American Imperialism

Political Reasons for Imperialism

Believed that we needed to push the United States’ boundaries further and create an empireEuropean countries had already done

this, so we should too!Believed we needed to control the

seas

Economic Reasons for Imperialism

Believed we needed to dominate commerce (trade)

Needed places to sell products 1890s were a decade of crisis

Too many people to feed because of immigration

Economic depression

Purchase of Alaska

The U.S. purchased the Alaskan territory from Russia in 1867$7.2 million586,412 square miles

of new territoryApproximately $12.27

per square mile Called Seward’s Folly (mistake)Why wasn’t it?

http://youtu.be/OY9E2lo2jpQhttp://youtu.be/Gf09-4r2oNU

Objectives

Content: Analyze evidence on the Maine explosion and determine which newspaper is more believable.

Language: Explain the 4 causes of the Spanish American War.

Causes of the Spanish American War

1. Protection of American business interests in Cuba (mostly sugar cane)

2. America wanted to help Cuban rebels gain independence from Spain

3. The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba

4. Yellow Journalism

The Spanish American War

April 25, 1898 – December 10,1898

(8 months)The United States declared war on Spain after the sinking of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba.

How do these headlines differ?

Search for Missing Bride Continues

Bride Missing! Groom’s Family Blame History of Mental Illness

Yellow Journalism and War

Newspapers resorted to headlines that exaggerated and sensationalized events in order to sell more papers.

This increased public support for the war

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU5l4yQCpMM&feature=related

Objectives

Content: Predict why the United States acquired Hawaii.

Learning: List the results of the Spanish American War.

Timeline of Events

Cuba desires independence from SpainSinking of USS Maine in Havana Harbor,

Cuba – February 15, 1898. Both sides disagree who was at fault.

U.S. requests Cuban independence instead of war with Spain

War Declared on April 25, 1898. U.S. blockaded Cuba to prevent Spanish

reinforcements

Timeline of Events

U.S. attacked Manila Harbor in Philippines.U.S. offered a peace treaty to Spain granting

independence to Cuba, giving the U.S. a port in Philippines, and annexing Puerto Rico – REFUSED

Battles fought in Cuba until July – Peace settlement reached in August relating to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Spanish American struggle over the Philippines continued until December when the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the war.

Results of the Spanish American War

The United States emerged as a world power

As a result of the Treaty of Paris of 1898Cuba gained independence from Spain but became dependent on the U.S.

The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico

Objectives

Content: Predict what could have happened if the U.S. did not annex Hawaii

Language: Listen to a song about Hawaii and explain its message.

Annexation of Hawaii

Hawaii – desirable because of resources and location Order of events:

1. Missionaries tried to change the religion of the native Hawaiians

2. Sugar – U.S. provided a good deal to purchase sugar to start to influence the area but wanted more than just trade

Annexation of Hawaii

3. White planters overthrew the native Hawaiian government because they wanted less taxes on sugar and feared losing U.S. influence4. U.S. starts us use as a refueling station in Spanish American War5. Annexation of Hawaii because of strategic importance

http://youtu.be/uOhv-VWpNpY

Hawaii ‘78 http://youtu.be/VrbaN42tDFE

Objectives

Content: Apply Big Stick Diplomacy to the Panama Canal.

Language: Explain the 3 parts of the Roosevelt Corollary.

The Monroe Doctrine (1823)

The Western Hemisphere was no longer open for colonization

The political system of the Americas was different from Europe

The United States would regard any interference in Western hemispheric affairs as a threat to its security

The United States would refrain from participation in European wars and would not disturb existing colonies in the Western Hemisphere

Teddy Roosevelt Policies

Teddy Roosevelt’s most famous quote: “Speak softly and carry a big stick”

Roosevelt Corollary

Drafted a policy known as the Roosevelt Corollary which expanded on the policies of the Monroe Doctrine with regard to European involvement in Central and South America

Had 3 main components

1. Asserted the United States’ right to interfere in the economic ($) matters of other nations in the Americas

#2Claimed the United States’ right to exercise international police power

#3 Advocated “Big Stick” diplomacy

Big Stick Diplomacy

The Panama Canal The U.S. helped

finance a group of revolutionaries in northern Colombia so that a new country (Panama) could sell the U.S. the rights to build a canal in Central America.

Big Stick Diplomacy

In 1903, The U.S. signed a treaty with Panama for the rights to build a canal that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific OceansTreaty included:

10 mile strip of land across Panama U.S. would pay Panama 10 million dollars for a 99 year lease

U.S. would also pay an annual rent of $250,000

http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/inside-the-panama-canal

Panama Canal

Panama Canal was completed August 15th,

1914

Cut 7,000 miles off the Sea voyage from

New York City to San Francisco

United States could now quickly navigate

between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Objectives

Content: Analyze a set of political cartoons about American Imperialism and explain their meaning to the class.

Language: Read an excerpt of the “White Man’s Burden” and explain what Kipling was trying to say.

Philippine-American War

Main fighting lasted from 1899-1902February 4, 1899

Philippine forces led by Aguinaldo rebelled against American control of the Philippines.

The Philippine people wanted independence.

Philippine-American War

U.S. wanted control of the Philippines because: Desire Asian business opportunities

Concern that the Philippine people could not rule without help

Concern that another country would just take over as soon as the U.S. left

Philippine-American War

Aguinaldo was captured and because the U.S. started granting more rights, there was less support for the war against the U.S.

Both sides occasionally attacked civilians thought to be helping the “enemy” Violence, disease and food shortage killed about 200,000 civilians

Philippine-American War

4,200 American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants died in the conflict

1916 - conflict was over because the U.S. promised future independence (even though it did not happen until 1946)