AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

BACKGROUND

By the end of the Spanish-American War, the U.S. was occupying four of Spain’s former colonies

“Imperialists” saw this as an opportunity. They believed the U.S. should take its own colonies before European countries got them all.

Because other powers were competing for naval supremacy, many in the U.S. thought the U.S. must be able to compete.

THE BIG QUESTIONS

What strategic and political factors led America to become an imperial power?

What were the main consequences of American imperialism?

ANTI-IMPERIALISTS

Because the U.S. had itself been colonies, many Americans felt uneasy about forcing colonial rule on others

Opponents felt imperialism violated the basic democratic principles of self-government on which the U.S. was founded

Some formed the American Anti-Imperialist League in 1898 to oppose colonial acquisitions

REASONS FOR IMPERIALISM (COLONIAL EXPANSION)

THE NEED FOR RAW MATERIALS AND MARKETS – Colonies could provide needed raw materials for factories, guaranteed markets, and places for farmers to sell their surplus crops

STRATEGIC REASONS – Colonies would promote American naval strength. America could have a more powerful navy with bases throughout the world

NATIONALISM – Would show the U.S. was a great and powerful nation

ATTITUDES TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE – Belief in Anglo-Saxon superiority, spreading American institution could help others, and converting people to Christianity

IMPERIAL TERRITORIES

After the Spanish-American War, the U.S. acquired a colonial empire consisting of the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, Samoa, and Midway in the Pacific and Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Virgin Islands, and the Panama Canal Zone in the Caribbean.

AMERICA IN THE PACIFIC

THE PHILIPPINES – Fought the United States until 1902 for independence, since they were disappointed that the U.S. did not grant them independence after the Spanish-American War

GUAM – Was taken from Spain by the U.S. during the Spanish-American War in 1898. It was an important port-of-call crossing the Pacific. Today, it is an unincorporated territory of the U.S.

SAMOA AND MIDWAY – Midway became an American possession in 1867, even before the Sp.-Am. War. In 1899, Samoa was divided between Germany and the U.S. These Pacific islands provided valuable naval bases and refueling stations for American ships traveling to Asia

CONTINUED…

The Hawaiian islands once provided a refueling station for American ships.

American settlers built sugar and pineapple plantations

Missionaries were sent to convert the natives to Christianity

In the 1890s, Queen Liliuokalani tried to take political power back from American landowners

She was overthrown in 1893

CONTINUED…

Sandford B. Dole led the provisional government while it worked out plans for the U.S. to annex it

President Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii because the planters had seized power, so Dole served as Hawaii’s President

After the Spanish-American War broke out, congress voted to annex Hawaii

Dole served as governor from 1900 – 1903

ASSIGNMENT:

Title your map: U.S. Colonial PossessionsLocate Pacific Island territories gained by the

United States. Color each one a different color and add the year it was annexed

On the back of the map, create a comparison table listing arguments for and against Imperialism.

Ex.Arguments for Imperialism:

Arguments against Imperialism:

AMERICA AND EAST ASIA

Geography placed America in an advantageous position for trade with East Asia

Clipper ships brought Chinese tea and other goods from East Asia to the U.S.

After 1898, control of several Pacific Islands gave the U. S. greater influence in the Pacific

Pacific island acquisitions increased American opportunities for trade with both China and Japan

CHINA

In the 1850s, European powers had created “spheres of influence” (areas where they had special privileges)

Though the U.S. had no sphere of influence, they had carried on trade in China for some time

U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay, announced the “Open Door” Policy, giving equal trading rights to all foreign nations in China (he declared this by sending notes to all major powers)

CONTINUED…

Shortly after Hay announced the Open Door Policy, the Boxer Rebellion broke out in China (the Boxers were opposed to Western influence in China)

The Boxers threatened the lives of foreigners in China

The U.S. participated in an international army that crushed the rebellion.

Hay announced that the U.S. would oppose any attempt by other nations to use the Boxer rebellion as an excuse to interfere in China.

JAPANThe U.S. opened Japan who was an

isolationist country to Western trade and influence

Commodore Matthew Perry landed there with American gun ships in 1853

By 1890s, Japan had adopted Western ways It became the first Asian industrial powerAdopted imperialist ways (defeated China in

1894, and Russia in 1905)President Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace

Prize when he helped Russia and Japan negotiate a peaceful settlement in the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905)

AMERICA IN THE CARIBBEAN

REASONS FOR U.S. INTEREST IN THE CARIBBEAN

HEMISPHERIC SECURITY – U.S. sought to keep foreign powers out of the Caribbean because they might pose a threat to U.S. security (Monroe Doctrine)

ECONOMIC INTEREST – Caribbean was an important supplier of agricultural products (sugar) and provided a valuable market for American goods and investment

NEED FOR A CANAL – The U.S. needed easier access by water between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This could most likely be achieved by building a canal in Central America

PUERTO RICO

Became an American possession after the Spanish-American War

In May of 1900, the U.S. government established a civil government in Puerto Rico

Structure: a governor, upper house of delegates (picked by the President and approved by Congress), and a lower house (elected by popular vote)

CUBA

Largest island in the CaribbeanBecame a “protectorate” under

American control after the Sp.-Am. WarForces remained on the island and

American businesses invested heavily in Cuba

Forced to agree to the Platt Amendment giving U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs at any time (repealed in 1930)

PANAMA Narrowest point in Central AmericaPart of Columbia – The U.S. and Columbia

entered into negotiations but could not reach a deal for Panama

T. Roosevelt struck a deal with Panamanian rebels to help them win independence

Sent a warship to protect the rebels and recognized Panama as a new country

In return, Panama gave the U.S. complete control of a 10-mile strip of rainforest through Panama, known as the canal zone

http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/6C932E40-AA22-42A8-9D33-B5399BC5EF39

ASSIGNMENT

Add the Caribbean territories to your map of Imperialism by locating and coloring each territory and adding the date it was annexed (Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, The Virgin Islands)

AMERICAN POLICIES IN LATIN AMERICA

The Monroe Doctrine (1823) – prevented Europeans from establishing new colonies in the Western Hemisphere

Roosevelt Corollary (known as the Big Stick Policy – “walk softly but carry a big stick”) declared that the U.S. would act as an

“international police power” in Latin American affairs.

was often used to justify sending U.S. troops to the West Indies and Central America (Haiti, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Dominican Republic)

Was deeply resented by Latin Americans

CONTINUED…

TAFT AND DOLLAR DIPLOMACY – Taft encouraged bankers to invest in Caribbean countries Dollar Diplomacy – American investments were

used to promote American foreign policy goals If Latin American countries couldn’t repay loans

on time, U.S. troops were sent in to ensure payment

WILSON’S LATIN AMERICAN POLICY – wanted to turn from the bullying tactics of previous presidents Sent troops to Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Domincan

Republic to protect American interests Purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in

1917

CONTINUED…

THE PROBLEM WITH MEXICO Was undergoing a violent revolution when

Wilson became President Wilson adopted a policy of “watchful waiting” Retaliated against Pancho Villa when he

murdered American in New Mexico and retreated across the border

Wilson sent an American Expeditionary Force into Mexico under General John J. Pershing to apprehend Villa

Villa eluded capture and the force was withdrawn in 1917, when the U.S. entered WWI in Europe

ASSIGNMENT

Complete the graphic organizer comparing presidential policies in Latin America

ASSIGNMENT

Create a political cartoon depicting American Imperialism in the Pacific or Imperialist policy in East Asia