Chapter 19
The Quest for
Empire, 1865–
1914
I. Imperial Dreams
Foreign Policy Elite
 Small, cosmopolitan group:
 shape foreign policy & economy
 Prosperity and security require:
 global activity
 expansion overseas
 Foreign trade and investments = profit
 Relieve farm/factory overproduction:
 1890s depression
Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA)
Figure 19-1 p567
I. Imperial Dreams (cont’d.)
Race Thinking and Male Ethos
Many intertwined ideas encourage empire:
 American exceptionalism, nationalism
 capitalism, social Darwinism
 prejudice
Imperialists:
 racial hierarchy (Anglo-Saxons at top)
 overseas action = “manly”
 foreign peoples = submissive females
 rationalize US control
I. Imperial Dreams (cont’d.)
The “Civilizing Impulse”
Imperialists mix self-interest and idealism:
 empire good for USA
 and for foreign peoples
“Uplifted” natives will adopt US:
 economy
 culture
 politics
p571
II. Ambitions and Strategies
Seward’s Quest
for Empire
Seeks large empire,
but not by war
Trade = gravitation to
USA
1867: buys AK;
claims Midway Islands
II. Ambitions and Strategies
(cont’d.)
International Communications
 Globe shrink because of:
 telegraph links (Europe-Asia-Latin America)
 Negotiate as equal with Europe
 Samoa:
 US-English-German competition
Alfred T. Mahan
II. Ambitions and Strategies
(cont’d.)
Alfred T. Mahan and Navalism
 “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History”
 Major proponent of:
 imperial navy to protect foreign trade
 navy needs foreign bases
 linkage of trade-navy-colonies shape other
imperialists (T. Roosevelt, HC Lodge)
1880s: steel and steam navy start
III. Crises in the 1890s: Hawaii,
Venezuela, and Cuba
Annexation of Hawaii
To missionaries, businessmen, and navy:
 base for profit and expansion
By 1890s, white elite:
 dominate economy
 undermine native government
1890 McKinley Tariff hurt sugar exports
Elite want USA to annex
Coup (’93) with help (US diplomats/navy)
McKinley maneuvers annexation (1898)
III. Crises in the 1890s: Hawaii,
Venezuela, and Cuba (cont’d.)
Revolution in Cuba
 Cubans want freedom from Spain: “Cuba Libre”
 US investments dominate Cuba (sugar):
 most trade with USA, esp. FL
 1894 tariff create economic crisis
 Jose Marti launches guerrilla war:
 much destruction of US property
 weaken Spain
 Americans sympathize with rebels
USS Maine & Yellow Journalism
III. Crises in the 1890s: Hawaii,
Venezuela, and Cuba (cont’d.)
Sinking of the Maine
McKinley supports empire:
 order Maine to Havana to show US interest
Explosion (Feb., 1898) increase pressure to
intervene
McKinley’s War Decision
 Motives:
 humanitarian
 secure property/trade
 opportunity for expansion/empire
p574
IV. The Spanish-American War
and the Debate Over Empire
Motives for War
 Nationalism and sensationalism also explain
entry
 Only 379 of 5,462 US deaths from combat
 Most die from yellow fever/typhoid in USA
Dewey in the Philippines
 1st victory in Philippines via new navy:
 imperialists see islands as key to expansion in
Pacific/Asia
 Spain, already weak, loses quickly
IV. The Spanish-American War and
the Debate Over Empire (cont’d.)
Treaty of Paris
Cuba gains independence
Teller Amendment:
 blocks annexation
USA get Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines
Also annexes Hawaii, Wake Island, Samoa
Gains colonies/bases throughout Pacific
Senate debates treaty and empire (1899)
IV. The Spanish-American War and
the Debate Over Empire (cont’d.)
Anti-Imperialist Arguments
Methods of empire:
 formal (annexation)
 informal (economic control)
Anti-Imperialists focus on formal
Empire violates principles
Increases desire for future war
Delays reform at home
Some use racism
Unions fear competition
Never form unified group:
 divided by domestic issues
IV. The Spanish-American War and
the Debate Over Empire (cont’d.)
Imperialist Arguments
Philippines will boost trade with China
Fear: if USA not take islands:
 competitors (Germany, Japan) will
“White man’s burden” (Kipling)
McKinley praises empire (1900 reelection)
Emilio Aguinaldo
V. Asian Encounters: War in the
Philippines, Diplomacy in China
Philippine Insurrection and Pacification
Nationalists (Aguinaldo) feel betrayed:
 continue fight for independence
Vicious war develops:
 crushes most resistance by 1902
 war continues in south
V. Asian Encounters: War in the
Philippines, Diplomacy in China (cont’d.)
China and the Open Door Policy
Imperialist powers (Europe/Japan) carve weak
China into “spheres of influence”
US missionaries and businessmen:
 fear being shut out
 lobby US Government
• Lack power to make Europe/Japan stop
McKinley and Hay proclaim goals in China:
 1899 “Open Door Note” calls for equal trade
opportunity
Map 19-1 p580
VI. TR’s World
 Adamant imperialist
 Relish:
 power
 violence
 Racist
 Ethnocentric
Presidential Authority
 Realize limits to US
power
 Centralize policy-making
in White House
VI. TR’s World (cont’d.)
Cuba and the Platt Amendment
 USA = dominate economic/military power:
 USA or US corporations (United Fruit) able to
manipulate governments
 Dominate Cuba with Platt Amendment, 1903:
 control Cuban foreign policy
 authorize US military intervention
VI. TR’s World (cont’d.)
Panama Canal
TR foment revolution in Panama:
 dependent nation because US control canal
Canal (1914) expand US economy/power
Roosevelt Corollary
Roosevelt Corollary (1904):
 “police power”
p583
TR’s World (cont’d.)
Anglo-American Rapprochement
because of US actions in Latin America,
Europeans accept US hegemony there
USA follow traditional non-involvement in Europe
Anglo-American rapprochement develop:
 trade increases
 fears Germany
Like others, British debate expansion of US
culture around globe