Warm-up for 18-1
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Video- U.S. Expansion
How might a person behave when he or she feels
superior to others? How might countries act in a
similar fashion?
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Imperialism- policy in
which stronger nations
extend their economic,
political, or military
control over weaker
territories
(European nations had been
est. colonies for centuries)
belief in manifest destiny
& 3 factors fueled
American imperialism
1. Desire for military strength
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U.S. builds modern battleships (Maine- 1889)
Admiral Alfred Mahan- urged build up to compete w/ other
nations
2. Thirst for new markets
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foreign trade viewed as solution to overproduction & related
problems of unemployment & economic depression
3. Belief in cultural superiority
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some believed in Social Darwinism (free market competition) &
Anglo-Saxon superiority
responsibility to spread Christianity & civilization
U.S. acquires Alaska in 1867
 William Sewardarranged sale from
Russians for $7.2 million
(2 cents an acre)
 called “Seward’s Icebox”
or “Seward’s Folly” land
was rich in resources
Cartoon Depicting "Andy"
Johnson and "Billy" Seward
Trying to Sell Alaska Ice
Block to Congress
U.S. takes Hawaii
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had been used by merchants
since the late 1700’s on voyages
to China
Pearl Harbor- port used as a
naval base by the U.S. navy
since 1887
McKinley Tariff (R) (1890)
eliminated duty-free status of
planters (sugar)
Queen Liliuokalani- proposed
removing property
qualifications for voting
business groups w/ military
help overthrew the queen
Sanford B. Dole- (American
planter) headed government
1898 Hawaii becomes a
territory, 1959 the 50th state
Warm-up for 18-2
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Have you ever been shocked or angered by
something you read or heard? How did it make
you want to act? Did you consider whether
what you had heard was true or not?
Cubans Rebel Against Spain
 Cuba lies only 90 miles S of
Florida (obvious U.S. interest)
 Cubans rebelled in 1868 & 1878
gaining U.S. sympathy
 Jose Marti- Cuban journalist
organized revolution in 1895 to
achieve Cuba Libre! (a free
Cuba)
 Valeriano Weyler- Spanish
general sent to restore order
 herded thousands into
concentration camps (many
died)
"There is still alive the only living witness, a
young girl of eighteen years, whom we found
seemingly lifeless on the ground; on her righthand side was the body of a young mother, cold
and rigid, but with her young child still alive
clinging to her dead breast; on her left-hand side
was also the corpse of a dead woman holding
her son in a dead embrace; a littler farther on a
poor, dying woman having in her arms a
daughter of fourteen, crazy with pain, who after
five or six days died in spite of care she
received,"
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actions led to a war of newspaper tycoons William Hearst & Joseph
Pulitzer
yellow journalism- exaggerating the news to lure & enrage readers
Spain recalled Weyler & offered limited self-govt. (1897)
de Lome letter (1898) - (Enrique de Lome) Spanish minister who wrote
letter criticizing Pres. McKinley- angers Americans
USS Maine- exploded in the harbor of Havana killing 260 (Feb. 1898)
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rallying cry for war “Remember the Maine”
Spain blamed for the explosion & Congress declared war April 20th
YELLOW JOURNALISM
“No man’s life, no man’s property is safe (in Cuba).
American citizens are imprisoned or slain without
cause. American property is destroyed on all
sides…Wounded soldiers can be found begging in the
streets of Havana… The horrors of a barbarous
struggle for the extermination of the native population
are witnessed in all parts of the country. Blood on the
roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps,
blood, blood, blood!... Is there no nation wise enough,
brave enough to aid this blood-smitten land?”
New York World 1896
War with Spain
 1st battle to the surprise of the Spanish
was in the Philippines
 George Dewey-
Commodore of U.S. fleet attacked Spanish
at Manila
 destroying every ship he landed U.S. troops
& conquered the island in 2 months
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Caribbean campaign began
w/ a naval blockade
U.S. army was small,
inexperienced, ill-prepared
but landed in Cuba in June 98’
Rough Riders- volunteer
cavalry led by Theodore
Roosevelt
infantry included 4 African
American regiments
San Juan Hill- strategically
important battle that gave
great fame to Teddy
Roosevelt (played minor role in
attack) & led to the destruction
of the retreating Spanish fleet
U.S. next invaded Puerto Rico
Observation
balloon being
inflated at the
battle of San
Juan Hill.
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“A Splendid Little War” Secretary of State John Hay
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*Treaty of Paris (Dec. 1898)
(15 week war April- August 1898-less than 350 combat deaths)
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Spain freed Cuba & gave the islands of Guam & Puerto Rico
to the U.S.
Spain sold the Philippines for $20 million
(debate over the annexation of the Philippines ensued)
argument-violated Declaration of Independence by denying
self-government
Philippines annexed in 1899 – gained independence in 1946
Warm-up for 18-3
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Video- Boxer Rebellion
How might you try to convince your parents to
give you greater independence? How might
colonial populations convince the United States to
grant them greater freedom and self-government?
Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rico originally controlled by the U.S. military
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strategically important (2)
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1. maintaining presence in the Caribbean
2. protecting a future canal
Foracker Act- 1900- ended military rule & set up civil govt.
1917- Puerto Ricans could elect both houses of their legislature & became
U.S. citizens
(today governor is also elected by people- President originally appointed)
American Occupation in Cuba
 Teller Amendment- stated the
U.S. had no intention to take over
Cuba
 the same officials who had
served Spain remained in office
 protestors were imprisoned or
exiled
 U.S. military provided food,
clothing, medicine, built
schools, & eliminated yellow
fever
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The yellow fever virus is transmitted
by the bite of female mosquitoes and
is found in South America and
Africa. The only known hosts of the
virus are primates and several
species of mosquito. The origin of the
disease is most likely to be Africa,
from where it was introduced to
South America through the slave
trade in the 16th century
American Occupation in Cuba cont.
 Platt Amendment-(1901) provisions the U.S. insisted Cuba
add to its constitution
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*allowed for the buying or leasing of land for naval stations
Cuba could not go into debt, gave U.S. right to intervene, no treaties
that limited independence
protectorate- country whose affairs are partially controlled
by a stronger power (Cuba became a U.S. protectorate)
political presence important for American businesses &
investors
Filipinos Rebel
 Emilio Aguinaldo- rebel
leader angered by the
annexation of the Philippines
 used guerrilla tactics against
U.S.
 U.S. responded by forcing
people into designated living
zones
thousands died as a result of poor
conditions
 some African-American soldiers
desert to the Filipino side
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rebellion put down after 3 yrs.
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became independent republic in 1946
God Almighty knows how unjust is the war which the Imperial arms have provoked and
are maintaining against our unfortunate country! If the honest American patriots could
understand the sad truth of this declaration, we are sure they would, without the least
delay, stop this unspeakable horror.
When we protested against this iniquitous ingratitude, then the guns of the United States
were turned upon us; we were denounced as traitors and rebels; you destroyed the
homes to which you had been welcomed as honored guests, killing thousands of those
who had been your allies, mutilating our old men, our women and our children, and
watering with blood and strewing with ruins the beautiful soil of our Fatherland.
… the Spanish government, whose despotic cruelty American Imperialism now imitates,
and in some respects surpasses, denied to us many of the liberties which you were
already enjoying when, under pretext of oppression, you revolted against British
domination.
Why do the Imperialists wish to subjugate us? What do they intend to do with us? Do
they expect us to surrender -- to yield our inalienable rights, our homes, our properties,
our lives, our future destinies, to the absolute control of the United States? What would
you do with our nine millions of people? Would you permit us to take part in your
elections? Would you concede to us the privilege of sending Senators and Representatives
to your Congress? Would you allow us to erect one or more federal states? Or, would you
tax us without representation? Would you change your tariff laws so as to admit our
products free of duty and in competition with the products of our own soil?
China
 John Hay- U.S. Secretary of State- issued Open Door Notes
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letters to imperialist nations asking countries to share trading rights
w/ U.S. in China (no monopolies)
Boxer Rebellion- (1900) Chinese secret society failed attempt
to free their country from Western influence
open door policy reflects 3 beliefs about U.S. economy
1. growth of economy depended on exports
2. U.S. could intervene abroad to keep markets open
3. closing an area to U.S. products threatened U.S. survival
Impact of Imperialism
 under President McKinley, the U.S. had gained an empire
 some believed imperialism went against American values
 Anti-Imperialist League formed w/ many prominent
members
Warm-up for 18-4
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Video – Building the Panama Canal
How would you resolve a conflict between two
friends? How might the United States try to
resolve a conflict between two countries?
Roosevelt increases
American influence in the
world
 VP Teddy Roosevelt
becomes the 26th
President after
McKinley is
assassinated
 Roosevelt mediates a
settlement in a war
between Russia &
Japan
 Treaty of Portsmouth
(NH) – won him a 1906
Nobel Peace Prize
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Roosevelt pushes for a canal cutting across Central America
2 routes identified by engineers
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1st- through Nicaragua, which posed fewer obstacles
2nd- crossed Panama, shorter, but filled w/ mts. & swamps
U.S. buys French owned route through Panama for $40 million
Panamanians (backed by the U.S.) rebelled against Columbia
(ruled Panama)
U.S. agrees to pay flat fee + yearly rent & work began on the
Panama Canal 04’
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one of the greatest
engineering feats of all time
thousands died from
accidents or disease (~5,600)
canal opened in 1914
Panama gained control in
1999
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locks are used to raise and lower ships a total of 170
feet during the 51 mile trip through the canal
lock chambers are 1,000 feet long, 110 feet wide, and
41 feet deep
total construction costs were about $380 million
which is ~$8.6 billion today
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Roosevelt based Latin
American policy on West
African proverb
“Speak softly and carry a
big stick”
*Roosevelt Corollary
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1904 extension of the
Monroe Doctrine
U.S. claimed the right to
protect its economic
interests w/ military
intervention in the affairs of
W hemisphere nations
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U.S. would exercise power in
the region on many occasions
dollar diplomacy- tactic used
to keep European powers out
of the W hemisphere
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U.S. used economic power to
back loans made by other
countries
Wilson’s Missionary
Diplomacy
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U.S. had a moral obligation to
deny recognition to oppressive,
undemocratic, or hostile
governments in Latin America
Mexico Revolution- 1911
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several military dictators & failed govt.’s unable to deliver democratic reforms
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Wilson (opposes regime) uses bogus incident to invade Veracruz -1914
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regime soon collapsed & a new govt. took power
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Francisco “Pancho” Villa & Emiliana Zapata
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rebels who opposed new govt.
undermined new govt. relationship w/ U.S.
killed 18 American engineers & raided New Mexico killing 17
John J. Pershing- U.S. general ordered to invade & capture Villa
deaths result on both sides as troops clashed (Villa not captured)
U.S. eventually recalls Pershing w/ war likely in Europe (WWI)
*U.S. intervention in Mexico proved imperialist attitudes of Americans*
U.S. achieved foreign
policy goals in the
early 20th century (3)
1. expanded access to
foreign markets
2. built a modern navy to
protect interests abroad
3. exercised international
police power to ensure
dominance in Latin
America