Motivations for Imperialism, Reasons for Expansion, Alaska & Hawaii (1)
AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM
• America desires overseas colonies
•
Imperialism: strong nations have economic, political, military
control over weaker territories (control resources)
THREE REASONS FOR AMERICAN EXPANSION
1. Desire for military strength
Admiral Mahan- urged govt. to build naval power
Result: 9 steel-head cruisers (1883-1890)
Battleships: Maine, Oregon
2. Thirst for new markets
Technology produced more than Americans could consume
Solution? Foreign trade
3. Belief in cultural superiority
Social Darwinism + racial superiority = responsibility to spread
Christianity and “civilization” to the world’s “inferior peoples”
It was felt as a duty
ACQUISITION OF ALASKA
William Seward – Secretary of State under Pres. Lincoln & Johnson
convinces U.S. to purchase Alaska
– Price : $7.2 million (2 cents per acre)
– Opponents – “Seward’s Icebox” or “Folly”
– Proved to be good purchase (timber, oil, etc.)
Acquisition of Hawaii
• Economic importance
– Sugar – ¾ islands plantations – Amer. owned
– Laborers imported, outnumbered natives 3 to 1
– 1875 – Duty free import of Hawaiian sugar = 9 times
production
– 1887 – Pearl Harbor built, great refueling station
–
–
–
Summary:
McKinley Tariff – eliminated duty-free status
Now there’s competition
Amer. planters called for annex., so not to pay duty
1891 – Queen Liliuokalani wanted voting power back to
ordinary Hawaiians (only wealthy landowners could vote)
Motivations for Imperialism, Reasons for Expansion, Alaska & Hawaii (2)
Amer. businesses revolt
Planters took control & established temp. govt. with Sanford Dole –
as President
–
•
•
•
Pres. Cleveland refused to take over unless majority of
Hawaiians wanted that
– 1897- Pres. McKinley elected, favored annex.
– 1898- Hawaii becomes U.S. territory
Economic importance
– Sugar
Planters
– Annexation = no duties on Hawaiian sugar to the US
Vs.
Native Hawaiians
–
Summary:
Want power to vote = remain independent country
Spanish American War & the Treaty of Paris (1)
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
• Cubans rebel against Spain
– Abolished slavery
– U.S. interest= sugar
– 1894 tariff = collapse of Cuban economy
Yellow Journalism
• Stories of abuse spread quickly
• Rival newspapers exaggerate brutality to attract readers
• Hearst & Pulitzer
• Power of the Press
Spanish American War
•
•
1895- 2nd rebellion for Cuban independence
Jose Martí (led Cuba fight for independence)
•
Invited US to join cause (mixed American opinions)
Spanish army sent to Cuba
• General Valeriano Weyler
– Concentration camps (hunger, disease)
Presidents response
• Pres. McKinley worked for peaceful settlement
– Result: Cuba given limited self-govt.
• 1895 – Second rebellion for Cuban independence
Two events anger U.S.
• De Lôme Letter
– Spanish letter written criticizing McKinley for being weak
• U.S.S. Maine exploded in Cuba – Feb.15, 1898
– Cause unknown (?)
– Newspapers blame Spain
– Americans cry for war
U.S. goes to war with Spain – April 20, 1898
•
•
•
•
Summary:
First battle: Philippines (Spanish colony for 300 yrs.)
Commander George Dewey
2 mo. Fighting, destroyed Spanish fleet
Spanish surrender – August
Spanish American War & the Treaty of Paris (2)
Cuban war front
• U.S. blocked Santiago harbor
– Spanish ships couldn’t leave
– American troops land – June, 1898
Rough Riders
• Volunteer soldiers led by Teddy Roosevelt
• Won battle of San Juan Hill
• American newspapers make Roosevelt a hero
End of War
•
Spanish ships tried to leave harbor
– They are destroyed
– Led to surrender on July 25th
Treaty of Paris
•
•
•
Summary:
Granted Cuba independence
Spain gave Puerto Rico & Guam to U.S.
U.S. pays $20 mill for Philippines
America rules an empire (1)
Spanish-American War
Cubans and Filipinos want independence
Why do we want them?
Puerto Rico- protection for canal
Cuba- sugar & other business interests
Philippines- gateway to Asia, especially China
China- customers
Puerto Rico
Military rule during Spanish American War
Debate: Independence or statehood?
Results: Foraker Act:
Civilian government appointed by US President
Today: People from Puerto Rico are US citizens but can’t vote in
Presidential elections. Do vote for their own government now
Ruling Puerto Rico
• Amer. Forces land there – July, l898 to protect Puerto Ricans
• U.S. military officials insult them, treat them as children, limiting
freedoms
• Puerto Ricans resent this
Foraker Act - 1900
• Ended military rule in Puerto Rico
• Set up civil govt.
• U.S. kept strict control over people & govt.
• 1917 – U.S. made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens
Need exports
Need open foreign markets
Promote Americanization
Cuba
Independent with US military presence
Platt Amendment- makes Cuba a US protectorate
No foreign power control Cuba
US can intervene in Cuba
Cuba can’t go into debt
US has a premenant naval station in Cuba
Summary:
America rules an empire (2)
Cuba & the U.S.
•
Cuba now independent, but U.S. army remains 4 yrs.
1900 – new Cuban constitution
Platt Amendment :
Limited Cuban rights in dealing w/ other countries
Gave U.S. special privileges – right to intervene to preserve
order
Cuba can’t go into debt
US can buy land for naval base
Cuba becomes U.S. protectorate:
A country that is partially controlled by a stronger power.
•
•
U.S. continued economic interest in Cuba
Philippines
Revolt against US rule
Following revolt similar to Puerto Rico
Philippines & US
• “The first Vietnam” 1899-1902
– 4,000 Americans die
– Cost $400 million
Lasted longer & cost more (lives & $) than Spanish American War
China
•
“Open Door Policy”
US needs place to export goods
US has right to intervene to keep markets open
US needs to spread its ideals for survival
Effects of the Open Door?
– No single nation has a monopoly
–
–
Angers foreign nations
Creates division at home
Boxer Rebellion
Summary:
American Diplomacy: Big Stick, Dollar & Missionary
AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER
1901: Roosevelt becomes President – McKinley assassinated
Diplomacy: Conducting
Relations between nations
Types of Diplomacy: Big Stick, Dollar & Missionary
Monroe Doctrine 1823 demanded Europe stay out of Latin America
Rossevelt Corollary (1904) adds to the Monroe Doctrine:
US would use force to protect economic interests in Latin America
“Big Stick” diplomacy (T. Roosevelt)
Panama Canal
• Panama – province of Columbia
– Columbians did not agree to canal
– U.S. helps Panama rebel against Columbia
Panama earned independence
Building a canal- Panama vs. Nicaragua
Damages US & Latin American relations
• U.S. gets permission to build canal
– Took 10 yrs, 43,000 workers
– Opened for business- Aug.14, 1914
– U.S. relations with Latin American countries damaged by
takeover of Panama
Dollar Diplomacy (Taft)
•
•
•
Government guarantees private loans to foreign countries
Nicaragua Rebellion
1911 – Taft arranged U.S. banks to loan Nicaragua money
in exchange U.S. bankers control of Nic. Railroads and banks
Nicaraguans rebelled
2000 U.S. marines sent to put down revolt
“Dollar Diplomacy” term used by those who did not like this type of
intervention
US uses Money to influence foreign nations to do what we want
Moral Diplomacy (Wilson)
Democracy is the only government we recognize
Woodrow Wilson’s Missionary or Moral Diplomacy
• Took “moral” tone towards Latin American relations
“missionary diplomacy” – U.S. could not recognize oppressive,
undemocratic govts. opposed to U.S. business interest
• Result: put pressure on other govts. to have democracies
Summary:
Mexican Revolution - 1910
• Peasants/workers rebel against dictator
• Two new govts. followed
– One headed by Gen. Victoriano Huerta
Pres. Wilson refused to recognize Huerta’s “govt. of butchers
• U.S. troops sent
• New leader: Carranza
• Wilson withdraws troops
Further unrest in Mexico
•
•
Francisco “Pancho” Villa & Emiliano Zapata led rebels in revolt
against Carranza
– Villa’s followers killed some Americans
– U.S. wanted to capture Villa
General Pershing sent to Mexico with 15,000 soldiers
Stationed 150,000 National Guardsmen along border
(largest concentration of forces since Civil War)
– Mexicans angry over invasion
1916 – U.S. troops fought with Carranza’s army (loss of lives on
on both sides)
• Both sides back down
• 1917 Wilson withdraws troops
Mexico adopts Constitution
• Regained control of oil and minerals
• Placed strict regulations on foreign investors
• Carranza ruled oppressively till 1920
• New president, Obregon,a moderate
• Ended civil war, began reforms
Early 20th Century Foreign Policy
•
•
•
Summary:
Builds modern navy
Used international police to ensure dominance in Latin America
Expanded access to foreign markets
Anti-Imperialism vs. Pro-Imperialism
Who is for Imperialism?
Industrialits and other business interests
Who is against Imperialism?
Labor, Carnegie, African Americans
Anti-Imperialist League
• Members: Pres. Cleveland, Carnegie, Jane Addams, Mark Twain,
others
• among
All agreed:
wrong to rule other people without their consent