Spanish-American Spanish-American War War

What was going on around the What was going on around the world in the late 1800’s?world in the late 1800’s?

► Imperialism: stronger countries Imperialism: stronger countries attempt to create empires by attempt to create empires by dominating weaker nationsdominating weaker nations

►Nationalism: Devotion to one’s Nationalism: Devotion to one’s country country

►As many European nations were busy As many European nations were busy imperializing Asia and Africa, the US imperializing Asia and Africa, the US wanted in on the actionwanted in on the action

This was a change in US This was a change in US policypolicy

► In his Farewell Address in 1796, In his Farewell Address in 1796, George Washington advised George Washington advised Americans to “steer clear of Americans to “steer clear of permanent alliances,” as they may permanent alliances,” as they may cause warcause war

Monroe DoctrineMonroe Doctrine

►Throughout the early years of the US, Throughout the early years of the US, the Monroe Doctrine was the main the Monroe Doctrine was the main foreign policy of the USforeign policy of the US

►The Monroe Doctrine warned other The Monroe Doctrine warned other countries to stay out of affairs in the countries to stay out of affairs in the Western Hemisphere (the US would Western Hemisphere (the US would handle everything in the Western handle everything in the Western Hemisphere)Hemisphere)

The first imperialistic ventures The first imperialistic ventures for the USfor the US

► 1.)the annexation of 1.)the annexation of Texas and the Texas and the Mexican-American Mexican-American WarWar

► 2.)the purchase of 2.)the purchase of Alaska from Russia Alaska from Russia in 1867in 1867

““Seward’s Folly:” the purchase Seward’s Folly:” the purchase of Alaska of Alaska

►Many Americans thought buying Many Americans thought buying Alaska was silly because there was Alaska was silly because there was nothing there but ice and caribou nothing there but ice and caribou

►As we know today, Alaska is the As we know today, Alaska is the greatest source of oil in the USgreatest source of oil in the US

►Alaska is also a vital strategic point Alaska is also a vital strategic point against Russiaagainst Russia

The US also became interested The US also became interested in Japanin Japan

►1853: Commodore Matthew Perry 1853: Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan and began forcing the sailed to Japan and began forcing the Japanese to trade with the USJapanese to trade with the US

Many Americans supported Many Americans supported imperialism because it was good imperialism because it was good

for the US economyfor the US economy

►1. America, alone, could not consume 1. America, alone, could not consume all of the goods we produceall of the goods we produce

►2. Therefore, the US had to find 2. Therefore, the US had to find “new markets”“new markets”

►3. Some Americans began investing 3. Some Americans began investing in foreign economies and began in foreign economies and began having influence in those countries having influence in those countries

Minor C. KeithMinor C. Keith

►Provided financial services for the Provided financial services for the Costa Rican governmentCosta Rican government

►The Costa Rican government gave The Costa Rican government gave Keith land and access to a railroad Keith land and access to a railroad

►Keith began the United Fruit Company, Keith began the United Fruit Company, which exported 50 billion bananas to which exported 50 billion bananas to the US each yearthe US each year

Banana RepublicsBanana Republics

► Central American Central American countries that were countries that were influenced by the influenced by the USUS

► Costa RicaCosta Rica►GuatemalaGuatemala►Honduras Honduras

As more Americans wanted a As more Americans wanted a stronger Navy…stronger Navy…

►Admiral Alfred T Mahan wrote a book Admiral Alfred T Mahan wrote a book called called The Influence of Sea Power The Influence of Sea Power Upon HistoryUpon History

►Admiral Mahan argued that our Admiral Mahan argued that our economic future depended upon the economic future depended upon the building of a new and modern navybuilding of a new and modern navy

►Congress approved the building two Congress approved the building two new battleships (new battleships (USS MaineUSS Maine))

Finally, some people argued Finally, some people argued that expansion was an that expansion was an “American thing to do”“American thing to do”

►Social Darwinism: the US should Social Darwinism: the US should expand for noble reasons and to expand for noble reasons and to spread Christianity to non-Christian spread Christianity to non-Christian parts of the world parts of the world

►Famous Social Darwinists: Senator Famous Social Darwinists: Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Theodore Henry Cabot Lodge, Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

The US began using its new The US began using its new military power in 1895military power in 1895

►The US and Britain got into a conflict The US and Britain got into a conflict over British involvement in Venezuela over British involvement in Venezuela

►The US demanded that the British The US demanded that the British respect the Monroe Doctrinerespect the Monroe Doctrine

►The US wanted The US wanted arbitration arbitration (the (the settlement of a dispute by a person or settlement of a dispute by a person or panel chosen to listen to both sides panel chosen to listen to both sides and come to a decision)and come to a decision)

The British refused to the The British refused to the arbitrationarbitration

►However, they backed down because However, they backed down because the British realized that they needed the British realized that they needed to stay friendly with the US (remember to stay friendly with the US (remember Germany was become more powerful)Germany was become more powerful)

The British backed downThe British backed down

►The British realized that they needed The British realized that they needed to remain friendly with the US to remain friendly with the US (remember, Germany was becoming (remember, Germany was becoming more powerful)more powerful)

the Cubans had rebelled several the Cubans had rebelled several times in the 1800’stimes in the 1800’s

►The Cubans had always failedThe Cubans had always failed►They tried to rebel again in 1895 after They tried to rebel again in 1895 after

their economy collapsedtheir economy collapsed

American newspapers saw Cuba American newspapers saw Cuba as an opportunity to sell as an opportunity to sell

newspapersnewspapers►William Randolph Hearst (New York William Randolph Hearst (New York

Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) placed the Cuban conflict on World) placed the Cuban conflict on the front page of their newspapersthe front page of their newspapers

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism: whipped up : whipped up American public opinion on a American public opinion on a

particular topicparticular topic

►The American media referred to The American media referred to Weyler as a “butcher”Weyler as a “butcher”

► Jingoism:Jingoism: the desire for an aggressive the desire for an aggressive foreign policyforeign policy

Three events caused the start of Three events caused the start of the Spanish-American Warthe Spanish-American War

►1.)de Lome Letter1.)de Lome Letter►2)USS Maine2)USS Maine►3.)Philippines3.)Philippines

De Lome LetterDe Lome Letter

►Spanish Ambassador Dupuy de Lome Spanish Ambassador Dupuy de Lome apparently wrote a letter calling apparently wrote a letter calling President McKinley “weak” and a President McKinley “weak” and a “bidder for the admiration of the crowd”“bidder for the admiration of the crowd”

►Many Americans were upset with this Many Americans were upset with this letter because they did not like a letter because they did not like a foreigner ridiculing the President of the foreigner ridiculing the President of the United StateUnited State

►Was this letter ever really written?Was this letter ever really written?

USS MaineUSS Maine

►President McKinley sent the USS Maine President McKinley sent the USS Maine to Cuba in February 1898to Cuba in February 1898

►The USS Maine blew up off the coast of The USS Maine blew up off the coast of Cuba, killing 250 American sailorsCuba, killing 250 American sailors

►The American media blamed Spain The American media blamed Spain (Remember the (Remember the MaineMaine and to hell with and to hell with Spain”)Spain”)

►This was probably an accidentThis was probably an accident

Meanwhile, in the Philippines:Meanwhile, in the Philippines:

►The Filipino people were revolting The Filipino people were revolting against the Spanish as wellagainst the Spanish as well

►Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, told all naval Theodore Roosevelt, told all naval officers to be ready for warofficers to be ready for war

►President McKinley was not happy and President McKinley was not happy and forced Roosevelt to reign from his jobforced Roosevelt to reign from his job

However, However,

►Admiral George Dewey was told to Admiral George Dewey was told to attack the Spanish in the Philippines if attack the Spanish in the Philippines if a war broke out a war broke out

The first battle of the Spanish-The first battle of the Spanish-American War took place in the American War took place in the

PhilippinesPhilippines

►Admiral George Dewey was able to Admiral George Dewey was able to sink all of the Spanish ships within a sink all of the Spanish ships within a few hours few hours

►The American navy in Cuba blockaded The American navy in Cuba blockaded the Spanish navythe Spanish navy

Rough RidersRough Riders

►A volunteer army led by Theodore A volunteer army led by Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

►The Rough Riders defeated the The Rough Riders defeated the Spanish in a famous battle up San Juan Spanish in a famous battle up San Juan HillHill

►Eventually, on July 3, 1898, the Eventually, on July 3, 1898, the American navy sunk every Spanish American navy sunk every Spanish ship in Cubaship in Cuba

American causalities: American causalities:

►2,500 Americans died, mostly from 2,500 Americans died, mostly from yellow fever, malaria, etc.yellow fever, malaria, etc.

►Future Secretary of State John Hay Future Secretary of State John Hay called the Spanish-American a called the Spanish-American a “Splendid little war”“Splendid little war”

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris

►Spain recognizes Cuban independence Spain recognizes Cuban independence ►The US pays $20 million for the The US pays $20 million for the

Philippines, Puerto Rico, and GuamPhilippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam

The US relationship with Puerto The US relationship with Puerto Rico went more smoothlyRico went more smoothly

►Foraker Act: the US removed its Foraker Act: the US removed its military government and established a military government and established a civil government in Puerto Rico civil government in Puerto Rico

►The US government gave the people of The US government gave the people of Puerto Rico US citizenshipPuerto Rico US citizenship

As the US was fighting the S-A As the US was fighting the S-A War, it was also gaining HawaiiWar, it was also gaining Hawaii►Some wealthy Americans had owned Some wealthy Americans had owned

land in Hawaiiland in Hawaii►On that land, they grew sugar, which On that land, they grew sugar, which

was sold in the US tax freewas sold in the US tax free►The US also leased Pearl Harbor as a The US also leased Pearl Harbor as a

place to fuel and repair shipsplace to fuel and repair ships

The American planters:The American planters:

►Forced Hawaiian King Kalakaua to Forced Hawaiian King Kalakaua to accept a new Hawaiian constitution accept a new Hawaiian constitution stating that only land owners can votestating that only land owners can vote

►When King Kalakaua died, his sister, When King Kalakaua died, his sister, Queen Lil took overQueen Lil took over

►Queen Lil tried to stop the power of Queen Lil tried to stop the power of the US landowners the US landowners

As a response to Queen Lil…As a response to Queen Lil…

►The US Marines went in to Hawaii and The US Marines went in to Hawaii and removed Queen Lil from powerremoved Queen Lil from power

►Sanford Dole became the political Sanford Dole became the political leader of Hawaii and asked the US to leader of Hawaii and asked the US to annex Hawaiiannex Hawaii

►Congress approved Hawaiian Congress approved Hawaiian annexation in 1898annexation in 1898

The next major issue became The next major issue became ChinaChina

►Most European countries were also Most European countries were also interested in Chinainterested in China

►There were so many people living in There were so many people living in China, so there could be a huge China, so there could be a huge market for American goodsmarket for American goods

The US and the European The US and the European powers agreed to:powers agreed to:

►Spheres of influence: areas of Spheres of influence: areas of economic and political control in Chinaeconomic and political control in China

►Basically, all of the countries were Basically, all of the countries were going to “share” Chinagoing to “share” China

US Secretary of State John Hay US Secretary of State John Hay wanted to keep China “open”wanted to keep China “open”

►Open Door Policy: the US would have Open Door Policy: the US would have equal access to China’s millions of equal access to China’s millions of consumersconsumers

►No country would become dominate in No country would become dominate in ChinaChina

Panama CanalPanama Canal

►Many countries wanted a canal built to Many countries wanted a canal built to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceansconnect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

►Panama was selected as the location Panama was selected as the location because of its easy access to both oceansbecause of its easy access to both oceans

► In 1879, the French purchased a In 1879, the French purchased a concession from Colombia (concession from Colombia (concessionconcession: a : a grant for a piece of land in exchange for a grant for a piece of land in exchange for a promise to use that land for a specific promise to use that land for a specific purpose)purpose)

Problems with the building of Problems with the building of the Canal:the Canal:

►The French mismanaged the projectThe French mismanaged the project►Also, many workers became sick from Also, many workers became sick from

yellow feveryellow fever

As the French backed off the As the French backed off the project:project:

►The US paid $40 million for the rights to The US paid $40 million for the rights to build the Panama Canalbuild the Panama Canal

►Colombia, however, was not happy with Colombia, however, was not happy with this arrangement because they made this arrangement because they made their concession with France, not the their concession with France, not the USUS

►President Roosevelt felt the Colombians President Roosevelt felt the Colombians were trying to “rob” the USwere trying to “rob” the US

As a result:As a result:

►The US encouraged the Panamanians The US encouraged the Panamanians to revolt and gain independence from to revolt and gain independence from ColombiaColombia

►President Roosevelt sent US warships President Roosevelt sent US warships off the coast of Panama to act as off the coast of Panama to act as support for the Panamanian revoltsupport for the Panamanian revolt

►Panama gained its independence Panama gained its independence

Hay- Bunau-Varilla TreatyHay- Bunau-Varilla Treaty

►The US gains the 10 mile strip where The US gains the 10 mile strip where the Panama Canal was being builtthe Panama Canal was being built

►The US pays Panama $10 milliomThe US pays Panama $10 milliom

Panama CanalPanama Canal

►The US built the Canal $23 million The US built the Canal $23 million under budget and six months early under budget and six months early