Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Chapter 20The United States Looks Overseas
Key Terms for the Chapter
• Isolationism– Avoiding involvement in other countries’ affairs
• Imperialism– Building empires by imposing political and
economic control over peoples around the world
The Turner Thesis
• Frederick Jackson Turner– Created idea that western frontier defined
American History• expansionists believed that overseas was the
new frontier and would bring new riches and power
Economic Growth
• Expansionists argued that future prosperity depended on building up trade
• U.S. had a powerful industrial economy and produced more than Americans would buy
Economic Growth
• There was a fear that if U.S. did not expand it would be shut out of global markets and denied raw materials
• Alfred T. Mahan stated that the key to strong trade was a powerful navy
United States Looks Overseas
• Purchasing Alaska– 1867 The United States purchased Alaska from
Russia for $7.2 million (about 2 cents an acre)– Alaska was full of resources (gold and oil)• Alaska Gold Rush of 1897-1898
Spreading American Values
• In the late 1800s many Americans believed that Americans of the “Anglo-Saxon race” were superior to “lesser races” in other nations
• Argument was Americans had a divine duty to spread Christian values and western civilization around the world.
Gaining Foothold in the Pacific
• Expansionists had interest in various Pacific islands, and saw them essential for expanding influence and trade
• Samoa
Gaining Foothold in the Pacific
• Samoa– U.S. had interest in Samoa to use as coaling
stations for ships• Other European countries also wanted Samoa and
Britain, Germany, and the U.S. almost went to war
– In 1899 the U.S. and Germany divided the islands • People in Samoa had no say in the matter.
Gaining Foothold in the Pacific
• Hawaii– U.S. saw Hawaii as a military outpost in Pacific– 1893 American planters and 50 U.S. Marines
overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. • President Grover Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii
because the revolt had been illegal
– on July 7, 1898 Hawaii became a territory of U.S. when it was annexed by President William McKinley
• Hawaii
Carving Up China
• Late 1800s China lost a war and European powers wanted to take advantage of China’s weakness– European power and Japan started dividing China
into spheres of influence (areas where another nation has economic and political control)
Carving Up China
• At first, U.S. were not part of the activity, but U.S. officials feared they would be excluded from trading with China– Secretary of State John Hay called on nations to
keep an “open door” policy in China.
Carving Up China
• Boxer Rebellion– A secret Society called Righteous and Harmonious
Fist was formed to try and combat foreigners in China• Became known as Boxers because of their ceremonial
exercises that resembled shadowboxing
– In spring of 1900 the Boxers began a rebellion to expel foreigners
Carving Up China
• The boxers attacked and killed westerners and Chinese Christians.
• European powers and the U.S. sent in 18,000 troops with modern weapons and crushed the rebellion
The Spanish-American War
• Cuba had been under Spanish control since 1492
• After Centuries of being under Spain’s harsh control Cuban’s started to rebel– First rebellion started in 1868 and lasted 10 years,
but was unsuccessful
The Spanish-American War
• Cubans started another rebellion in 1895• To stop the revolt the Spanish began a policy
of reconcentration (movement of large numbers of people into detention camps for military or political reasons)– 200,000 Cubans would die in these camps due to
poor sanitation and starvation
The Spanish-American War
• Cubans, led by Jose Marti, asked for help from the U.S.– Marti was a leader of the rebels, but was killed in
Cuba before he was able to see Cuba free from Spanish rule
The Spanish-American War
• Many Americans wanted to help the Cuban rebels, but U.S. government was resistant to send troops
• Americans wanted to help Cuba to protect their investments– Americans had over $50 million in sugar
plantations, railroads, and iron mines
Yellow Journalism
• yellow journalism- A sensational style of reporting that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news
The Spanish-American War
• Newspapers swayed public opinion towards war by using Yellow Journalism– Led by Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and
William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal
The Spanish-American War
• U.S. declares war-February 15, 1898 the Maine sinks and the United
States declares war on Spain
Spanish-American War
• The U.S. Goes to War– April 20, 1898 the U.S. declares war on Spain– The first main battle of the war took place in the
Philippines • May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a small
fleet of ships to Manila Bay and sank the entire Spanish squadron• The U.S. did not lose a single ship or life
Spanish-American War
• The Filipinos were also fighting for independence from Spain– Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of the Filipino
rebels – Instead of giving independence to the Filipinos the
U.S. took control of the islands
Spanish-American War
• War in the Caribbean– Most of the fighting took place around Santiago
and at sea
Spanish-American War
• War in the Caribbean– U.S. troops were poorly trained, but eager to fight• One of the best known units was the Rough Riders,
which was led by Theodore Roosevelt• Roosevelt led a successful charge up San Juan hill,
which became the most celebrated event of the war
Spanish-American War
• Once Spain surrendered Cuba, American troops invaded and quickly took control of Puerto Rico
Spanish-American War
• December 1898, a treaty was signed– Cuba received its independence– Puerto Rico, Philippines, islands of Guam, and
Wake islands became territories of the U.S.
The United States and Latin America
• Panama Canal– The Isthmus of Panama was chosen because it
was only 50 miles wide– perfect location to shorten trips from the West
Coast to the East Coast
The United States and Latin America
• U.S. offered Columbia $10 million and $250,000 yearly rent to build the canal– Columbia did not accept the deal
The United States and Latin America
• Panamanians started a revolution against Columbia– U.S. sent gunboats and Marines to support
Panama– Panama gains its freedom and the U.S. received
the land to build the canal
“Gun Boat Diplomacy”
The United States and Latin America
• Fighting Disease– First obstacle to building the canal was
overcoming diseases• Malaria and Yellow Fever (carried by mosquitoes)• William C. Gorgas
The United States and Latin America
• Constructing the Canal– Construction involved three main tasks• Cut through a mountain• Dam a river• Build locks
The United States and Latin America
• Canal Was finished August 15, 1914 (six months ahead of schedule)
The United States and Latin America
• Wielding a “Big Stick” in Latin America– Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine• It was the job of the U.S. to protect the Western
Hemisphere from European nations• When neighbors of the U.S. got into disputes with
foreign nations, the U.S. had the right to intervene and restore order
The United States and Latin America
• William Howard Taft believed in dollar diplomacy– Taft wanted bankers and businesses to invest in
Latin America– Dollar Diplomacy led to many military
interventions because the U.S. had to protect its investments
The United States and Latin America
• Relations With Mexico– 1911 Mexico entered into a violent revolution– President Woodrow Wilson believed U.S. foreign
policy should support democracy throughout the world, and hoped Mexico would develop its own democratic government
The United States and Latin America
• The United States had trouble staying out of the conflict– 1914 an incident in Tampico, Mexico led to U.S.
sailors being arrested– Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa) kept entering New
Mexico and raiding towns. (Killed 18 Americans in one raid)
