble convincing House to fund purchase
- Alaska called “Seward’s Icebox,” “Seward’s Folly”
- Alaska rich in timber, minerals, oil
Arranged for the U.S. to buy the Virgin Islands from Denmark
(Didn't actually occur until 1917)
- Also wanted to add the Hawaiian Islands
The Annexation of Hawaii
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1790s - U.S. merchants began
stopping in Hawaii on way to
China, India
Early 1800's - Christian
missionaries moved to Hawaii to
convert the people
- Yankee missionaries founded
schools & churches on islands
- Many of the missionaries’
descendants became wealthy sugar
and pineapple planters
- They controlled the government
The Annexation of Hawaii
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Mid-1800s, American-owned
sugar plantations 75% of
islands’ wealth
1887, businessmen force
King Kalakaua to limit vote
to landowners
1887, U.S. pressures Hawaii
to allow naval base at Pearl
Harbor
- Became refueling station
The Annexation of Hawaii
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1891 - Queen Liliuokalani
came to power
- She wanted to regain
control of the island
- Tried to remove
landowning requirement
Planters called the u.s.
government for help
Hawaii was valuable refueling
station
U.S. sent marines
- Marines and planters
overthrew Queen
The Annexation of Hawaii
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Set up an independent
republic
- Sanford Dole named
president
Hawaii asked to be annexed
by the u.s.
- Grover Cleveland didn't
want to annex it
- President Cleveland cannot
make Dole surrender power
to queen
- recognized Republic of
Hawaii
The Annexation of Hawaii
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1898 – Hawaii was
annexed following the
Spanish American War
- Congress proclaimed
Hawaii a U.S. territory
under President
McKinley
Section 2
The Spanish-American
War
In 1898, the United States goes to war
to help Cuba win its independence
from Spain.
Rebellion against Spain
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Spain's empire was
crumbling
- Had once controlled
most of the Americas
- Late 1800's - Spain had
only a few colonies
Cuba, Puerto Rico, and
Philippines began
wanting independence
Rebellion against Spain
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Situation in Cuba
interested U.S.
- Cuba located 90 miles
south of U.S.
- American business
interest had been
growing (sugarcane)
- Fighting caused trade
with Cuba to drop
Rebellion against Spain
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1896 - Spain sent General
Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to
crush the revolt
- He treated the Cubans
harshly
- Put about 300,000 Cubans
in concentration camps
- Many died of starvation
American press told stories
about the cruelty to stir up
people emotions
Rebellion against Spain
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Two papers fighting for
customers (circulation war)
- The World owned by
Joseph Pulitzer
- Journal owned by William
Randolph Hearst
They wrote sensationalized
writing stories to attract
customers
- Called yellow journalism
America goes to War
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President McKinley didn't want to go to war
- He had fought in the Civil War
Public pressure forced McKinley to take action against Spain
- He demanded that Spain stop its harsh treatment of Cubans
- Spain sent general Weyler home but didn't stop treatment
February 9, 1898 - U.S. recovered a private letter written by a
Spanish minister named Enrique Dupuy de Lôme
- He called President McKinley weak
- Spain apologized & de Lôme resigned
- American public remained angry
America goes to War
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U.S.S. Maine sent to pick up
U.S. citizens, protect U.S.
property
- The Maine exploded in
Havana Harbor
- U.S. blames Spain
- "Remember the Maine”
became war cry
America goes to War
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April 29, 1898 President McKinley
declared Cuba
independent
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The Spanish- American
War began
Pacific War
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U.S. entered war to fight for
Cuba's freedom
1st battle takes place half
way around the world
- Manila Bay in the
Philippines
Before war Teddy Roosevelt
sent fleet of ships to Hong
Kong
Pacific War
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Led by Commodore George
Dewey
May 1, 1898 - battle takes place
- Filipinos, led by Emilio
Aguinaldo, supported Dewey
- Over 300 Spanish killed and
defeated
- Dewey became hero in U.S
- Bubble gum named after him
(Dewey's Chewys).
The War in the Caribbean
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U.S. only had 28,000 men
when war started
- 200,000 signed up within 6
months
Teddy Roosevelt picked a
group of soldiers known as
the "Rough Riders"
- Chose a diverse group
- Cowboys, N.Y. City
policemen, athletes, and
American Indians
The War in the Caribbean
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They set sail for Cuba from
Tampa, Florida
- Had to wear wool
uniforms (lightweight
informs hadn't arrived yet)
- Food spoiled in the heat
- Men became sick
U.S. wanted to capture the
port of Santiago
- Had to control San Juan
Hill to do this
The War in the Caribbean
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Rough Riders attacked
and took San Juan Hill
- Didn't have horses
(they were left behind in
Florida)
- Roosevelt declared hero
of attack on strategic
San Juan Hill
- Aug. 12 1898 - Spain
signs truce
Treaty of Paris
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August 12, 1898 – Spain & U.S. signed armistice
Met in Paris to make treaty
U.S. shocked Spain at the treaty signing in France
- Demanded the Spain hand over Puerto Rico, the island of
Guam, and the Philippines (war had been fought over Cuba)
- Spain didn't have any choice
Spain freed Cuba; handed Guam, Puerto Rico to U.S. & sold
Philippines
Treaty of Paris touched off a great debate over imperialism
- McKinley tried to justify annexation of Philippines on moral
grounds
- Opponents gave political, moral, economic arguments against
Results of the War
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U.S. didn't grant Cuba
independence immediately
- Cuba had to agree to the Platt
Amendment
- It gave the U.S. the right interfere
in Cuban affairs when there was a
threat to life, property, and
individual liberty
- Cuba had to allow an American
naval base at Guantanamo Bay
until 1999
Results of the War
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Puerto Rico became a
U.S. territory
Had its own elected
legislature and a
governor chosen by the
president
1917, Puerto Ricans
made U.S. citizens; elect
both houses
Results of the War
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Guam was controlled by the
U.S. navy
President McKinley decided
that the Philippines should
become an American Colony
- Philippines wanted
independence
- Revolted against the U.S.
- 1902 - U.S. troops finally
restored order
July 4, 1946, Philippines
became independent
Section 3
Acquiring New Lands
In the early 1900s, the United States
engages in conflicts in Puerto Rico,
Cuba, and the Philippines.
Power in the Pacific
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U.S. always had interest in Pacific
- 1853 - U.S. navy landed in Tokyo
Bay
- Led by Commodore Matthew
Perry
He carried a letter from President
Millard Fillmore
U.S. wanted Japan to open ports to
American trade
- Carried gifts
- Made it clear that Japan should
not refuse president's request
Interest in China
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U.S. joined other countries in
competing for control of
China
- Saw China as vast potential
market for investment &
opportunity
France, Britain, Japan, Russia
had settlements, & spheres
of influence
U.S. came up with trade
policy
U.S. Secretary of State John
Hay issued Open Door
notes
Interest in China
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Open Door Policy - no
single country had a
monopoly on trade with
China
- Notes ask imperialist
nations to share trading
rights with U.S.
- Other powers
reluctantly agree
The Boxer Rebellion in China
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Europeans dominate most
large Chinese cities
Chinese formed secret
societies, including Boxers, to
expel foreigners
Boxers killed hundreds of
foreigners & Chinese
converts to Christianity
U.S., Britain, France,
Germany, Japan put down
Boxer Rebellion
Protecting American Rights
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Hay issued new Open Door notes saying U. S.
would keep trade open
Open Door policy reflected beliefs about U.S.
economy:
- Growth depended on exports
- U.S. had right to keep markets open
- Closing of area threatens U.S. survival
The Anti-Imperialist League
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Several; well known Americans opposed overseas
expansion
- Andrew Carnegie
- Mark Twain
They believed that the U.S. should not deny other the
right to govern themselves
Their argument lost as everyone celebrated the war
victory
1902 - McKinley’s reelection confirmed most
Americans favored imperialism
Section 4
America as a World Power
The Russo-Japanese War, the Panama Canal,
and the Mexican Revolution add to
America’s military and economic power.
Teddy Roosevelt and the World
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Roosevelt didn’t not want
Europeans to control world
economy & politics
1904 - Japan & Russia disputed
control of Korea (JapaneseRusso War)
Roosevelt negotiated Treaty of
Portsmouth:
- Japan received Manchuria &
Korea
- Roosevelt won Nobel Peace
Prize
U.S. & Japan continued diplomatic
talks
- Pledged to respect each other’s
possessions
The Panama Canal
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U.S. wanted canal to cut
travel time of commercial &
military ships
Colombia controlled the
isthmus of Panama (Best
Spot)
U.S. bought French
company’s route through
Panama
Negotiated with Colombia to
build Panama Canal
- Talks broke down
The Panama Canal
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French company agent
helped organize
Panamanian rebellion
- U.S. gave military aid
Panama gained
independence
U.S., Panama sign treaty
U.S. paid $10 million for
Canal zone
Constructing the Canal
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Construction of canal is one
of world’s greatest
engineering feats
- fought diseases &
geographic obstacles
- at height, 43,400 workers
employed
5000 workers died
Finished in 1914
Canal cost $352 million
dollars
Policing the Hemisphere
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Roosevelt wanted it made clear that
the U.S was the leading power in
the Americas
- Speak softly and carry a big stick"
Roosevelt reminded Europe about
the Monroe Doctrine
- It said that the U.S would police
the western hemisphere
Added the Roosevelt Corollary added to the Monroe Doctrine
- Said that if a situation arose that
required international police power
the U.S. would do the job
Policing the Hemisphere
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Later presidents
expanded Roosevelt's"
Big Stick Diplomacy"
- Encouraged U.S.
companies to invest in
Latin America
- Promised military
support
Policing the Hemisphere
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Dollar diplomacy—U.S.
guarantees foreign loans
by U.S. business
Latin Americans saw U.S.
as bullies
- Created distrust
between U.S. and it Latin
American neighbors
U.S. involvement in Latin America
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Business leaders realized they could by products
cheaply in Latin America and sell them in the
U.S. (coffee, bananas, and copper)
Bought large tracts of land
- Many people lost their land and were forced
to take low paying jobs
Woodrow Wilson’s Missionary
Diplomacy
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Missionary diplomacy - U.S. had
moral responsibility:
- would not recognize regimes that
are oppressive, undemocratic
A lot of U.S. investment in Mexico
under dictator Porfirio Díaz,
1911, peasants & workers led by
Francisco Madero overthrew
Díaz (Mexican Revolution)
General Victoriano Huerta took
over government & Madero was
murdered
Wilson refused to recognize
Huerta’s government
Intervention in Mexico
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Huerta’s officers arrested U.S.
sailors & quickly release them
Wilson ordered Marines to
occupy Veracruz
Argentina, Brazil, & Chile
mediated to avoid war
Huerta regime falls &
nationalist Venustiano
Carranza became new
president
Rebellion in Mexico
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Francisco “Pancho” &
Villa, Emiliano Zapata
opposed Carranza
- Zapata wanted land reform
- Villa was a fierce nationalist
Wilson recognizes
Carranza’s government
Villa threatened reprisals
- Villa’s men killed Americans
Chasing Villa
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Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing led
forces to capture Villa
Carranza demanded withdrawal of
U.S. troops
- Wilson refuses at first
U.S. faced war in Europe & wants
peace on southern border (WWI)
- Wilson ordered Pershing home
Mexico adopted new constitution:
- Government controls oil,
minerals
- restricted foreign investors