Chapter 27

Empire and Expansion 1890-1909

Imperialism

•  America wanted to expand •  Spurred by yellow journalism and

missionaries •  Social Darwinism •  The Influence of Sea Power Upon History by

Alfred Thayer Mahan 1890 •  James G. Blaine and the Big Sister Policy-

Pan American Conference 1889

Hawaii

•  Hawaii= long been desired by US •  1887: naval base at Pearl Harbor •  Problems arose with McKinley Tariff 1890!

bad for US sugar companies •  Annexation! Blocked by Queen Liliuokalani

and Grover Cleveland •  Would remain a “republic” for 5 years before

annexation in 1898

Cuba

•  1895: Cuban revolt against Spain •  Insurrectos used scorched earth •  US business!= $50 million + $100 million/

year in trade •  Spanish General Weyler (Butcher) •  Cleveland= anti-imperialist, anti-jingoist

The Maine

•  Yellow journalism- Hearst and Pulitzer •  1898 the Maine sent to Havana harbor •  February 15, 1898: Maine exploded in

Havana harbor •  2 investigations= Spanish and American

conclusions •  “Remember the Maine!”

The Explosion of the Maine, February 15, 1898 Encouraged and amplified by the “yellow press,” the outcry over the tragedy of the

Maine helped drive the country into an impulsive war against Spain.

War with Spain

•  2 demands met by Spain- Americans still called for war

•  Jingoes: “Wobbly Willie” •  McKinley reluctant towards war- couldn’t

deny public opinion •  April 11, 1898: war message sent to

Congress- war declared •  Teller Amendment

War with Spain

•  US had a strong steel navy (Navy Secretary John D. Long and assistant Secretary TR)

•  Commodore George Dewey! Philippines

Dewey’s Route in the Philippines, 1898

Philippines

•  US had a strong steel navy (Navy Secretary John D. Long and assistant Secretary TR)

•  Commodore George Dewey! Philippines – Dewey waited in Manila Bay harbor for US

soldiers- possible problems with Germans •  Emilio Aguinaldo •  Annexation of Hawaii- July 7, 1898!

territorial status 1900

Cuba

•  Spanish navy= Admiral Cervera at Santiago •  US strategy! led by General William R.

Shafter •  Rough Riders- TR •  17,000 man army on transports from Tampa mid

June •  Shafter landed at Guantanamo Bay! pushed

toward Santiago •  July 1st: Battle of El Caney and San Juan Hill

End of the War

•  Armistice called for August 12, 1898 •  Treaty of Paris (again!)= Cuba, Guam,

Puerto Rico •  Technicality over Philippines! Americans

unsure if they wanted it too •  Missionaries and business= pay Spain $20

million

Questions of Imperialism

•  Philippines= un-assimilatable •  Anti Imperialist League formed •  Expansionists= Philippines is an

opportunity! White Man’s Burden •  Treaty of Paris helped passed by William

Jennings Bryan! (anti- imperialism)

Questions of Imperialism

•  Puerto Rico- Foraker Act 1900 •  Insular Cases- does the Constitution follow the

flag? •  US military government in Cuba under

General Leonard Wood! eradicate yellow fever

•  Abided by Teller amendment with 2 insistences! Platt Amendment and Guantanamo Bay

Questions of Imperialism

•  Spanish-American War: 113 days, low casualties, big payout

•  “splendid little war” •  Naval power proven (Mahan) •  Growth of jingoism, healing of North-South

divide

Philippine-American War

•  Philippines angry over lack of independence •  Warfare and guerrilla warfare led by Emilio

Aguinaldo •  Reconcentration camps and torture •  US opposition from Anti-Imperialists •  Philippine Commission

Open Door Policy •  Economic imperialism in China following

Sino-Japanese War •  Secretary of State John Hay’s Open Door note

(policy) •  Boxer Rebellion 1900! international coalition

to put down •  Indemnity to be paid by China •  Extension of Open Door to include territorial

integrity

1900 Election •  Republicans= William McKinley and

Theodore Roosevelt (VP) – Platform: gold standard, “full dinner pail,”

successful war, expansion •  Democrats= William Jennings Bryan (silver

and anti-imperialism) – TR sapped many midwestern votes –  “Bryanism” could hurt prosperity= McKinley

victory 292 vs. 155 EV

TR and Big Stick Diplomacy

•  September 6, 1901: McKinley assassinated by Leon Czolgosz

•  TR: “that damned cowboy”! big personality and popular with regular people

•  Big Stick Diplomacy- “Walk softly and carry a big stick”

Panama Canal •  Spanish-American War= renewed interest in

canal – The Oregon

•  Hay Pauncefote Treaty 1901 (undid Clayton-Bulwer Treaty)

•  US bought rights to canal from French (Philippe Bunau-Varilla)

•  Colombia stood in way •  1904 election approaching!

Panama Canal •  Panama Revolution November 3, 1903!

Colombia blocked by US navy •  US recognized new Panamanian “government” 3 days later

•  Hays- Bunau-Varilla Treaty (same price, 10 mile area)

•  US- Latin American relations ↓ (Big Brother) •  TR= “mandate from civilization”

Roosevelt Corollary •  Debt ridden Latin America= nervous TR •  Roosevelt Corollary (to the Monroe

Doctrine) – Regional police force (economic) and soon

turned to military to intervene •  “Bad Neighbor Policy”

US vs. Japan •  TR wins Nobel Peace Prize for helping

negotiate the end of the Russo-Japanese War. – Treaty of Portsmouth

•  Racism and lack of citizenship for Japanese immigrants

•  The Great White Fleet 1907= 43,000 miles to show off US navy

•  Root-Takahira Agreement 1908

United States Expansion, 1857–1917