CHAPTER 11

An Emerging World Power1890-1917

The Roots of Imperialism

Imperialism is when nations seeks to extend their political, military, and economic control over weaker nations Is the United States imperialistic today?

In the late 1800s America decided to follow Europe’s imperialistic behavior into Japan Europe used these countries to extract resources like

oil, iron, and tea America already had lots of resources, so instead of

stripping the country of resources, they wanted to be able to sell their excess manufactured goods in these countries

The Roots of Imperialism

New countries to trade with meant prices could stabilize since they would have new places to sell the goods Albert Beveridge said “Today we are raising more

[crops] than we can consume. Today we are making more than we can use…Therefore we must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital, new work for our labor.”

Why would finding new markets help?

The Roots of Imperialism

Imperialists knew that if we were going to expand it would require going into the oceans to do so Alfred T. Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power

Upon History to explain that America’s need to build a large navy

He also said we needed foreign bases to have places to stop for refueling, etc.

By 1900 the U.S. had the 3rd largest navy in the world

The Roots of Imperialism

Imperialists supported the idea that America was superior and therefore they should exert their influence on the “lesser” nations Social Darwinism, survival of the fittest, was widely

accepted Manifest Destiny, or the idea that God wanted

America to expand, was also widely accepted—especially because many felt God wanted Christianity to expand to these nations

The Roots of Imperialism

Since America already had “sea to shining sea” they had to look to the Pacific Ocean if they wanted to keep with their westward movement Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan, who had

denied everyone access to their ports Perry was allowed there by showering the emperor

with gifts Perry showed them that they had fallen behind in the

world of technology and that they should open trade with America

They said yes, and haven’t looked back…

The Roots of Imperialism

In 1867 Sec. of State William Seward purchased Alaska for $7.2 million This was called “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” It double the size of the United States Turns out, it was a smart purchase…there is an

amazing amount of the world’s oil supply under Alaska AND it was handy to have that area in fighting the Cold War against Russia in the 1900s

Why did people criticize him for the purchase?

Alaska

The Roots of Imperialism

America had been trading with Hawai’i since the 1790s Christians had set up missionaries, churches, and

schools Americans had also set up sugar plantations there They convinced King Kalakuaua to amend Hawai’i’s

constitution to limit voting rights to wealthy, white planters

The Roots of Imperialism

The American’s grew concerned about their power America had a tariff on imported sugar which meant

Hawaiian sugar was more expensive than American sugar

King Kalakuaua died and his sister Queen Liliuokalani took over who was Anti-white She abolished the constitution

The Roots of Imperialism

The American planters called for the U.S. minister of Hawai’i, John Stevens, to bring in the Marines They successfully seized power and established a new

governmentSanford Dole asked Pres. Benjamin Harrison to

annex Hawai’i Senate didn’t approve before Pres. Cleveland was

inauguratedHe ordered an investigation and refused to sign

the annexation because of the “reprehensible conduct of the American minister” Pres. McKinley supported annexation of Hawai’i so he signed

and Hawai’i became a territory in 1898

Hawai’i

The Spanish-American War

Spain had been an impressive imperialistic nation in the 1600-1700s By the end of the 1800s it was left with the

Philippines, Puerto Rico, and CubaThe Cubans regularly rebelled against Spain

for independenceJosé Martí led a war for independence

Spanish Gen. Weyler put the Cubans into reconcentration camps which killed many of them

The Spanish-American War

Many Americans felt sympathy for the Cubans Since Spain was being so brutal and because America

remembered breaking away from their mother-country America also saw Cuba as an excellent source for new

trade if they were stabilizedThe press supported Cuba with sensational

stories Yellow journalism were exaggerated stories used to

gain support for the rebels William Randolph Hearst was the leader in publishing

these stories

The Spanish-American War

McKinley sent the U.S.S. Maine down to Havana to protect the Americans who lived there

A Spanish Ambassador wrote a letter stating that McKinley was weak and stupid, Hearst published the letter “Worst Insult to the United States in Its History” read

the headlineJingoism, or aggressive nationalism, was

fueled by this article

The Spanish-American War

The intensity grew when the Maine blew up in Havana killing 266

An investigation was done by the Navy and they declared that it was a mine that had blown up the ship Years later it was

reinvestigated and it appears that it was actually an accident

The Spanish-American War

Spain agreed to make concessions and end concentration camps but it was too late On April 11, 1898 America declared war on Spain to

force it to end hostilities with Cuba It included the Teller Amendment which said the

U.S. would NOT annex CubaMany Americans joined the military

Most would be shipped out to the Pacific Ocean

The Spanish-American War

Commodore George Dewey led the Americans in battle against the Spaniards in the Philippines 400 Spanish died, 0 Americans

Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino nationalist, was successfully beating the Spanish army on land

U.S. Marines captured Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

The Spanish-American War

T. Roosevelt stepped down as Sec. of the Navy and led the Rough Riders into battle They charged San Juan hill and won impressive

victoriesThe Spanish tried to escape but the

Americans had created a blockade to prevent them Frantic but unable to move, they surrendered

The Spanish-American War

Many of the soldiers waiting to be sent to Cuba gathered in Tampa, FL They were given obsolete weapons and spoiled food

due to inefficient and corrupt officials In the end 3000 Americans died in the Spanish

American war, but only 380 died in battleThe war was nicknamed “a splendid little

war” because it proved America’s ability to easily beat a European power

The Spanish-American War

However a new dilemma was created…what to do with Spain’s former territories?

The Treaty of Paris forced Spain to give Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam up as well as sell the Philippines to the US for $20 million Americans disagreed as to whether the US should control

these areas (could control Cuba because of the Teller Amendment)

Anti-imperialists said it violated American principles to retain the Philippines, imperialists said it was only right to protect and educate the Filipinos

The Spanish-American War

Keep the Philippines came down to one vote We kept the Philippines until the mid-1900s

The anti-imperialists were not happy They put up William Jennings Bryan to run against

McKinley McKinley chose T.R. to be his V.P. candidate since he

was a hero McKinley easily won reelection, reaffirming that

people supported imperialism1900 opened with America as a new empire

and strongly involved in world affairs