America’s Empire

1880-1916

America Wants to Expand

• Imperialism: When stronger nations extend economic, political, or military control over weaker ones.

• Many “great” nations already had empires … and Americans wanted one.

American Factors

• Desire for military strength

• Thirst for new markets

• Belief in cultural superiority

A Necessary Man

• 1890: ADM Alfred Mahan writes “The Influence of Sea Power upon History”

• Says every great nation had a navy to protect and project power.

What is Naval Power?

• Protection: Navy can PROTECT ports, shipping, territory, etc.

• Projection: Navy can also PROJECT power outward

– Navy ships are critical in invasions, cutting off enemy ports, transporting troops & supplies

U.S. responds to Mahan

• 1890: Navy constructs 11 lg. ships

• US opens bases in Hawaii, Cuba; studies canal to connect the oceans

• ! Let’s see the Google Earth on it !

USS MAINE: Greatest of the New Battleships

Act 1: U.S. “liberates” Hawaii

• 1800s: U.S. planters move to Kingdom of Hawa’ii to grow sugar & pineapples.

• Americans buy up 75% of the land

• #1 market: U.S.

• Want to join U.S. to avoid tariffs

• 1887: U.S. opens base at Pearl Harbor

• 1891: Queen demands native rights.

• US forces storm palace, seize queen, set up gov’t led by Sanford Dole

• 1898: US Congress votes to ‘annex’ Hawaii. Hawaiians never got a vote!

Queen Lil

Act 2: Spanish-American War

* From 1500s on, Cuba is a Spanish colony

• Cuban people want independence• 1868: 10-year uprising begins.

Spanish put it down brutally. Greatly irritates the Cubans!

Beginnings of Conflict

• 1895: journalist Jose Marti, exiled to NYC, returns to lead War of Independence.

• US opinion split: Some support Marti, Big Biz wants status quo

• 1896: Spain sends Gen. Weyler to quell the rebellion

Gen. Valeriano Weyler

Journalism’s Role

• NY writers loved Marti anyway

• NY publishers fighting for ads. Run stories of crime, drama, sex, & biased politics to make news more exciting.

• 1896: send reporters down

• ? Do you think they told the truth of what they saw?

• Hearst’s artist says war unlikely. Hearst: “You supply the pictures, I’ll supply the war!”

• Pres. McKinley tries to avoid war; Spanish pull Weyler out, end slavery, offer self-government.

NY Journal: Dead Cuban women

NY World: Illegal search!

An ‘Accidental’ War

• DeLome letter: Spanish official calls McKinley weak. 2/8/98

• ! America acts like an idiot in the cafeteria - “Who you callin’ weak?”

• USS MAINE explodes 2/15/98. Newspapers claim Spain did it.

• Reality: Coal bunker exploded

War Begins

• With this coverage, no way out for McKinley! Declares war, 4/20/98

• 4/30: US fleet attacks Philippines. In 3 hrs, Spanish armada sunk

• 6/22: Cuba invaded.• 7/1: Battle of San Juan Hill captures high

ground for US forces. ?Who led?• 7/3: Cuba conquered. For good measure,

we also invade Puerto Rico

Treaty of Paris

• Cuba gets ‘independence,’ but US business interests remain in charge

• US gets to keep Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam, and $$$

• Many disagree with it: Imperialist, we have problems at home, against the Declaration, new immigrants, etc.

• Sets us up for a whole new batch of problems

Act 3: Philippines Insurrection

• After Sp. Am War, Filipinos demand independence

• Insurgents attack “peacekeepers”

• US in an unwinnable struggle

• 4 years, 20K Filipinos, 4K US, $400M

• Results:

– U.S. gradually withdraws troops

– Declare “victory”

– Filipino independence: 7/4/1946 - that’s 48 years later!!!

Act 4: Boxer Rebellion

• US goal in Pacific: Open China to trade

• Euros already had stake claims called “Spheres of Influence”

• 1899: US proposes “Open Door Policy,” claiming China should be open to all.

• Chinese resented white power over economy. Organize “Society of Harmonious Fists” to resist.

• Aug. 1900: US & Int’l forces invade Beijing to put down rebellion

• China now open as new market for US goods

Act 5: The Panama Canal

• Since 1890, Navy looked @ way to cut through C. America

• Panama was part of Colombia. • US pays ‘rebels’ to ‘declare

independence’ from Colombia in 1903• US begins work on canal in 1904• 10 yrs & 5,600 deaths later, canal

opens. ‘Canal Zone’ is US prop. til ‘00

My Little Panama Trip: Meet Connie!

Approaching Gatun

Towing crane

Connie in the locks

Gatun Lockkeepers’ Station

The picture I remember

• Don’t take it for granted!!!