Expansionist Stirrings and War with Spain, 1878-1901
Roots of Expansionist Sentiment
In the late 19th century the U.S.A. showed heightened interest in overseas empire
The example of European nations and Japan, which were seizing colonies in Asia and Africa, stimulated U.S. expansionism
During the depression of 1893-1897, American businessmen and politicians argued that the U.S.A. must capture overseas markets to maintain prosperity
Roots of Expansionist Sentiment
Republican politicians claimed that to be a great power the U.S. must:
build up its navy obtain far-flung colonies
to establish fueling stations and bases
Show its influence in the world as a superior county
Inspired by:
Alfred T. Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power upon History
Social Darwinist ideas
Roots of Expansionist Sentiment
Leading Republicans were:
Theodore Roosevelt
Henry Cabot Lodge
John Hay
Roots of Expansionist Sentiment
Our Country
1885 Josiah Strong Combined religion and Social
Darwinism racism Told Americans that, as members of the
superior Anglo-Saxon race, they were destined to spread Christianity and civilization to “inferior” people “White Man’s Burden”
Pacific Expansion
Expansionist enthusiasm led the United States to overtake some Pacific Islands:
Samoan Island U.S. established a joint protectorate with Germany and
Great Britain
Hawaii American sugar plantation owners overthrew the govt. of
Queen Liliuokalani Asked U.S. to take over the island President Cleveland, who was not an expansionist,
declined to do so President McKinley requested Congress to annex Hawaii 1898
Crisis over Cuba
The Cubans revolted against Spanish rule in 1895
The Spanish authorities brutally attempted to suppress the rebellion
Public opinion in the U.S. turned against the Spanish because of yellow-journalism
William Randolph Hearst=Journal Joseph Pulitzer=World Both featured daily accounts of Spanish atrocities
Crisis over Cuba President McKinley did not want to intervene in Cuba
He did send the battleship Maine to Havana to protect the lives and property of Americans on Cuba
On Feb. 15, 1898, an explosion the Maine killed 266 of its crewmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abzd41k_OhQ&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Crisis over Cuba
The yellow press immediately accused the Spanish of blowing up the ship
The public demanded revenge
Giving in to popular pressure, McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain
Congress declared war on April 1898
Yellow Journalism
Watch Yellow Journalism video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0mjkLPvrQM&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Answer the following questions: Who is Hearst?
What is yellow journalism?
How is it different than other journalism?
Crisis over Cuba
Congress also passed the Teller Amendment
Proclaimed that the U.S. had no desire to overtake Cuba and would leave the island as soon as its independence was ensured
Teller Amendment
The Spanish-American War, 1898
The fighting against Spain lasted less than 4 months
Admiral George Dewey attacked the Spanish fleet in the Philippines
American troops took Manila Bay in August
By July, the Spanish were driven from Cuba
The defeated Spanish: Recognized Cuba’s independence Ceded to the United States:
Philippines Puerto Rico Guam
The Spanish-American War, 1898
Contrary to the Teller Amendment, the U.S. occupied Cuba from 1898 to 1902
The U.S. withdrew its forces only after Cuba agreed to the conditions set forth in the 1901 Platt Amendment
Platt Amendment It limited Cuba’s sovereignty by:
Reserving to the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuba
The U.S. could maintain a naval base on Cuba
Although the Platt Amendment was abrogated in 1934, the United States still retains the base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba
Critics of Empire
Some Americans were horrified by their nation’s actions in the Spanish-American War
They founded the Anti-Imperialist League
Pointed out that imposing U.S. rule on other peoples by military force violated the principles of human equality and liberty championed in our own Declaration of Independence
Critics of Empire
Some members of the Anti-Imperialist League:
Carl Schurz (civil-service reformer) E.L. Godkin (civil-service reformer) William Jennings Bryan (ag. spokesman) Jane Addams (settlement house founder) Mark Twain (writer) William James (writer)
Critics of Empire
Despite the League’s efforts, the Senate ratified the treaty annexing the Philippines
In 1900 pro-expansionist McKinley again defeated anti-imperialist Bryan for the presidency
Guerrilla War in the Philippines, 1898-
1902 Pres. McKinley was persuaded that the
U.S. should keep the Philippines by the arguments of:
the expansionists businessmen to use the islands as a
way of penetrating nearby Chinese markets
This U.S. decision led to a war against Filipino independence fighters