The birth of the American Empire

FOUNDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN EMPIREImperialism: establishing and maintaining

empiresFrom colony to colonistGlobal political scene ripe for empire buildingLeading power England, France, Germany, Weakest link: Spain

FOUNDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN EMPIREPolitical unity—ReconstructionEconomic progress: manufacturing,

infrastructural developmentsThe American Industrial Revolution

(inventions, the rise of trusts,coal, steel production) 1865-1915

Social stratification: increasing role of the entrepreneur, importance of the individual

IDEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTSExpansion of Manifest DestinyClosure of the frontier, new frontier: Far EastWhite Man’s Burden, Rudyard KiplingAnglo-Saxon superiority-Josiah Strong: Our

Country: Its Possible Future and Present Crisis(1885) main aspects: civil liberty and pure spiritual Christianity

Realpolitik v. idealism, morality Clausewitz

IDEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTSAlfred T. Mahan: The Influence of Sea Power

upon History 1660-1783: national greatness and prosperity is based on naval power

Urges the development of the Navy, merchant marines, promotes colonization, establishment of naval bases

U.S. should control the Caribbean, build an isthmian canal, spread Western civilization in the Pacific

SOCIAL THOUGHTApplication of Social Darwinism to nationsJohn Fiske: American Political Ideas (1885)

superiority of the English RaceThe Washington Post „A new consciousness

seems to have come upon us--the consciousness of strength--and with it a new appetite, the yearning to show our strength…We are face to face with a strange destiny- The taste of Empire is in the mouth of the people even as a taste of blood in the jungle”

CHANGES IN FOREIGN POLICYDivergences from the Monroe Doctrine

(1823)1863: Strengthening the Mexican border1867: Seward’s folly—the purchase of AlaskaAlabama Claims: settling dispute with Britain

through arbitrationPan-American Union—James G. Blaine, a

commercial and economic union of the countries of the Western Hemisphere, led by the U.S.

EXPANSION IN THE PACIFICSandwich Islands—(Hawaii) coaling,

refueling station, commercial and naval base potential

1878: Naval base at Pago Pago (Samoa)1887: U.S. rights to Pearl Harbor-increased

American settlement1891 Queen Liliuokalani reclaims Hawaiian

power—white settlers rebel, U.S. supports uprising and the democratic movement 1893: annexation of Hawaii

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WARExpansion of U.S. interest in the Caribbean

(sugar plantations, mining)1895: Revolution in Cuba, uprising against

the Spanish colonizersAmerican support of rebels, identification

with Cuba, parallels with the American Revolution

Anti-Spanish propaganda, yellow journalism (sensationalistic newswriting promoting war purposes)

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR„Butcher Veyler” the brute, the devastator of

haciendas, the destroyer of menWilliam Randolph Hearst: New York JournalJoseph Pulitzer: New York World1898: Explosion on the USS Maine-

Remember the MaineDe Lome letter: offends U.S. and President

McKinley

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WARTheodore Roosevelt VP to McKinley: the

country needs war1898 April 21 U.S. declares war on SpainA four-month war: Caribbean and Pacific

FrontsCharge at San Juan Hill—Rough RidersBattle of Manila

EMPIRE IN THE PACIFIC

U.S. in return for a 20 million USD compensation takes over the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam—Treaty of Paris

1898-1902: uprising in the Philippines led by Emilio Aguinaldo

Open Door policy in China, defeating the Boxer Rebellion

Preservation of Chinese territorial and administrative integrity

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY”speak softly and carry a big stick”Agressive expansionismPromotion of Anglo-Saxon superiority1903: Panama Canal treaty after U.S.

recognizes Panama’s ”independence”1904: U.S. exercises international police

power in its own sphere of influence. Reserves the right to intervene in internal affairs of nations in order to stop European influence

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