TOWARD EMPIRETOWARD EMPIRE

America: Past and PresentAmerica: Past and Present

Chapter 21Chapter 21

Nineteenth Century

U.S. society felt protected by Atlantic and Pacific oceans

Tendency towards isolationism: the belief that the U.S. should take care of its own matters and not get tangled up in world power and not get tangled up in world power struggles.

Prevailing policy was the “Monroe Doctrine” which limited U.S. interests only to the Americas and the Caribbean. The message for other European powers, interested in establishing more influence in the Americas, was “hands off.”

America Looks Outward

U.S. expansion shifts after 1890

Strategically placed islands taken, intended only as colonies intended only as colonies

Balance of Power

Britain had been the unchallenged leader on the world stage in the 1800s with France as an important contender as well.

By the late 1800s, however, a new collection of countries such as Germany, Japan, and Russia, threatened this balance.

Saving Face

Acquiring and running colonies became an important means of important means of showing status.

Another form of status was in the size and presence of naval power.

“ ‘cause we are living in an imperialworld and I am an imperial girl.”

• Not said by Queen Victoria• Not said by Queen Victoria(but should have)

Catching the Spirit of Empire

Domestic concerns dominated the post-Civil War years

1870s bring new interest in areas 1870s bring new interest in areas beyond U.S. boundaries

Internationalism began to replace nationalism

Reasons for Expansion

Expansion abroad sought to gain markets

Evolutionary ideas encourage Evolutionary ideas encourage expansion to give guidance to native peoples elsewhere

Missionary spirit expressed in Josiah Strong's popular Our Country (1885)

Foreign Policy Approaches:1867-1900

Expansionist foreign policy

Acquisitions: Alaska, Midway Islands

Erode European influence in Latin Erode European influence in Latin America– diverts Latin American trade from Europe

through a series of reciprocity treaties

– U.S. supports Venezuela against Great Britain

The Lure of Hawaii and Samoa

1875--U.S. grants Hawaiian sugar free entry

Queen Liliuokalani retaliates for McKinley Queen Liliuokalani retaliates for McKinley Tariff, attempts to reduce U.S. influence

1893--American settlers pull off coup

1898--Hawaii made U.S. possession

1872--U.S. granted port facilities in Samoa

1899--U.S. shares control with Germany

Hawaiian Islands

The New Navy

Alfred Mahan argues that overseas markets are essential for industrial surpluses

Large merchant marine, strong navy Large merchant marine, strong navy needed

1889--Secretary of Navy Benjamin Tracy supervises a program of naval construction

U.S. gains offensive capability at sea

War with Spain

The war increased overseas possessions

It also gained the U.S. recognition as a It also gained the U.S. recognition as a “world power”

Americans became convinced they had a special destiny

A War for Principle

February, 1895--rebellion in Cuba "Yellow press" whips up U.S. sentiment

to favor Cuban independenceMcKinley gains Spanish concessions McKinley gains Spanish concessions

February, 1898--explosion of the Maine April 19--Congress declares Cuba

independent, passes "Teller Amendment"

April 25--U.S. declares war on Spain

Yellow Journalism

Journalism leaders such as William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer and Joseph Pulitzer play up the atrocities of Spanish officials such as this public execution of rebels against Spanish rule.

An account of Spanish cruelty fromPulitzer’s New York World

“Blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood. The old, the young, the blood, blood. The old, the young, the weak, the crippled—are butchered without mercy. Is there no nation wise enough, brave enough,strong enough to restore peace in this bloodsmitten land?”

“Remember the Maine!”

In February 1898, the U.S.S. Maine explodes in Havana Harbor. The cause remains a mystery to this day. At mystery to this day. At the time, journalism played the event up as a deliberate attack of the Spanish against the United States. As one historian put it: “But America no longer thought; she merely felt.”

"A Splendid Little War"

U.S. regular army small, ill-prepared

Problems of equipment and supply– regulars possess latest Krag-Jorgensen – regulars possess latest Krag-Jorgensen

rifles

– Guard units possess old Springfield rifles

Most soldiers fight in National Guard units

“Smoked Yankees”

African Americans serve in army Guard units

Black troops resist segregation Black troops resist segregation

African American soldiers win 26 Certificates of Merit, 5 Congressional Medals of Honor

The Course of the War

May 1--Commodore George Dewey captures Manila Bay

June--Cuba invaded June--Cuba invaded

July--Santiago surrenders, Puerto Rico occupied

August 13--Philippines surrender

Spanish-American War: PacificTheater

Spanish-American War:Caribbean Theater

Acquisition of Empire

Fate of the Philippines was the thorniest issue at the peace negotiations

December 1898--Treaty of Paris December 1898--Treaty of Paris– Cuba independent

– U.S. takes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines

The Treaty of Paris Debate

Debate over annexation of the Philippines

Opponents formed the Anti-Imperialist Opponents formed the Anti-Imperialist League

February, 1899--ratification of peace treaty makes U.S. a colonizing nation

Now What?!!

The United States was faced with a dilemma of what to do with these new territories.Had promised Cubans that the U.S. Had promised Cubans that the U.S. would not try to acquire the island.

A debate raged over whether the U.S. should hold on to the newly-acquired territories or support their independence.

The Imperialism Debate

Those in favor of holding onto the acquired lands said that their inhabitants were not ready for self rule.

Those against keeping these holdings argued that it was unfitting for a democratic nation that

not ready for self rule. Moreover, the United States needed bases and coaling stations for its ships. Some argued that the trade and strategic value of these lands merited their being part of the U.S. sphere of influence.

democratic nation that was itself born out of independence to now seek out colonies. It would also be a drain on resources to maintain and operate these lands.

American Empire, 1900

Guerrilla Warfare in thePhilippines

1898-1901--Emilio Aguinaldo leads Philippine independence movement

1901--U.S. replaces military with civil 1901--U.S. replaces military with civil rule – local self-government permitted

– schedule established for independence

July 4, 1946--Philippine independence

World Colonial Empires, 1900

Governing the Empire

Supreme Court permits selective application of Constitution to new territories

Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico organized as Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico organized as territories, inhabitants made U.S. citizens

Navy controls Guam

Cuban constitution ends U.S. occupation

Platt Amendment--U.S. given right to intervene in Cuban affairs

The Open Door

March, 1900--"Open Door" policy in China– no European nation should carve out a – no European nation should carve out a

sphere of influence in China and exclude others from trading in the area

Policy opens the potential for later conflict with expansion-minded powers in Pacific

Outcome of the War withSpain

Teddy Roosevelt a war hero

Set back the cause of civil rights for Set back the cause of civil rights for African Americans

Confirms Republicans as majority party

U.S. soldiers stationed outside the country