Unit 8: Imperialism / Expansionism

OHS US HISTORY TEAM

Learning Objectives

• Assess the causes of American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Compare and contrast the arguments of interventionists and non-interventionists

• Describe the causes of the Spanish-American War and the outcomes of American imperialism

• Compare and contrast President Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson’s diplomacy goals.

Big Concepts

• Westward expansion closed the frontier

• Americans looked overseas for new markets and raw materials

• Many Americans wanted to spread democratic and moral ideas to “lesser” peoples/cultures. (Social Darwinism)

• Interventionists and non-interventionists argued about the role the United States should have in the world.

• Newspapers published “yellow” articles encouraging expansion.

• In 1898 the United States went to war with Spain and won.

• America gained many territories from Spain.

Vocabulary

• Yellow must copy

• Green copy if time permits

Imperialism• a policy of extending a country's power and influence

• through diplomacy or military force

• US builds large NAVY

Interventionist and non-interventionist

• Interventionist = favor / support imperialism (Senator Albert Beveridge)

• Non-interventionist = do not support imperialism (Mark Twain)

Annexation of Hawaii

• America's annexation of Hawaii in 1898 extended U.S. territory into the Pacific

• A key provisioning spot for American ships,

• fertile ground for American protestant missionaries,

• and a new source of sugar cane production

• Samuel Dole (fruit company) encouraged US annexation and overthrow of Hawaiian rule.

The US acquires Hawaii

• 1891 – Queen Liliuokalani took the throne; American planters disliked her

• 1893 – the Queen attempted to impose a constitution that would have given her authority

• US Planter settlers tried to overthrow the Queen supported by US Marines and set a temporary government and asked the US to annex Hawaii.• the Queen did not resist because she feared for her people

• Within 5 years – the US annexed Hawaii.

Spanish American War

• War between United States and Spain

• Spain occupied Cuba

• Cubans wanted independence

• Newspapers encouraged war

• President McKinley sends warship USS Maine to Cuba

• USS Maine explodes

• US declares war and easily wins.

• Roosevelt volunteers and becomes war hero.

Spanish-American War

• 1890’s Events that set the stage• US saying we’re powerful and you better listen

• 1891: in Chile men attacked American soldiers• Killed 2, hurt 17

• US forced Chile to pay $75,000 to soldiers’ families

• 1893: Brazilian dictator tried to take over

• US ordered Navy to protect American shipping interests

• 1840’s England and Venezuela disputed over land

• 1880’s dispute resurfaced with rumors of mineral wealth there• US said to listen to the Monroe Doctrine and go to arbitration

• British replied that they didn’t have to follow but agreed later in order to stay friendly with the US

Yellow Journalism

• Newspapers led by newspaper tycoons William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer encouraged war with Spain.

• Exaggerated news stories to sell more copies

• Made public want conflict

Access to Cuba

• US gives Cuba independence following war but gains Guantanamo Bay and economic incentives

• Platt Amendment: The US was able to dictate Cuba’s foreign policy and all of its commercial activities. Also granted rights over key land on the island, including the naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Steps to War

• McKinley’s war message• May 1, 1898, Dewey launched

surprise attack on Philippines• In Cuba US stopped Spain’s fleet in a

harbor• American army gathered in Tampa, FL

to prepare for invasion of Cuba• Most famous: Rough Riders under TR’s

command• Charged up San Juan Hill in war

• July 3 US sank all Spanish ships there• 2,500 Americans died in war, <400 in

battle

Philippine Insurrection

• US gained the Philippines from Spain

• Filipino’s wanted independence

• Fight brutal revolution against American occupation

• US wins and keeps Philippines as a territory

Before 1871

• Isolationism: avoiding involvement in foreign affairs. Preoccupied with domestic issues – increasing territory through westward expansion and the American Civil War

• Monroe Doctrine1823: attempt to keep European nations out of the Americas. Any attempt by European powers to intervene in the Americas would be viewed as an act of aggression and dealt with accordingly.

Roosevelt Corollary

• President Theodore Roosevelt’s desire to keep European powers out of the Caribbean and Latin America.

• Roosevelt Corollary: Stated that the US could intervene if any Caribbean state was threatened by internal or external factors.

Roosevelt and Latin America• Roosevelt Corollary: an addition

to Monroe Doctrine• The US has the right to intervene in

Latin America when necessary to maintain stability

• Goal was to prevent Europe from using debt problems to justify intervention

• TR used the Corollary in the Dominican Republic in 1905

• The Dominican Republic had fallen behind in debt payments to Europe so TR used the Marines to collect the debt on behalf of Europe.

• 1904- 1924 US presidents will use Roosevelt Corollary to send forces to Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua = poor relations with LA

Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909

• Platt Amendment: The US was able to dictate Cuba’s foreign policy and all of its commercial activities. Also granted rights over key land on the island, including the naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

• Roosevelt Corollary: Stated that the US could intervene if any Caribbean state was threatened by internal or external factors.

U.S.

• The purpose of the Monroe Doctrine was to discourage European countries from establishing colonies in Latin America.

• The Roosevelt Corollary, an addition to the Monroe Doctrine, essentially allowed the United States to become an international police force.

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U.S.

• Spain lost control of Cuba, as a result of the Spanish-American War.

• The Spanish-American War is the event that officially demonstrated the U.S. move from isolationism to imperialism.

• The sinking of the Battleship Maine in Cuba was heavily criticized by the American press and forced the U.S. to get involved in international affairs.

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Panama Canal

• US built canal by Theodore Roosevelt to link Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean.

• Help move commercial and naval ships

• Ensured US control of building and operating the Canal. Allows ships to pass between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without having to sail around Cape Horn at the tip of South America. Added to the US’s global influence

Big Stick Diplomacy

• President Theodore Roosevelt

• Use of naval force to negotiate

• “Speak softly but carry a big stick”

Dollar Diplomacy

• President Taft

• Use United States economic power to negotiate with others

Moral Diplomacy

• President Wilson

• Use America’s moral beliefs to negotiate with other nations

Chronological Timeline

1898- Spanish American War

1898- Annex Hawaii

1899- Philippine Insurrection

1901 – Theodore Roosevelt Presidency starts

1903- US starts Panama Canal

1914 – US finishes Panama Canal

1908- Taft Presidency

1913- Wilson Presidency

Continuity and Change

Continuity Change

IndustrializationUrbanization

Empire BuildingPanama CanalPuerto Rico , Hawaii, Philippines become territoriesMilitarization / Naval Construction