Becoming a World Power

Unit 6

Imperialism

Guiding Questions• Why did the United States assert itself as a world

power?• Why did the United States look to the Pacific for

new markets?• How did the United States attempt to strengthen

its ties and influence with the nations of Latin America?

Terms to Know• Imperialism• Nationalism• Protectorate• Pan-Americanism• Annexation

Building Support for Imperialism

• Imperialism- economic and political control of a strong nation over weaker nationso “New Imperialism”

• During the 1880’s, the United States was facing economic and military competition from various European countries

• American’s gradually warmed to the ideas of expanding overseas and were convinced that the United States should become a world power

Factors Fueling American Imperialism

Desire for New Markets

Feeling of Cultural Superiority

Desire for Military Strength

• U.S. needed raw materials for its factories and new markets for its goods

• Viewed foreign trade as the solution to American overproduction, unemployment, and economic depression

• Followed the European model by establish colonies or protectorates overseas

* Protectorate- country that is independent but under the control of another country

• John Fiske argued that English-speaking nations had the best character, ideas, and systems of government

*Anglo-Saxonism• Argued that U.S. had

a responsibility to spread Christianity and “civilization” to the world’s “inferior peoples”

• Many Americans believed the U.S. needed to build up its navy and have bases overseas in order to not be shut out of foreign markets

• Needed its military presence to match the global military presence

• Admiral Alfred Mahan of the U.S. Navy said the U.S. needed a strong navy to defend the right to trade with other countries

• U.S. became the 3rd largest naval power

The United States Acquires Alaska

• Secretary of State, William Seward, arranged for the purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867o $7.2 Million dollars (~2 cents an acre)

• Had trouble persuading Congress to approved the fundingo “Seward’s Icebox” or “Seward’s Folly”

• Alaska became the 49th state of the United States in 1959o Very rich in timber, minerals, and oil

Annexing Hawaii• Hawaiian islands were economically important to the U.S.

o Sugar plantations sold most of their crop to the United States

• United States agreed to treaty that did not place tariffs on Hawaiian sugar in 1975o Did this to keep Hawaii from asking European countries for help during an economic recession

• In 1887, U.S. leaders pressured Hawaii to allow the U.S. to build a naval base at Pearl Harbor

• Also in 1887, white planters forced Hawaii’s king to accept a constitution that limited his powero Wanted Hawaii to become a part of the U.S.

• Queen Liliuokalani took power in 1891 and tried to regain the Hawaiian monarchy’s powero Planters and U.S. marines organized a revolution, overthrew the Queen, and set up a government

under Sanford B. Dole

• President Cleveland recognized the Republic of Hawaii after Dole refused to surrender power

• Congress proclaimed Hawaii an American territory on Aug. 12, 1898o Became the 50th state in 1959

Expansion in the Pacific

JAPAN SAMOA

• In 1852, President Fillmore ordered Matthew Perry to negotiate a trade treaty with Japan

• In 1853, U.S. warships under Perry’s command entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay

• Japanese realized they were not powerful enough to resist modern weapons

• Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854- gave the United States trading rights at two Japanese ports

• United States opened a naval base on Pago Pago in the Samoan islands in 1878 as a place for ships to port to refuel and resupply on the Pacific crossings

• In 1899, the U.S made an agreement with Germany to split Samoa

Diplomacy in Latin America

• The United States wanted to show Europe that it was the leading power in Latin Americao U.S. bought raw materials from Latin American countrieso Latin American countries bought goods mostly from Europe

• Pan-Americanismo Idea that the United States and Latin American nations should work together

• Goals for the Pan-American conferenceo Create a customs union that would require all nations of the Western Hemisphere to

decrease tariffs against one another and treat one another equally in trade• Hoped it would turn Latin Americans away from European goods

o Create a system for nations of the Western Hemisphere to work out disputes peacefully• Wanted to keep Europeans from getting involved in American affairs

• Latin American delegates rejected ideas but did agree to create the Commercial Bureau of the American Republicso Promoted cooperation among nations of the Western Hemisphereo Known as the Organization of American States today

Discussion Questions• How did the search for new overseas markets

push the United States to become a world power?• Why did the United States want to reduce

European influence in the Western Hemisphere?

Spanish-American War

Guiding Questions• Why was the United States willing to go to war

with Spain over Cuba?• How was the Spanish-American War different

from earlier U.S. wars?• How did the United Sates develop an overseas

empire?

Terms to Know• Yellow journalism• Autonomy• Jingoism• Intervene• Rough Riders

American Interest in Cuba

• Americans long held interest in Cuba• In 1854, diplomats recommended to President

Franklin Pierce that the United States buy Cuba from the Spanisho Spanish responded by saying they would rather see Cuba sunk in the

ocean

• American’s sympathized with the Cubans after their failed revolution attempt between 1868-1878

• American capitalists began investing millions of dollars in large sugar can plantations o Spain abolished slavery in 1866

2nd War for Independence

• Launched by Jose Marti in 1895o Active guerilla campaigno Deliberately destroyed property, especially American-owned sugar

mills and plantations• Hoped to provoke American involvement

• General Valeriano Weyler was sent by Spain to resolve the conflicto Put hundreds of thousands of Cubans in “reconcentration camps”

where many died from starvation and diseases• Prevented villagers from helping rebels

• American opinion was split o Businesses wanted government to help Spain to protect their

investmentso Some were enthusiastic about the rebel cause

War Fever EscalatesYellow Journalism The De Lome Letter

Bombing of the U.S.S. Maine

• Sensational style of writing, which exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers (Often untrue)

• New York Journal and New York World published stories to enrage Americans and deepen their sympathies

• Joseph Hearst and Joseph Pullitzer

• Sent artists to Cuba to draw sketches of reporter’s stories

• President McKinley tried to end the dispute with Cuba and Spain diplomatically

• Efforts were initially sucessful (Spain recalled Weyler; Modified reconcentration camp policy; offered Cuba limited autonomy)

• On Feb.8, 1898, the NYJ published a letter from the Spanish minister (De Lome) to the U.S. criticizing McKinley and calling him weak

• President McKinley sent the U.S.S. Maine to Havana in January of 1898 to protect American interests there

• On Feb. 15, 1898, the Maine exploded in Havanna harbor

• American newspapers claimed the Spanish blew the ship up and offered a reward for those responsible

* Nobody knew the actual cause at that point

“Remember the Maine”

• The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was the spark that led America to declare war on Spain

• McKinley faced a lot of pressure from within the Republican Party to go to waro Jingoism- strong, forceful nationalism

• April 11, 1898o McKinley asked Congress to allow war

• April 20o Congress said Cuba was independent, demanded Spain to leave the island, the U.S

would not annex Cuba(Teller Amendment), authorized McKinley to use forceo Spain reacted by cutting all ties with the U.S.

• April 22o McKinley imposes a blockade on Cuba o Spain declared war on the U.S.

• April 25o U.S. declares war on Spain

Two Front WarWar in the Pacific War in the Caribbean

• Commodore George Dewey was ordered to attack the Spanish fleet based in the Philippines to prevent them from sailing east to attack the United States

• U.S. troops took control of Guam and the Philippines

• Worked with Emilio Aguinaldo, Philippine revolutionary leader

• U.S. took control of Manila, Philippian capital, and Aguinaldo and his rebels took control of most of the islands

• U.S. sought to destroy Spanish fleet in Santiago Harbor

• U.S. army recruited thousands of volunteers but had no resources to train them

• Began landing between June 22-24• Army troops pushed towards Santiago

to force Spanish fleet out and into battle with more powerful U.S. navy (

• “Rough Riders” (Calvary unit/T. Roosevelt (2nd in command)) and the all-African American 9th and 10th Cavalry attacked and held Kettle Hill, then helped capture San Juan Hill (July 1)

• Spanish commander in Santiago panicked and ordered Spanish fleet to leave harbor

• U.S. warships destroyed Spanish fleet (Jul. 3)

• Spanish left in Santiago surrendered

“Splendid Little War”• The United States and Spain signed an armistice,

cease-fire agreement, on August 12o Fighting only lasted 15 weeks

• On December 10, 1898 the U.S. and Spain met in Paris to agree on a treaty

• Treaty of Paris (1898)o Cuba was given its independenceo Guam and Puerto Rico were turned over to the United Stateso Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million

• Senate approved the treaty in Feb. 1899o U.S. became an imperial power

Debate over Philippine Annexation

SUPPORTERS OPPOSERS

• Philippines would provide the U.S. with another Pacific naval base

• Could be a place to stop on the way to China

• Could be a large market for U.S. goods

• Thought that it was the U.S.’s job to help people and countries that were not as well off

• Argued the empire would cost too much

• Cost would not be worth the economic benefits it would provide

• Worried competition from cheap Filipino labor would drive down U.S. wages

• Believed imperialism went against U.S. principles

Post-War Cuba• Although independent, Cuba was still occupied by

American troops• In 1900, Cuban government wrote a new constitution

o Did not specify the relationship between Cuba and the United States

• Platt Amendment- conditions President McKinley insisted that Cuba added to its constitutiono Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation that would weaken its

independenceo Cuba had to allow the U.S. to buy or lease naval stations in Cubao Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent foreign countries from landing

troops to make them payo The U.S. had the right to protect Cuban independence and keep order

• Platt Amendment became part of the treaty in 1903o Cuba became a protectorate of the U.S.o Remained in effect for 31 years

Puerto Rico• Foraker Act (1900)- created a civil government for

Puerto Ricoo Ended military rule by the U.S.o Gave the president of the U.S. power to appoint Puerto Rico’s governor

and members of its upper house of its legislatureo Puerto Ricans could elect only members of the legislature’s lower

house

• In 1917, Congress gave Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship and allowed them to right to elect both houses of their legislature

• In 1947, Puerto Ricans were allowed to elect their own governor

• Still debate on Puerto Rico’s status

Conflict in the Philippines

• Filipinos revolted against the U.S. after learning of their annexation in Feb. 1899

• Aguinaldo turned to guerilla tactics to try and defeat the Americans

• U.S. began using reconcentration camps to separate Filipino guerrillas from civilianso Just like Spanish had done in Cuba

• William Howard Taft, first civilian governor of the islands, trued to win over the Filipinoso Improved education, transportation, and health careo Slowly lessened Filipino hostility

• U.S. declared the war over on July 4, 1902o Captured Aguinaldo in March 1901

• U.S. set up a government very similar to Puerto Rico• The Philippines gained its independence in 1946

Discussion Questions• Why might the United States have considered

intervening in the war?• What was the main strategy of the American

forces on each front of the war? • What were the military and economic arguments

for annexation of the Philippines?

New American Diplomacy

Guiding Questions• Why did the United States want to eliminate

spheres of influence in China?• Was President Roosevelt correct in his belief that

a strong military presence promoted global peace?

• How did “moral diplomacy” shape President Wilson’s policy?

Terms to Know• Sphere of influence• Open door policy• Dollar diplomacy

American Diplomacy in China

• U.S. exports to China grew four times greater between 1895-1900o Still only accounted for 2% of total U.S. exports

• U.S. businesses were excited about the large Chinese marketso Especially textile, oil, and steel

Spheres of Influence• War between China and Japan in 1894

o Japan easily wono Korea became independent o Japan gained territory in Manchuria (Border between Russian and China)

• Russia was concerned about Japan’s growing powero Russia forced Japan to return the Manchurian territory to Chinao Then, Russia demanded China rent the territory to Russia instead (1898)o China still owned the territory, but Russia had complete control

• Sphere of influence- an area owned by a country where a foreign nation controlled the economic growth and developmento Germany, Britain, France soon followed Russia in demanding ”leaseholds”o Only those countries could trade in their “Sphere of influence”

Open Door Policy• U.S. Secretary of State John Hay proposed that all

countries could trade with Chinao U.S. feared being shut out of Chinese marketso Asked countries with leaseholds in China to allow other nations to do

business in their sphere of influenceo Created an “Open Door” for trade

• Each nation accepted the Open Door policy reluctantlyo Would only follow it if all other nations agreedo Were told the U.S. expected all the nations to uphold the policy

The Boxer Rebellion• Chinese secret societies formed to fight foreign control in

influenceo Did not like foreigners dominating most of China’s large citieso Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Boxers)

• In 1900, the Boxers and some Chinese troops attacked foreign embassies, killed missionaries, Christian converts, and other foreigners

• In August 1900, troops from eight nations, including the United States, marched on the Chinese capital o Rebellion was put down within 2 months

• Secretary of State John Hay worked with British diplomats to convince powers not to break up Chinao Agreed not to break China up into European-controlled colonieso Made China pay for damages caused by the rebelliono U.S. kept access to China’s profitable trade and gained a larger market for its own

goods

Roosevelt’s Diplomacy• After President McKinley’s assassination, Theodore Roosevelt

became presidento Wanted to increase U.S. powero Accepted some of the “Anglo-Saxonism” ideas (U.S. had a duty to shape the

“less civilized” parts of the Earth

East Asia Panama Canal Roosevelt Corollary

• Supported the Open Door Policy

• Helped negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese War (1905)

* Russia would recognize Japanese territorial gains * Japan would stop seeking more territory * Won the Nobel Peace Prize• Strained relationship

between Japan and United States

• Thought a canal through Panama was necessary to U.S. power in the world

• Would save time and money for commercial and military shipping

• In 1902, Congress agreed to the purchase of the rights to build a canal in Panama

• “Big Stick” policy• Displaying U.S. power

to the world would keep nations from fighting

• Addition to the Monroe Doctrine

• The United States would use force to protect its economic interests in Latin American

• Allowed the U.S. to keep economic and political control of Latin America

• Designed to keep European nations from intervening

Building the Panama Canal

Gaining Permission Construction

• Panama was a province of Columbia (Needed to get Columbia’s permission)

• In 1903, the U.S. offered Columbia money and yearly rent to build the canal. U.S. would control a narrow strip of land on either side of the canal

• Columbia refused the U.S. offer• French helped organize a

Panamanian revolution against Columbia

• In November 1903, U.S. warships sat offshore, as Panama revolted against Columbia and declared its independence

• On Nov. 18, 1903, the U.S. and Panama signed a treaty to build the canal

* $10 million, plus annual rent of $225,000• Strained U.S.- Latin American

relations

• One of the world’s greatest engineering feats

• Fought diseases such as malaria and yellow fever passed by mosquitoes

• Surgeon General of the Army, William Gorgas helped create an area called the Canal Zone where mosquitoes could not live

• The soft volcanic ash was difficult to move

• Had to clear brush and drain swamps

• More than 5,600 workers died from accidents or disease

• Cost the U.S. about $380 million• Was opened for business on Aug.

15, 1915

Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy

• William Howard Taft became president after Roosevelt o Focused less on military force and more on economic developmento Believed supporting Latin American industry would increase trade and profits for

U.S. businesses• Would lift Latin American countries out of poverty and social disorder

• Dollar Diplomacyo Policy of using the U.S. government to guarantee loans made to foreign countries

by American businesspeople/bankso Designed to keep European countries out of Latin American issues

• In 1911, U.S. bankers began making loans to Nicaragua to support its unstable governmento U.S. bankers given the right to collect customs dutieso Gained control of state-owned railroad systems and its national bank

• Nicaraguan’s revolted against the president and the U.S. sent in troops to put down the rebelliono U.S. troops stayed to support the government and customs until 1925

Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy

• Woodrow Wilson became president in 1913o Experience and interests were in domestic policyo Only been in politics for 2 years

• Governor of New Jersey• Was President of Princeton University for 10 years

• Opposed imperialism• Wanted the United States to promote democracy

o Create a world without rebellion and waro Would not recognize any Latin American government it view as

oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interesto Pressured Western Hemisphere nations to establish democratic

governments

• Hoped the United States would lead by moral exampleo International crisis ruined that hope

Mexican Revolution• Porfirio Diaz was Mexico’s dictator for more than 30 years

o Friend of United Stateso Encouraged foreign investment

• Foreign investors owned most of the railroads and factories

• Most Mexican citizens were poor and did not own land• In 1910, the Mexican revolution began led by Francisco Madero

o Madero was a reformer who seemed to support democracy, constitutional government, and land reform

o Unskilled leadero Conservative forces plotted against him because of land reform ideas

• In 1913, Madero is murdered and General Victoriano Huerta took powero Huerto was a cruel leader

• U.S. refused to recognize Huerta’s governmento New policy that groups that seized power in Latin America would have to establish a

government based on law, not force in order to be recognizedo Ordered the Navy to stop weapons shipments to Huerta’s governmento Allowed Americans to give weapons to Huerta’s enemies

U.S. Becomes Involved in Mexico

• In April 1914, American sailors were arrested in Tampico, Mexicoo Quickly releasedo Used by Wilson as an excuse to help overthrow Huerta’s government

• Wilson ordered U.S. warships to Veracruz and U.S. marines took the city by force

• In 1915, Huerta’s regime collapsed and Venustiano Carranza became presidento Wilson withdrew troops and formally recognized Carranza’s government

• In March 1916, forces opposed to Carranza led by Pancho Villa raided Columbus, NM killing 17 o Wilson sent 6,000 troops under Gen. John J. Pershing to capture Villao Effort dragged on for more than a year with no success

• In June 1916, U.S. troops clashed with Carranza’s armyo Mexicans were angry over the invasion of their land by the U.S.

• Carranza demanded the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, but Wilson refused

• Ultimately, both the U.S. and Mexico backed off and avoided a waro Wilson’s growing concern over the war in Europe caused him to bring back Pershing and his troops

Wilson’s Policy Hurts U.S. Foreign Relations• British laughed at Wilson’s attempts to force the

Mexicans into self-government• Latin Americans though his “moral diplomacy”

was no better than Roosevelt’s “big stick” diplomacyo In 1914, Wilson negotiated sole rights for naval bases and a canal with

Nicaraguao In 1915, Wilson sent marines into Haiti to end a rebellion

• Marines stayed in Haiti until 1935o In 1916, Wilson sent troops into the Dominican Republic to keep order

and to create a more stable and democratic government

Discussion Questions• How did the Open Door policy differ from spheres

of influence?• How did Roosevelt’s foreign policy expand U.S.

influence to other countries?• How were moral diplomacy and dollar diplomacy

the same? How were they different?