American Imperialism

Becoming a World Power

- The early 19th century sees the United States shift from its traditional role
of limiting foreign influence in the Americas to a much more active power
that controlled territory across the globe.
The Purchase of Alaska
- Known as Sewards Folly
- Russia was looking to unload its North American
colonies and found an ally in Secretary of State William
Seward.
- Seward will purchase the territory for $7.2 million
- He will be heavily criticized as most Americans saw the
land a worthless.
- However Seward will be vindicated in the late 19th century after
both gold and oil will be discovered in large amounts.
New Imperialism
- The start of the 19th century sees the United States seeking new sources
of raw material and new markets to sell US goods.
- There is also a sense that for the United States to be a first rate power it
needs overseas colonies.
- This brings the US into direct competition with many of the old European powers for
influence and control of weaker nations in Central and South America, Asia and Africa.
The Causes of Imperialism
- Missionaries
- A widely held belief that white culture and Christianity were superior to native customs and
should be used to civilize - leads many Americans to support US intervention in other
nations.
- Politicians
- Most Republican politicians (who controlled Congress and the Presidency) were actively
expansionist - looking to bring new markets to US businesses.
- Naval Power
- Alfred Thayer Mahan - Writes The Influence of Sea Power on History which expressed the
belief that a strong navy was important to having global presence.
- To have a strong navy the US needed resupply bases across the globe to support their
fleets.
The Spanish American War
- The United States had long coveted the Caribbean island of Cuba. Spanish
misrule and American investment makes the situation ripe for US
involvement.
- Causes of the War- Initially presidents Cleveland and McKinley are NOT interested in
involving the US in Cuba, however a series of events will eventually make war inevitable.
- Cuban Revolt - Cuban nationalists are in armed revolt against the Spanish by 1895. Spain
uses harsh tactics - like concentration camps - to quell the revolt. Many die in the camps.
- Yellow Journalism - Gave sensationalist versions of the events in Cuba to American
readers. Most Americans believed what they read and pressured Congress to act for
humanitarian reasons and put a stop to atrocities.
- Sinking of the USS Maine - in February 1898 the US battleship Maine exploded in Havana
Harbor - the Yellow press accuses Spain of blowing up the ship.
- As a result McKinley demands a ceasefire in Cuba which Spain agrees to, but public
opinion in the US will not be satisfied by anything less than war.
Cont.
- War is declared on April 20th.
- The Teller Amendment - An amendment
to the war resolution, it promised that the
United States would grant total
independence to Cuba at the end of
hostilities.
Fighting the War
- The war initially begins not in Cuba, but in the Philippine Islands.
- The US navy under Commodore George Dewey demonstrates the power of the new, all
steel US navy and obliterates the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay.
- The fighting in Cuba is relatively bloodless and quick. The Spanish are
poorly led and woefully under equipped.
- The US forces the Spanish to retreat to Santiago Harbor where the
waiting US fleet destroys most of the Spanish navy. Without a navy Spain
petitions for peace.
Results of the War
- The United States annexes Hawaii
- Controlled by the US after it deposed the sitting Queen Liliuokalani in support of the Dole
Fruit Company.
- The United States annexed the Philippines.
- The US is divided over the issue. Imperialists believe it is necessary to be a major world
power. Anti-Imperialists argue that it goes against our democratic principles and would
entangle us in Asian affairs.
- The Filipinos fight a three year insurrection against the United States that will cost
thousands of lives.
- The violence will not end until William Howard Taft is appointed governor of the territory
and begins to give the native people some right to self government and returns property
stolen by the Spanish.
Cont.
- The Insular Cases
- Does the Constitution follow the flag?
- ie do the newly annexed people receive the same constitutional rights as all American
citizens?
- The Supreme Court ultimately decides that territorial possession does not necessarily
extend rights to conquered peoples. Only Congress had that right.
- The Platt Amendment
- Even though the US promises Cuban independence in the Teller Amendment, they
backtrack on this.
- Resented by the Cubans, it allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs at will and
could review any treaties that might affect Cuban independence.
- This effectively makes Cuba a US protectorate and would make the Cubans
resentful towards the US going forward.
The Open Door Policy in China
- The US is concerned that China is falling under the influence of European
powers who were establishing Spheres of influence.
- The US is concerned it may be left out of the valuable markets .
- John Hay, Secretary of State, sends a note to European leaders demanding an Open Door
Policy or free access to Chinese Markets.
- The Chinese were resentful of growing foreign influence and in 1900 fell
into open rebellion.
- The Boxer Rebellion, perpetrated by a Chinese secret society, the Society
of Harmonious Fists, attacks foreigners and murders hundreds.
- The US and Europe respond swiftly and overwhelmingly, crushing the rebellion and
forcing China to pay massive reparations.
The Imperialist Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt
- Roosevelt is a war hero in the
Spanish American war. His style
of diplomacy is a significant
departure from earlier
presidents.
- His philosophy: Speak softly and
carry a big stick
- He will act assertively in a number
situations, building the reputation of
the United States as a world power.
- Popular with Imperialists,
disliked by isolationists.
The Panama Canal Issue
- As a result of the Spanish American War the United States now has an
empire that stretches across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
- This creates a need to have quick transit for US warships that does not involve going
around South America.
- The United States begins negotiations with Colombia, which controlled
the proposed canal zone. Colombia is not responsive.
- To remove this obstacle Roosevelt will support the Panamanians in rebelling against and
overthrowing the Colombians
- As a result the Panamanians will give the US full control of the canal, including building
and managing it until 2003.
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
- Many Latin American nations were deeply in debt and were being
threatened by their European creditors. Roosevelt viewed this as a
violation of the Monroe Doctrine.
- He instead ordered that the US will collect all debts on behalf of the Europeans.
- This will enrage Latin American countries.
- The end result of the Corollary is that the United States will give itself a
free hand to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries, even
without their consent.
Roosevelt and East Asia
- War breaks out between Japan and Russia in
1904, with Japan winning.
- They reach out to TR to negotiate a peace settlement.
- The Japanese feel as though they are shortchanged by
TR.
- Relations are worsened in 1908 with the Gentlemans
Agreement where the US agrees to stop segregating
Japanese children in return for a restriction on the
number of Japanese immigrants.
- These issues are settled (temporarily) by the
Root-Takahira Agreement in 1908 in which the
US and Japan agree to respect each others
Pacific possessions.
William Howard Taft
- Dollar Diplomacy
- Taft believed that private American financial investment in China and Latin America would
promote relations with the US and create more stable nations.
- Taft will attempt to help finance the building of Railroads in China as well as will intervene
in the Nicaraguan Civil War.
- The Lodge Corollary
- Republicans in Congress were unhappy about Japanese investment in the United States
and moved to block all non-European nations from owning property in the Western
Hemisphere.
- This angers both Latin America AND Japan.
Woodrow Wilson
- Moral Diplomacy
- An attempt to apply high moral standards to foreign affairs, WIlson will attempt to undo
what he saw as moral wrongs committed by past administrations.
- The Jones Act - Granted full territory status to the Philippines, established a bill of rights
and universal suffrage and guaranteed independence in the future.
- Puerto Rico is granted full citizenship and given some self-government.
- While Wilson attempted moral diplomacy, he also frequently used military
force in the Caribbean and Mexico.
Cont.
- In 1913 Mexico is in the throes of a major Civil War. Dictator Victoriano
Huerta emerges victorious, but Wilson refuses to recognize him.
- The Tampico Incident - Wilson calls for an arms embargo. Several American sailors are
arrested by Mexican authorities. They are released, but when Huerta refuses to apologize
the navy seizes the port of Veracruz.
- War seems imminent, but South American nations are able to negotiate a
settlement.
- Pancho Villa - After Huerta falls from power, a band loyal to Pancho Villa hopes to
destabilize the new democratic government. They raid across the border into Texas and
murder several US citizens.
- Wilson order The US Expeditionary Force to pursue him. They are unable to catch
him and are withdrawn as WWI becomes imminent.