Acquiring New Lands
Puerto Rico
Strategically importance:Provide military presence in the Caribbean
Protect the planned canal in Panama
Ruling Puerto RicoMilitary Rule
US occupied Puerto Rico during Spanish-American War.
• Led by General Nelson A. Miles
To protect life an property of
Ruling Puerto RicoForaker Act of 1900
Ended military rule
Established a government
Special powers of Foraker Act• President of US appoints governor
• President of US appoints upper house of the legislation
Ruling Puerto RicoWhat does it mean to live in a territory?
Insular cases of 1901US Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did not apply to in acquired territories
Congress granted citizenship to Puerto Rican in 1917
Also allowed to elect both houses of legislature
Cuba
Cuba and the United StatesAmerican Soldiers
After the war Cuba was occupied by US troopsMilitary Government Provided
• food • housing • helped farmers • set up elementary schools• helped fight yellow fever
Cuba and the United States
Jose Marti’s fear:Spanish control of Cuba would be replaced by US control
US Policy• Same officials remained in
office• People who protested policy
were imprisoned of exiled.
Cuba and the United States
1900 Cuban government wrote a constitution for an independent Cuba
Constitution didn’t specify relationship relationship btw US and Cuba
US insisted Cuba adopt Platt Amendment• US troops would not leave until they did.
1903 Cuba adopted amendment
Cuba and the United StatesPlatt Amendment
Cuban could not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territoryThe US reserved the right to intervene in CubaCuba was not to go into debtThe US could buy or lease land on the island for naval stations and refueling station
Filipinos Rebel
Filipinos believed US promised independence for the Philippines.Treaty of Paris called for American annexation of the PhilippinesFilipino rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo vowed to fight for independence.
Filipinos Rebel
Philippine-American WarFebruary 1899 revolt began
• Led by Aguinaldo
Filipinos used guerilla tacticsUS forced Filipinos to live in designated zones
• Poor sanitation, starvation, and disease killed thousands.
Death toll:• 20,000 Filipinos• 4,000 Americans
Filipinos RebelAftermath of the war
US establishes a similar government as PR
Philippines became an independent nation on July 4, 1946
Foreign Influence in China
John Hay’s Open Door NotesJohn Hay: Secretary of State
Letters to imperialist nations proposing they share trading rights with the US
• Prevented a nation from having monopoly trade
Foreign Influence in ChinaBoxer Rebellion in China
Secret group to rid china of “foreign devils”Boxers killed hundreds of missionaries and Chinese converts to Christianity1900- Troops from imperialist countries marched on capital and put down the rebellion
Foreign Influence in China
John Hay’s Open Door Notes part IIDeclared that US would safeguard for the world the principal of equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese empire.”
Birth of American Foreign Policy
open door policy reflected three beliefs of US industrial capitalist economy
growth of economy depended on exports
right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open
closing of an area to American products, citizens, or ideas threatened US survival