Imperialism in Latin America

10.6

Monroe Doctrine of 1823

• "the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.“

• In summary: asked European countries not to increase their influence or recolonize any part of the Western Hemisphere

New Opportunities for Trade

• US Interest in Latin America– Bananas, coffee,

sugar and tobacco

• British Interest…– Wool, wheat, beef and

nitrates for fertilizers and explosives

Opportunities Cont…• Improvements in Latin America

– Railroads built– Port cities improved– Private investors built factories– Latin American countries began to attract new

immigrants from Europe (Push-Pull)

Economic Imperialism

• Central gov’ts would allow foreign capital in hopes to help develop their economy and new business.

• Most of the investors profit would go back to mother countries but some would go back to central gov’t to improve armies, navies and to suppress internal rebellions.

American Intervention

• British and Falkland Islands (1833)– No US Intervention– Had earlier problems w/ Argentina– Enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine???

• British and Venezuela (1895)– US intervention– Motivation=Gold

Spanish American War

Tension in Cuba• Cuba a Spanish Colony

– Cubans unhappy under Spanish rule– Nationalists attempted to overthrow Spain.– US concerned w/ its own property in Cuba– US Battleship the Maine was sent to protect

property, exploded in Havana Harbor killing 260 Americans.

Spanish-American War Cont…

• Unsure of the cause of the explosion, Unsure of the cause of the explosion, US media blamed the Spanish.US media blamed the Spanish.

• US declared war in 1899 stating that US US declared war in 1899 stating that US interest was purely to help the Cuban’s interest was purely to help the Cuban’s gain their independence.gain their independence.

• Theodore Roosevelt = Rough RidersTheodore Roosevelt = Rough Riders

Treaty of Paris

• Spain surrendered their claims to Cuba

• Ceded its colonies of Puerto Rico and Guam to the US

• Sold Philippines for $20 million to US

Post-War Cuba

• US Troops occupied Cuba• Disbanded the Cuban army• Established schools, built roads, sanitation, and

helped cure diseases• Platt Amendment – Gave the US the right to

intervene in Cuban affairs if the Cuban gov’t was threatened after gaining its independence in 1902.

• Permanent Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay

Panama Canal

US Interests in a Canal

• Helped Panama gain its independence Helped Panama gain its independence from Colombia.from Colombia.– In exchange for control of the canal zone.In exchange for control of the canal zone.

• Homeland security.Homeland security.

• Would have to build two navies.Would have to build two navies.

• Quicker route from East to West coast. Quicker route from East to West coast.

Benefits of the Canal

• Shortened sea routes from NY to SF by 8,000 miles.

• Atlantic and Pacific fleets could be moved quicker.

• Central America became a crossroads of trade.

Roosevelt Corollary 1904

• Amendment to the Monroe Doctrine to protect the canal zone.

• Stated that the US would use military force in any situation that threatened the independence of any country in the Western Hemisphere.

• Described as a policy of “speak softly but carry a big stick”.

Further US Expansion

• Nicaragua 1912-1933• Haiti 1915-1934• Dominican Republic 1916-1924• Cuba (again) 1906-1909 & 1912

– Reasons:• Economies almost collapsed• Feared they would not pay debts

• Virgin Islands – 1917 purchased from Denmark for naval bases.

Answer on a separate sheet of paper.

• In what ways was imperialism different in Latin America than it was in other parts of the world?

The End!!!