U.S. Imperialism: 1870-1914

1
U.S. Imperialism 1870-1914

• The Urge to Expand
• Countries rushed to establish overseas empires
• U.S. had little interest in expanding after Civil
  War
• Primary concerns were Rebuilding South,
  Settling West, Developing industry
• Major expansion 1867 purchase of Alaska from
  Russia
• Bought by Sec. of State Seward for 7 million
• Worth it when first gold later oil were
  discovered
• Industrial expansion will lead to colonial
  expansion

2
An Imperial Era

• European countries were responsible for
  Imperialism
• Gaining colonies served 2 economic purposes
• provided more raw materials
• provided new markets to sell goods
• Colonies were established to protect new markets
  from competition from other industrialized
  nations.
• Areas of Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands were
  quickly claimed.

3
Why Expand???

• Economic growth made expansion necessary
• U.S. had surplus of food manufactured goods
• We needed new markets
• U.S. needed to compete for colonies to maintain
  its economic military strength
• One supporter, Alfred T. Mahan, wrote a book
  supporting American expansion The Influence of
  Sea Power Upon History
• Believed U.S. needed protect its economic
  interests in foreign markets
• Best way to do that was to build a strong navy

4

• Josiah Strong supported expansion in order to
  spread democracy Christianity to inferior
  peoples
• Frederick Jackson Turner believed that Americas
  vanishing frontier necessitated our expansion to
  prevent unrest.
• U.S. Action it the Pacific
• U.S. showed strong interest in Samoa Hawaii
• Both would serve as naval bases commercial
  ports. Both were in U.S. control by 1900.

5
Movement For War Against Spain

• U.S. avoided war in late 1800s growing naval
  strength
• U.S. citizens leaders confident in the nations
  power
• Resulted in jingoism exaggerated national pride
• U.S. had economic investments in Cuba
• Upset at brutal tactics Spain used to rule Cuba
• Some Americans wanted to annex Cuba
• American journalists reported the atrocities
• Used a style of reporting called yellow
  journalism
• Reporting helped anti-Spanish feelings grow in
  U.S.
• Would lead to the Spanish-American War in 1898

6
Protection of Interests in Cuba

• To protect American interests, Pres. McKinley
  sent the U.S.S. Maine to Havana
• Mysteriously exploded in Feb. 1898 killed 266
  men
• U.S. journalists blamed Spain wanted revenge
• Pres. McKinley gave in to public opinion
• Congress declared war on Spain in April 1898
• Quickly defeated Spain in the Philippines
• Fighting also in Cuba

7
Splendid Little War

• Most famous battle was the Battle of San Juan
  Hill led to Roosevelts Rough Riders
• splendid little war was over in less than 4
  months
• Cubans were given their independence
• U.S. gained Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico
• U.S. emerged from the Spanish-American War as a
  leading world power

8
Challenge of an Empire

• U.S. debated over colonization
• Ultimate Question What to do in the Philippines?
• Many believed we should make the Philippines a
  U.S. colony
• Others fought colonialism w/ the following
  arguments
• Constitution had no provision about it
• Fear that an overseas empire would involve us in
  war w/ other powers
• Length of distance b/t Philippines U.S.
• Would involve U.S. closely in Asian affairs
• Although the Filipinos resisted, U.S. made
  Philippines part of our empire until after WWII

9
Imperialism EQs 1

1. Discuss 2 reasons why the U.S. had no interest in
   expanding after the Civil War.
2. Explain the 2 economic purposes for gathering
   colonies.
3. What was the main cause of the Spanish American
   War?
4. Discuss the results of the Spanish American War.
5. Explain the views of Alfred T. Mahan, Josiah
   Strong, and Frederick Jackson Turner.

10
Asserting Power Rivalry vs. China

• Annexation of Guam Philippines increased U.S.
  interest in Asia, esp. in China
• China had been divided into spheres of influence
• Restricted U.S. trade w/ China
• U.S. proposed equal trade for all nations w/
  China called Open Door Policy--No one else
  interested
• Chinese tried to expel all foreigners in 1900
  Boxer Rebellion
• U.S. sent help to stop the rebellion
• Feared European powers would divide China like
  Africa
• U.S. proposed Open Door Policy again stressing
  that China remain independent
• Accepted the second time
• U.S. everyone else could freely equally trade
  w/ China

11
The Panama Canal

• Since 1500s, Americans Europeans had longed for
  canal to connect the two oceans
• U.S. especially wanted it
• 1) would shorten the length of the trip from
  east to west
• 2) would reduce cost of merchant shipping
• 3) would eliminate heavy expense of maintaining
  two separate navies
• 1901, U.S. signed a treaty that gave us sole
  right to build, operate, defend a canal in one
  of two places
• Nicaragua or Panama
• U.S. decided on Panama, then controlled by
  Colombia

12
Problems for the Canal

• Tried to negotiate w/ Colombia
• Offered to pay 10 million up front
• 250,000 as an annual rent thereafter
• No deal Colombians held out for more money
• Panamanians were upset wanted their independence
• U.S. helped Panama plan a revolt
• Sent a warship to make sure the revolt was
  successful
• Panama declared its independence in 1903
• Treaty was negotiated w/ Panama
• Provisions were the same offered Colombia
• Canal zone ended up being wider

13
Problems continued.

• Before construction, the mosquito problem had to
  be solved
• Carried malaria yellow fever
• Solved by draining swamps, cutting brush, paving
  muddy roads, destroying marshes, spraying
  insecticide everywhere, putting screens on
  windows
• Canal construction began in 1906 was completed
  in 1914
• Next 7 years 43,400 workers labored on the canal
• Cost 5,600 lives
• About 40 miles long
• Minimum depth is 41 ft.
• Minimum width is 300 ft.
• Takes 7-8 hours to travel through the canal

14
U.S. Foreign Policy Early 1900s

• T.R. believed we had a superior civilization
• Gave us the right to lead in world affairs
• Was fond of the West African proverb, "Speak
  softly and carry a big stick, you will go far"
• Considered the Caribbean a sphere of influence
• Believed the U.S. should be active in the affairs
  of the Western Hemisphere
• The beginning of a new policy in the Americas
  called Big Stick Diplomacy use U.S. power to
  keep peace prevent wrongdoing

15
Roosevelt Corollary

• 1904, Roosevelt announced his new policy
• said U.S. had the right to exercise
  "international police power" over Latin America
  countries that couldn't or didn't take care of
  their own affairs
• Became known as the Roosevelt Corollary
• Was added on to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 (said
  the W. Hemisphere was no longer open to European
  colonization)
• Told European nations to keep out of Latin
  America for any reason.

16
Dollar Diplomacy Taft

• Pres. Taft modified America's foreign policy
• Believed American investment abroad would bring
  stability to troubled regions
• Would also add power profit to the U.S. w/o the
  use of force
• U.S. followed this new policy in Asia Latin
  America
• Taft encouraged U.S. bankers to replace European
  bankers as the major lenders to the countries in
  Latin America
• U.S. didn't want to give the European nations any
  reason to send troops to the Americas
• Overall goal of "Dollar Diplomacy" was to reduce
  the chance of armed intervention by European
  nations

17
Moral Diplomacy Wilson

• Pres. Wilson had little interest in foreign
  diplomacy
• World affairs would leave him no choice (WWI)
• Believed U.S. had mission to lead the world
• Goal of Moral Diplomacy was to make the U.S. the
  conscience of the world
• condemned colonialism
• spread democracy promoted peace
• Result of 3 Diplomacies
• U.S. kept ships troops in Asia Latin America
• American business interests spanned the globe
• U.S. was resented despised by Latin American
  nations
• U.S. was a powerful part of the world community
• Meant the U.S. could not ignore the war in Europe
  that had started in 1914

18
Imperialism Assignment

1. Who was Queen Liliuokalani? Explain the role of
   sugar in the acquisition of Hawaii. Why was
   Queen Liliuokalani removed from power?
2. Explain specific economic reason for Imperialism.
3. Define imperialism, protectorate,
   Anglo-Saxonism, Pan-Americanism, yellow
   journalism, jingoism, Platt Amendment, Rough
   Riders, Sphere of Influence, Open Door Policy,
   Boxer Rebellion, Great White Fleet,
   Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, Roosevelt Corollary,
   Dollar Diplomacy.
4. Identify Significance Panama Canal, T.R.,
   Spanish American War, Foraker Act, Jose Marti,
   Clara Barton, Alfred T. Mahan, Henry Cabot Lodge,
   Josiah Strong, Matthew C. Perry