Imperialism

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Imperialism

• Chapter 10

Pathfinder Fleet Library of Congress
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Diplomacy after the Civil War

• Little concern for foreign affairs.
• Manifest Destinypushed an industrial nation
  across the continent.
• Secretary of State William Sewards purchase of
  Alaska in 1867 from Russia for 7.2 million
  (Sewards Folly)
• Pacific island of Midway

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Toward a New Imperialism

• Imperialism in global context
• The scramble for empire was well under way by the
  time the U.S. entered in the late 19th century.
• By the late 19th century, the technology of arms
  and the networks of communication,
  transportation, and commerce brought the prospect
  of effective, truly global empires within much
  closer reach a new age of imperialism (ex.
  Africa)

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American Imperialism Markets

• The rapid industrial development of the U.S. (new
  places to export and access to raw materials)
• The growth of industrial networks linked them to
  international markets as never before.
• American companies were outgrowing the home
  market. As economic systems became more tightly
  knit and political systems more responsive to
  industrialists and financiers, a rush for markets
  in distant lands was unavoidable.

European Expansion Worldwide
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American Imperialism

• Social Darwinism
• Applied evolution to the social order.
• Survival of the fittest.
• Justified white supremacy and European and
  American expansion.
• Religious motives and the civilizing mission
• American Protestant missionaries sought to
  convert heathen unbelievers in faraway lands.
• The white mans burden introducing
  civilization to the colored races of the world.

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Expansion

• In 1880, the U.S. still lacked the military might
  of an imperial power.
• The U.S. Navy ranked 12th in the world, behind
  Denmark and Chile.
• The U.S. could not protect its interests
  overseas.
• The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890)
  by Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that national
  greatness and prosperity depended on sea power.
  U.S. needed a modern navy with steam-powered,
  steel-hulled ships that would need coaling
  stations and other re-supply facilities
  throughout the world
• By 1900, the U.S. Navy ranked 3rd in the world.
  With a modern navy, the country had the means to
  become an imperial power

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Pacific Islands

• U.S. took the port of Pago Pago in the
  strategically located islands of Samoa in 1878
• The crucial link to extending trade across the
  Pacific to China was Hawaii
• Island settled about 2,000 years earlier by
  people from Polynesian Islands. By 1840s,
  American merchants and missionaries dominated
• Boom in sugarcane growing resulted from trade
  agreement with U.S.
• By the 1880s, U.S. was in virtual control with
  base at Pearl Harbor
• Queen Liliuokalani ascended to throne and tried
  to limit foreign influence, Americans staged
  revolution and proclaimed Republic of Hawaii
• Hawaii annexed in 1898

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The Spanish American War

• Rebellion broke out in Cuba in 1895 seeking
  independence from Spain.
• Yellow journalism whipped the American public
  into a hostile frenzy.
• De Lôme letter Spanish minister in Washington
  sent this letter to friend in Cuba called
  McKinley a would-be politician and said that
  Spain had no intention of changing its policy
  Worst Insult to the United States in its
  History.

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The SpanishAmerican War

• The battleship Maine exploded in Havana harbor in
  1898 killing 260 American sailors.
• Spain announced unilateral ceasefire.
• U.S. declared war on Spain.
• Congress declared Cuba independent.
• Teller Amendment said America did not want Cuban
  territory.

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Campaigns

• Manila
• Naval battles determined the outcome of the war.
• Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish ships in
  Manila Bay, Philippines.
• Cuba
• U.S. Navy destroyed Spanish fleet in Cuba.
• T.R.s Rough Riders won the battle of San Juan
  Hill.

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Results

• 5,462 Americans died (379 in battle) Most killed
  by malaria, typhoid, dysentery, or yellow fever
• Wool uniforms and diseased, rotten, or poisoned
  rations.
• War ended less than 4 months after it started
• Cuba was given independence.
• U.S. annexed Puerto Rico and Guam, occupied the
  Philippines for 20 million (Also annexed Hawaii
  and Wake Island) It would take another 5,000
  casualties to subdue Philippines.

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ChinaThe Open Door Policy

• Following the Sino-Japanese War, China attracted
  the great powers in a scramble for control.
• Open Door Policy outlined by Secretary of State
  John Hay urged major powers to keep trade open to
  all countries on an equal basis.
• Open Door Policy threatened by the Boxer
  Rebellion
• When Chinese nationalists laid siege to foreign
  embassies in Peking (Beijing), multinational
  force went in to stop uprising.
• America urged other countries to preserve
  Chinese territorial and administrative integrity
  
• New American empire would have its share of
  colonies, but in Asia as elsewhere it would be
  built primarily on trade.

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Rise of TR

• Election of 1900
• William Jennings Bryan (Dem) vs. McKinley/TR
  (Rep)
• Republicans win on pro-imperialist platform
• Assassination of McKinley in Sep, 1901 made TR
  president. At 42, TR was youngest president.

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RooseveltsForeign Policy

• Speak softly and carry a
  big stick
• The Panama Canal
• Colombian province of Panama, with American aid,
  claimed independence and got canal contract from
  United States.
• America built the canal, opening in 1914.
• The Roosevelt Corollary
• In response to an economic crisis in the
  Dominican Republic, Roosevelt announced his
  Corollary to the Monroe Doctrinethe United
  States could intervene in its neighbors affairs
  to prevent foreign intervention.
• Would later become the basis for military
  intervention.

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