The Spanish-American war

The U.S. A Growing World PowerChapter 9

U.S. looks outside her borders

IMPERIALISM AND AMERICAThroughout the 19th century America expanded control of the continent to the Pacific OceanBy 1880, many American leaders felt the U.S. should join European nations and establish colonies overseasThus began Americas foray into Imperialism the policy in which stronger nations extend control over weaker nations

WHY IMPERIALISM?1) Desire for Military strength Mahan advised strong navy2) Thirst for new markets to spur economy & trade3) Belief in Cultural Superiority a belief that Anglo-Saxons were superior

THE U.S. ACQUIRES ALASKAIn 1867, Secretary of State William Seward arranged for the United States to buy Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 millionSome thought it was a silly idea and called it Sewards IceboxTime has shown how smart it was to buy Alaska for 2 cents an acreAlaska is rich in timber, minerals and oil

Alaska

U.S. TAKES HAWAIIHawaii had been economically important to Americans for centuriesTo avoid import taxes (tariffs), sugar growers pleaded for annexationThe U.S. knew the value of the Islands they had built a naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1887 Led by Sanford Dole, American annexed Hawaii in 1898 and it formally became a state in 1959

The Spanish-American War9CAUSESMonroe DoctrineKeep European influences out of our hemisphereAmerican ImperialismDesire for an American Empire (Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines)Yellow JournalismSensationalized media used specifically to instigate pro-American feelings and stir up support for warProblems in CubaCubans were dissatisfied with Spain

Fought Ten Years' War (1868-1878)Refused to grant self-government

In 1895 a second conflict broke outSpain sent 200,000 troops to Cuba

U.S. was outraged by reports from CubaThere were stories that Spain was leveling homes, factories, and fieldsU.S. had economic interests in Cuba

President Cleveland was against going to warIf Congress approved war, he vowed to never send the military to Cuba

11Yellow Journalism

U.S. newspapers sensationalized the events taking place in CubaKnown as "yellow journalism

Newspaper tycoons Hearst( New York Journal) and Pulitzer( New York World) were in a circulation warThey needed to sell newspapers! Were willing to make up stories

Hearst sent artists to Cuba to paint and draw the atrocitiesOne reported to Hearst that the rumors and scale of the conflict were overblownHearst replied "You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war.

12The Warship Maine Was Split In Two By An Enemy's Secret Infernal Machine!The U.S. sent the USS Maine to Cuba

Hearst intercepts personal letter from the ambassador from Spain to his friend.It spoke rudely of President McKinleyHearst published the letter

The letter outraged Americans and tensions grow between US and Spain

Then in February 1898 the Maine explodes260 out of 350 sailors and officers die

The Maine destruction created an uproarThe yellow press exploited the storyAnti-Spanish sentiments grew

13Remember the Maine!!..???

WAR!The yellow press continued feeding the public's appetite for anti-Spanish news

War Hawks like Theodore Roosevelt criticized McKinley for being weak

McKinley finally submits to cries for warIn April1898 the U.S. declared warU.S. public celebrated

Europe saw the war as a land-grabEffort by America to assume control of Cuba from Spain

Congress passed the Teller Amendment Promised not to annex CubaUS claimed to be fighting the war to liberate an oppressed people and promote justice in the world

15Rough Riders and San Juan HillU.S. had no experience in the tropicsArmy arrived with wool clothingBetter equipped were the "Rough RidersMost famous was Theodore RooseveltResigned his post in the Navy to fightRoosevelt had no military experienceBattle of San Juan Hill was fought in JulyThe Rough Riders stormed the hillSuffered 3x as many loses as SpainIn the end they claimed victoryWith defeats in Cuba and the Philippines Spain asked for peace

16Rise of Theodore RooseveltThe Battle of San Juan Hill launched Theodore Roosevelt into national fame

Roosevelt returned to the United States a national hero

He was elected governor of New York later in the year

He then became Vice President in the general election two years later

17War in the Philippines andthe Caribbean

Dewey and the PhilippinesTheodore Roosevelt , the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, thought the US should take a bigger role in world affairsHe wanted more than a war in Cuba

SoRoosevelt used his authority to cable George Dewey the officer in command of the U.S. fleet in Hong Kong harborRoosevelt told Dewey that if the U.S. went to war he was to attack the Spanish fleet in the PhilippinesRoosevelt gave the order without his bosses knowledge

When the U.S. declared war Dewey sailed into Manila harbor

Dewey's forces quickly defeated the Spanish fleetNot a single U.S. sailor died

19Battle of Manila Bay

American Imperialism

Americans were excited by the victory

But Dewey had no troops, and without troops, you cant invadeDewey had to wait months for troops

Other fleets sailed near Manila, especially German and British fleetsGerman fleet harassed the U.S.British wanted to offset German intimidation and foster better relations between Britain and America

War in the Philippines was seen as a way to get a new set of Pacific islands (Hawaii)U.S. annexed Hawaii in July 1898

21 A Filipino rebellion against the Spanish had been in progress when Dewey landed in Manila.Dewey used the rebels, led by Emilio Aguinaldo to help him defeat the Spanish on land

Results of WarEnded Spains colonial EmpireThe U.S. emerged as a world power and a military powerU.S. established rule in the Philippines5400 American soldiers died400 in battleAnd the rest from disease and food poisoning

Treaty of Paris

The terms of the peace agreement:Cuba would become independentThe U.S. would get GuamThe U.S. would get Puerto RicoThe Philippines??U.S. refused to give the islands backSpain, however, had a complaintBy the time U.S. ground forces arrived the armistice was signedThe US should have stopped fightingSpain saidPhilippines didn't countAmerican negotiators offered Spain $20 million dollars and they accepted

In December 1898, the US and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris

24Emilio Aguinaldo

The PhilippinesDebate on annexation of the PhilippinesFor annexation: Filipinos were not ready for self-government and if the U.S. did not help some other European country would.Against annexation: region was not vital to U.S. interests and was against principles of democracy

U.S. maintained military presence in the PhilippinesTensions intensified with U.S. troops and Filipino rebelsWar with Filipino rebels lasted more that 2 years very bloodyFilipino troops used guerrilla warfare to battle the U.S.

Results of Filipino insurrection200,000-600,000 Filipinos died (most b/c of disease and famine)Fewer than 5,000 U.S. soldiers died.Revolt was subdued in 1901 when rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo, swore allegiance to the U.S. Philippines gained independence from the U.S. in 1946 (July 4)The U.S. in AsiaOpium weakens China

US involvement in China

FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN CHINAChina was a vast potential market for American productsWeakened by war and foreign intervention, many European countries had colonized in ChinaIn 1889, John Hay, U.S. Secretary of State, issued the Open Door Policy which outlined his plan for free trade among nations in China

Foreign nations were opening the door to Chinas tradeBOXER REBELLION

European nations dominated Chinas citiesResentment arose in the form of secret societies determined to rid China of these foreign devilsThe Boxers were a secret group that rioted in 1900, killing and vandalizing all things foreignForeign Troops were called in to put down this Boxer Rebellion American Interests in ChinaAfter the Boxer Rebellion, John Hay again issued a series of Open Door PoliciesThese policies reflected American beliefs in the importance of exports, the right of America to intervene to keep foreign markets open, and the belief that Americas survival depended on access to foreign markets