The US Reaches for Empire

1880-1918

The US Reaches for Empire

For Discussion

• What do you think EMPIRE means?

• What do you think were reasons that the US might want to control the territories on the map?

• Do you know which country controlled the Philippine Islands before the US?

Empire

• An empire is a group of nations or territories ruled by a single country

• For example, the British empire ruled many countries in Asia and Africa in the 19th century.

ImperialismImperialism

• Last year you studied European imperialism in Asia and Africa, what does the word imperialism mean?

• Imperialism is the economic and political domination of a strong nation over weaker nations.

• Last year you studied European imperialism in Asia and Africa, what does the word imperialism mean?

• Imperialism is the economic and political domination of a strong nation over weaker nations.

What were the causes of imperialism?

• Imperialist nations desired raw materials and cheap labor.

• Imperialist nations wanted to establish colonies and military bases.

• Imperialist nations had feelings of cultural superiority over their colonies.

A US Empire

• During the period of industrialization beginning in 1880 the US expanded beyond its borders

• 1893 - The US sent Marines to protect plantations in Hawaii. Hawaii was annexed (controlled by US) in 1898.

• .

According to this map why might the US have wanted to

annex Hawaii?

Annexed or annexation

• Annexation means that one nation takes over another.

• For example, the US annexed Hawaii in 1898

• A protectorate is a smaller country which is allowed to keep its local ruler, but is still controlled by a larger country.

What other areas in the Caribbean and central America

were protectorates?

The USS Maine in Havana, Cuba

The USS Maine sunk in Havana’s Harbor

History Mystery:Who sunk the USS Maine?

Spanish American War

• The US blamed Spain for sinking the USS Maine, since many Americans believed US newspapers.

• 1898 - US went to war with Spain over its control of Cuba and the Philippines.

• Some historians now believe that the USS Maine accidentally exploded, from gun powder stored on the ship.

“Yellow Journalism”

• This term describes newspapers, in a hurry to sell papers, that were not always accurate.

• For example, the stories about the Spanish American War were often exaggerated, due to Yellow Journalism

War spreads to Philippines

• Filipinos were also fighting a war of independence from Spain, led by Emilio Aguinaldo.

• The US attacked the Spanish ships in Manila Bay, destroying most of their fleet

Spain defeated

• In August of 1898 Spain surrendered.

• The US took control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.

• Filipinos, however, continued their fight for independence against the US.

US Defeats Filipinos

• Filipinos fought a guerilla war against the Americans until their defeat in 1901.

• Americans were divided over the war.

• The Philippines became a US colony, until winning their independence after WW II in 1946

Who were the Cubans and the Americans fighting?

Who were the Filipinos fighting?

Open Door Policy

• The US sought trade with Asian countries.

• Many other European powers had already established control of Chinese ports.

• The US wanted an “open door” to establish trade in China for tea, spices, and silk and to sell US products

Panama Canal

• Roosevelt acquired land in Panama to build a canal

• This would shorten the trade between the Caribbean and the Pacific

• Roosevelt sent ships to support Panama’s revolt against Columbia

• Panama agreed to allow the US to build a canal in its country

Theodore Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy

• Roosevelt believed in making the US a world power.

• To describe his foreign policy borrowed an African proverb:”Speak softly but carry a big stick.” Roosevelt wanted a strong navy and military to show the world we were strong.

• He built up the US navy and sent the “Great White Fleet” around the world to project US military power.

• What is in the TR satchel bag?

• Why does TR have his hand on the throat of Columbia?

• What is Uncle Sam holding, and why?

• What is the artist trying to say?

• Who is controlling the marionettes (puppets)?

• Who do the puppets symbolize?

• What is TR doing at the show?

• What do you think a “puppet government” is?

• What is the artist trying to say?

Why was the US interested in Panama?

• What does the big stick symbolize?

• Where is TR wading?• What is TR pulling?• Which countries would

be effected here?• What is the artist

saying?

• What is TR dressed as? Why?

• Why is his billy club called the “new diplomacy?”

• Who are the people to his left and to his right?

• What is the artist saying?

• Where is Uncle Sam standing?

• Where is Uncle Sam’s hat?

• What is his hat called?• Who is looking on?• What is the artist trying

to say?

The Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary

• The Monroe doctrine argued that the Europeans should stay out of Latin America

• The Roosevelt Corollary was that the US was the “policeman” of the Western Hemisphere and could intervene in Latin American countries when it wanted to.

US Intervention in Latin America

• In the 20th century the US established large economic interests in Latin America, and sent the US military into many countries including: Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Chile.

Dollar Diplomacy

• Many Latin Americans resented US interventions.

• President Howard Taft relied on dollar diplomacy, which focused on sending US financial aid and investment to LA countries, rather than military intervention