BECOMING A WORLD POWER 1872 – 1912

Chapter 12

What is “Imperialism”?

It is when a nation builds an empire by gaining political control over other countries.

During this era, economic and military competition from foreign nations convinced the United States it must be a world power.

The United States became an empire when it acquired the Philippines and territory in the Caribbean.

In addition, American influence in Central and South America grew as the U.S. took a more active role in Latin American affairs.

Section 1 - The Imperialist Vision

Main Idea: In the late 1800s, many Americans wanted the

United States to expand its military and economic power overseas.

I. Building Support for Imperialism (def: The economic & political domination of a strong nation over other

weaker nations.) Reasons:

A. Desire for new markets1. US wanted to keep up w/ Europe (they built empires through overseas markets)

2. New markets would keep economy strong.

3. To protect overseas investments, a country had to exert some control over those areas.

a. Some areas became colonies.

b. Some became protectorates (technically independent; imperial power protects them from

invasion & advises them how to govern.)

B. Feeling of superiority

1. Idea that only strongest countries would survive – Social Darwinism

2. The feeling that Eng-speaking nations had superior ideas, character, & govts & were destined to

dominate (Anglo-Saxonism).

Shopping in Somalia Shopping in Guatemala

Shopping in Houston Shopping in London

Where would you like to spend your Saturday?

Why?

3. Josiah Strong - minister who preached that Americans had a duty to “civilize & Christianize

heathen foreigners.”

II.Expansion in the Pacific

A. Japan had a closed society; wanted to avoidcontact w/ Westerners that would supposedlydestroy their culture.

1. Refused to trade w/ Americans

2. Commodore Matthew Perry took naval expedition to Japan to negotiate a treaty.

a. The Japanese had never seen steamships; were awed & intimidated!

b. Realized they couldn’t compete w/ American technology & weapons; signed a trade agreement.

3. Result: Japan began to westernize AND build their own Asian

empire!

B. Hawaii

1. 1819 - Arrival of first

US missionaries

2. Discovered climate & soil perfect for growing sugarcane

3. Americans established huge plantations

4. Pressured king to accept new constitution

a. Limited monarchy’s power.

b. Increased planters’ power.

5. 1891 - Queen “Lil” took the throne.

a. She disliked American settlers being there.

b. Tried to reassert absolute authority as ruler of Hawaii.

6. American planters had her overthrown.

III. Trade & Diplomacy in Latin America

A. Conference held in 1880s to create alliance of US & Latin America - Pan-Americanism

B. Hoped to keep European influence out of Latin America.

C. Today: Organization of American States (OAS)

IV. Building a Modern Navy

A. Three crises that showed American willingness to be assertive in foreign affairs:

1. 1888- US willing to go to war to prevent Germany from taking control of Samoan Islands in the South Pacific.

2. 1891 - Mob in Chile attacked American sailors, killed some; US threatened war with Chile

3. 1895 - US backed Venezuela against Britain in a border dispute w/ the colony of British Guiana.

** All three crises were settled peacefully, but they showed that the US meant business!!!

B. Alfred T. Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History

1. Thesis: All great nations had strong naval power.

2. With a strong navy, US had to have foreign refueling stations; needed to build an

empire to guarantee access to those refueling stations.

C. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge led the effort to modernize US Navy.

D. By 1890s - US had become one of the top naval powers in the world.

Section 2 - The Spanish-American War (1898)

Main Idea: The US defeated Spain in a war, acquired new overseas territories, and became an imperial power.

I. The Coming of War

A. Cuban Rebellion Begins

1. Cuba was a Spanish colony; generated lots

of $$$ for Spain; produced 1/3 of world’s sugar.

2. 1868 - Cuban rebels declared independence; launched guerilla war against Spain.

a. Jose Marti - exiled Cubanleader.

b. US & Cuba were linked economically; Cuban sugar went to the US; the USinvested in Cuba’s mines, RRs,& sugar plantations.

B. Americans supported the Cubans

1. Some compared their rebellion to American

Revolution

Jose Marti

2. US support fueled by yellow journalism (exaggerated/made-up stories to attract readers).

Two newspapers owned by:

a. William Randolph Hearst

b. Joseph Pulitzer

Locked in huge competition!!

vs.

YELLOW

JOURNALISM

C. Calls for War

1. US Battleship Maine exploded in Havana Harbor; 266 Americans killed.

a. Reason unclear b. Yellow journalism proclaimed that the

Spanish did it! US battle cry: “Remember the Maine!”

2. Jingoism (attitude of aggressive nationalism) was strong.

D. US demands Spain leave Cuba;Spain declares war on US.

Artist’s rendition of the explosion aboard the Battleship Maine

II. War on Two Fronts

A. US Takes the Philippines

1. Philippines – Spanish colony; US invaded to keep Spain from attacking US on west coast.

2. Commodore George Dewey’s fleet – quick victory at Manila Bay.

3. More US troops sent; seized island of Guam on the way.

4. Enlisted aid of Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo; at first he

sided w/ US; then turned on them.

* American Forces Battle in Cuba

1. American army poorly trained, supplied; hundreds died of disease in training camps.

2. “Rough Riders” - volunteer cavalry unit; second- in-command was Theodore Roosevelt.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders

3. All-black 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments, along w/ Rough Riders, charged up San Juan Hill at Santiago; defeated Spanish.

4. US troops also occupy Spanish Puerto Rico.

5. Spanish-American War ceasefire - 8/12/1898.

http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/AP US History II/course files/multimedia/lesson54/lessonp.html?showTopic=2

III. An American Empire is Born

A. Debate over annexation of former Spanish territories

1. Imperialists’ arguments

a. Territories would be valuable naval stations throughout the world.

b. Would provide additional large markets for American goods.

c. Americans could “civilize & Christianize” natives.

2. Anti-Imperialists’ arguments: (Ex: Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, etc.)

a. Competition from cheap Filipino laborwould drive down Americans’ wages.

b. Imperialism is immoral & against American principles.

B. Treaty of Paris 1898 - terms of the treaty:

1. Cuba - becomes independent from Spain.

2. US gets Puerto Rico & Guam

3. US pays Spain $20 million for the Philippines.

Section 3 - New American Diplomacy

Main Idea: Under President Theodore Roosevelt (TR), the US increased its power on the world stage.

I. TR’s Rise to Power

A. Election of 1900 - GOP McKinley vs. Dem. Bryan ….. McKinley wins.

WilliamMcKinley

WilliamJennings Bryan

1. TR was his Vice-President

2. McKinley was assassinated; TR becomes

Pres. (youngest at age 42)

President McKinley’s assassination

B. Who was TR?

1. Wealthy NY family

2. Sickly child; strived to overcome frailties.

4. Athletic; adventurous

5. Wanted a strong America!

• American Diplomacy in Asia

A. Open Door Policy

* China was carved up into “spheres of influence”- areas where only certain

countries could trade.

2. US wanted in on the action; pushed for free trade for China; eventually got it!

B. Boxer Rebellion

1. Some Chinese wanted to wipe out “foreign devils” & Christians; thought they were corrupting Chinese society.

2. Attacked foreign embassies in Beijing, killing & taking prisoners.

3. International force, including US, stepped in & quashed the rebellion.

The Boxers, also known as the Righteous and Harmonious Fists, were members of a secret society opposed to foreign influence in China.

As the Boxers laid siege to the foreign embassies in Beijing, diplomats, foreign civilians, and Chinese Christians were trapped behind barricades for nearly 60 days before an international rescue team ended the uprising.

B. Balancing Power in East Asia

1. TR helped settle war between Japan & Russia; received Nobel Peace Prize.2. Relations between Japan & US worsens!3. 1907 - Pres. TR sent 16 battleships on a world voyage to show US power – Great White Fleet.

III. A Growing Presence in the Caribbean

A. Panama Canal

1. 1901- US & Brits sign Hay-Pauncefote Treaty – gave US the right to build & control any canal

through Central America.

2. French company had tried it; failed due to bankruptcy & loss of life from disease.

3. Nicaragua or Panama (controlled by Colombia)??

B. Revolt in Panama

1. US helped to wage uprising in Panama against Colombia.

2. US recognized Panama’s independence.

C. Roosevelt Corollary (to the Monroe Doctrine)

1. TR’s philosophy: “Speak softly and carry a big stick” –

Get what you want by showing your power;then you hopefully won’t have to use it!

2. Known as Big Stick diplomacy.

3. Corollary: US would intervene in Latin American affairs when necessary to

maintain economic & political stability in

the Western Hemisphere.

D. Pres. Taft (TR’s successor)

1. Continued TR’s policies…..BUT…

2. Placed less emphasis on military force &

more on helping Latin American industry; became known as Dollar Diplomacy (“substituting dollars for bullets”)

Reviewing Key TermsDefine Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left.

__ 1. the actions used by one nation to exercise political or economic control over a smaller or weaker nation

__ 2. a policy of joining the business interests of a country with its diplomatic interests abroad

__ 3. a country that is technically independent but is actually under the control of another country

__ 4. extreme nationalism marked by aggressive foreign policy

A. imperialism

B. protectorate

C. yellow journalism

D. jingoism

E. sphere of influence

F. Open Door policy

G. dollar diplomacy

G

B

A

D

Reviewing Key Terms (cont.)

Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left.

__ 5. type of sensational, biased, and often false reporting for the sake of attracting readers

__ 6. a policy that allowed each foreign nation in China to trade freely in the other nations’ spheres of influence

__ 7. section of a country where one foreign nation enjoys special rights and powers

F

C A. imperialism

B. protectorate

C. yellow journalism

D. jingoism

E. sphere of influence

F. Open Door policy

G. dollar diplomacy

E