AMERICA CLAIMS AN EMPIRE

CHAPTER 10

IMPERIALISM AND AMERICA

American Expansionism

Americans sought to increase the size of their nation

wanted to establish colonies overseas.

– the policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories.

Imperialism was already a trend around the world.

IMPERIALISM

GLOBAL COMPETITION Imperialism

Africa taken over by Europeans

Imperialists competed over territory in Asia, especially in China.

Japan formed a strong central govt. and joined in the competition for China in the 1890’s.

3 FACTORS FUELED THE NEW AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

1. Desire for military strength

2. Thirst for new markets

3. Belief in cultural superiority

DESIRE FOR MILITARY STRENGTH

Alfred T. Mahan

Urged govt. officials to build up military naval power.

Wanted to compete with other nations

US built 9 steel hulled cruisers between 1883 and 1890.

THIRST FOR NEW MARKETS

Factories were now producing more than Americans could consume.Americans wanted:

Raw materials New markets

Imperialists viewed foreign trade as the solution to American over-production, unemployment, and economic depression.

BELIEF IN CULTURAL SUPERIORITY

Many Americans thought they were superior to other peoples because they were Anglo-Saxon.

felt they should inferior peoples of Christianity and “civilization”

THE US ACQUIRES ALASKA

William Seward

oformer Secretary of State for Lincoln and Johnson.

1867 – arranged for the US to buy Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million.

Some people thought it was silly

Alaska was

often called

“Seward’s

Folly” or

“Seward’s

Icebox”

TIME SHOWED HOW WRONG THEY WERE

1959 – Alaska became a state•Cost was about 2 cents per acre•Land was rich in timber, minerals, and oil. Oil was not discovered until after the purchase.

THE UNITED STATES TAKES HAWAII

1867- The US took over the Midway Islands

Lie in the pacific Ocean abt. 1300 miles north of Hawaii.

Uninhabited

HAWAIIMid 1900’s

¾ of the island’s wealth came from American owned sugar plantations.

- laborers for plantations were imported from Japan, Portugal, and China.

1900 – foreigners and immigrant laborers outnumbered Hawaiians about 3 to 1.

Hawaiian grown sugar was not charged a tariff by the US until the McKinley Tariff of 1890.

American planters wanted the US to annex the islands to avoid the tax.

1887 – the United States persuaded Hawaii to allow them to build a naval base there.

Pearl Harbor – the kingdom’s best port Became a refueling

station for American ships

THE END OF A MONARCHY

1887 – King Kalakua was forced by white business owners to amend the Hawaiian constitution.

Amendment limited voting rights to wealthy landowners only.

King Kalakua died and his sister Queen Liliuoklani came to power.

Queen Liliukalani

She had only Hawaiians in mind for her agenda and wanted to revise the constitution leaving the white businessmen out.

Ambassador John L. Stevens organized a revolution.

REVOLUTION

was aided by marines

The queen was overthrown and a government was set up headed by Sanford B. Dole

President Cleveland directed that the queen be restored to her throne.

Dole refused to refused to surrenderCleveland recognized the Republic of Hawaii

Would not consider annexation unless a majority of Hawaiians favored it.

1897 – McKinley became president

August 12, 1898, Congress proclaimed Hawaii an American territory.

Hawaiians were never given the chance to vote

1959 – Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States.

ACQUIRING NEW LANDS

Section 3

RULING PUERTO RICO When Puerto Rico became part of the

U.S. Puerto Ricans feared that the U.S. would not give them the same freedom of self-rule they had under Spanish rule.

LOUIS MUNOZ RIVERA

-Puerto Rican statesman and publisher

1900-1916 – lived primarily in the U.S. and worked for Puerto Rico’s independence.

Spoke to Congress May 5, 1916

He died Nov. 1916

Independence to Puerto Ricans was granted 3 months later.

Not all Puerto Ricans wanted independence.

Some wanted statehood.

Military Rule During the S/A War, U.S. forces, under

direction of General Nelson A. Miles, occupied the island.

Miles told Puerto Ricans that troops were there for protection.

RETURN TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT The U.S. would control Puerto Rico until

Congress decided otherwise.

Puerto Rico was strategically important to the U.S. For maintaining a U.S. presence in the

CaribbeanFor protecting a U.S. canal that leaders

wanted to build in the future.

Foraker Act – ended military rule in PR and set up a civil govt.

The act gave the president of the U.S. power to appoint members of Puerto Rico’s governor and members of its upper house of legislature.

Puerto Ricans could only appoint the lower house of legislature.

Insular Cases – Congress ruled that the Constitution did not apply to people in acquired territories.Congress retained the right to extend

citizenship Granted that right to Puerto Ricans in 1917.

CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES

When the U.S. declared war on Spain in 1898, it recognized Cuba’s independence.

Teller Amendment – Stated that the U.S. had no intention of

taking over any part of Cuba.

Treaty of Paris – ended the war Guaranteed Cuba’s independence

AMERICAN SOLDIERS

Cuba was occupied by American soldiers when the war ended.

The same officials who served Spain remained in office.

Cuban’s who protested this policy were imprisoned or exiled.

AMERICAN MILITARY

Provided food and clothing for families

Helped farmers put land back into cultivation

Organized elementary schools.

Helped eliminate yellow fever through improvement of sanitation and medical research.

PLATT AMENDMENT 1900 – Cuba wrote its own constitution

for independence, leaving out the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba.

1901 – U.S. demanded that several provisions be added to the constitution.

These provisions were known as the Platt Amendment.

Provisions were as follows:Cuba could not make treaties that might

limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territory.

The U.S. reserved the right to intervene in Cuba

Cuba was not to go into debt that its government could not repay

The U.S. could buy or lease land on the island for naval stations and refueling stations.

The U.S. made it clear that troops would not withdraw from Cuba until the Platt Amendment was approved.

Cubans marched in protest against the U.S.

1903 – the Platt Amendment became part of the treaty between the two nations. Remained in effect for 31 years. Cuba became a U.S. protectorate - a country

whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power.

PROTECTING AMERICAN BUSINESS INTERESTS

The most important reason for the U.S. to maintain a strong political presence in Cuba was to protect American businesses that invested in the island’s:

SugarTobaccoMining industriesRailroads and public utilities

Many business people were convinced that annexing and imposing colonial rule on new territories was necessary to protect American interests.

Some were concerned about colonial entanglements.

Andrew Carnegie argued against the taking of nations as colonies.

FILIPINOS REBEL

Treaty of Paris – Filipinos were outraged by the annexation of the Philippines by America.

Emilio Aguinaldo Rebel leaderbelieved that the U.S. had promised

independence. vowed to fight for freedom once they

realized the terms of the treaty.

PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 2/1899 - the Filipinos rose in revolt with

Aguinaldo as their leader. U.S. imposed authority on them.

Forced Filipinos to live in designated zones. Poor sanitation, disease, and starvation killed

thousands. Just like Spain did with Cuba

Americans looked on Filipinos as inferiorMany of the troops sent to the Philippines were

African Americans – 70,000.Many deserted to the Filipino side – did not

want racial prejudice.

Took 3 years to put down the rebellion

About 20,000 of them died fighting for independence.

4000 Americans died

Cost of war $400 million

AFTERMATH OF THE WAR

After the war the U.S. set up a govt. similar to the one Puerto Rico had.

Philippines became an independent republic on July 4, 1946.

FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN CHINA U.S. saw the Philippines as a gateway to

the rest of Asia.

China was seen as a vast potential market for American products.

Opportunity for railroad construction

China had been weakened by war and foreign intervention.

Known as the “sick man of Asia”

France, Germany, Britain, Japan, and Russia had established settlements along the coast.

JOHN HAY’S OPEN DOOR

1899 - U.S. Secretary of State John Hay issued a series of policy statements called the Open Door notes.

The notes were letters addressed to the leaders of imperialist nations proposing that the nations share their trading rights with the United States, creating an open door.

No nation would have a monopoly on trade with any part of China.

THE BOXER REBELLION IN CHINA

Europeans dominated much of China’s large cities.

Some Chinese formed secret societiesBoxers – most famous of these groups

BOXERS Killed hundreds of missionaries and

other foreigners.Chinese converts to Christianity

August 1900 – troops from Britain, France, Germany, and Japan joined 2,500 American forces and marched on the Chinese capital.

2 months – they put down the rebellion

PROTECTING AMERICAN RIGHTS 2nd Series of Open Door notes was

issued announcing that the U.S. would safeguard for the world the equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese empire.

Paved the way for greater American influence in America.

2ND OPEN DOOR NOTES Reflected 3 American beliefs

Growth of economy depended on exportsFelt U.S. had to intervene abroad to keep

foreign markets open.Feared the closing of an area to American

products, citizens, or ideas threatened U.S. survival.

THE IMPACT OF U.S. TERRITORIAL GAINS

under McKinley the U.S. had gained an empire.

Anti-Imperial League sprang into being

People against imperialismGrover Cleveland, Jane Addams, Mark Twain

AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER

Teddy Roosevelt and the World

Roosevelt was unwilling to allow the imperial powers of Europe to control the world’s political and economic destiny.

In 1905, Roosevelt mediated a settlement in a war between Russia and Japan.

ROOSEVELT THE PEACEMAKER 1904 – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia

declared war on Japan.

Russia and Japan were competing for control of Korea. Japanese – attack on the Russian Pacific

fleet Japan destroyed a second fleet.

Won a series of land battles securing Korea and Manchuria.

Japan began to run out of men and money

They approached Roosevelt in secret and asked him to mediate peace negotiations.

1905 – 1st meeting – Portsmouth, NH They negotiated and the Treaty of

Portsmouth won the Nobel Peace Prize for Roosevelt in 1906

PANAMA CANALMany Americans felt there should be a canal

cutting through Central America.- would reduce travel time for military

and commercial ships.- United States and Britain agreed to share the rights to the canal.

1901 – Hay-Pauncefote Treaty – - Britain gave the U.S. exclusive rights

to build and control a canal through Central America.

2 possible routes were identified1 through Nicaragua – crossed a lake1 through Panama – shorter, but filled with

mountains and swaps.

A French company had attempted to build a canal through Panama and after 10 years they gave up.

It sent an agent, Phillippe Bunau-Varilla to the U.S. to convince them to buy the claim.

The U.S. decided on the Panama route and purchased the area for $40 million.

The U.S. had to get permission from Columbia which ruled Panama at that time.

Negotiations broke down and Bunau-Varilla helped organized a rebellion against Columbia.

11/3/03 – nearly a dozen U.S. warships were present as Panama declared its independence from Columbia.

15 days later, the U.S. and Panama signed a treaty in which the U.S. agreed to pay Panama $10 million plus an annual rent of $250,000 for an area of land across Panama

Called the Canal Zone.

Payments were to begin in 1913.

CONSTRUCTING THE CANAL construction of the Canal ranks as one

of the world’s greatest engineering feats.

Problems – diseases – malaria, yellow feverSoft volcanic soil – difficult to work with

Work began in 1904

Employed 43,400 workers

Many workers came from Italy and Spain, but ¾ were blacks from the British West Indies.

More than 5,600 workers on the canal died from accidents or disease.

Total cost to the United States was about $380 million.

Completed on 8/15/1914

U.S. –Latin American relations were damaged because the U.S. supported the rebellion of Panama.

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY Roosevelt was determined to make the

U.S. a dominate power in the Caribbean and Central America.

He reminded European powers of the Monroe doctrine which demanded that European countries stay out of the affairs of Latin America.

Roosevelt Corollary – added to the Monroe DoctrineWarned that disorder in Latin America

would force the States to become an International police power.

Also said that the U.S. would use force to protect economic interests in Latin America.

DOLLAR DIPLOMACY 1911 – rebellion broke out in Nicaragua

Left the nation in bankruptcyTaft arranged for American bankers to loan

Nicaragua enough money to pay its debts.

Bankers could collect Nicaragua’s custom duties

Bankers also gained control of the Nicaraguans state owned railroad and its national bank.

Nicaraguans revolted and marines were sent to Nicaragua to put down the rebellion.

Some marines stayed there until 1933.

Dollar diplomacy – policy of U.S. to guarantee loans made to foreign countries by American businesspeople.

WOODROW WILSON’S MISSIONARY DIPLOMACY

Said the U.S. had the right to deny recognition to any Latin American government it viewed as oppressive.

Prior to this the U.S. recognized any government that controlled a nation, regardless of how it came to power.

THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION Porfirio Diaz –

Military dictatorRuled Mexico for about 30 yearsFriend of the U.S.

1911 – Mexican peasants and workers led by Francisco Madero overthrew Diaz.Madero promised reforms

Unable to fix the gap and conflicts between classes

2 years later Gen. Victoriano Huerta took over the government.Madero was murderedWilson refused to recognize “a government

of butchers”

INTERVENTION IN MEXICO 1914 – small group of American sailors

were arrested.

They were quickly released and Mexico apologized, but Wilson used the opportunity to intervene in Mexico.

He ordered U.S. marines to occupy Veracruz, an important Mexican port.

18 Americans and 200 Mexicans died during the invasion.

Argentina, Brazil, and Chile stepped in to mediate the conflict.Proposed that Huerta step downU.S. withdraw without paying for damages.Mexico rejected the planU.S. refused to recognize HuertaHuerta regime eventually fell apart

Venustiano CarranzaBecame president

in 1915U.S. recognized

his government and withdrew troops.

EMILIANO ZAPATA

Mexican rebel

Opposed Carranza

Dedicated to land reform.

REBELLION IN MEXICO Francisco

“Pancho” Villa – Mexican rebel Resented rule of

Huerta Villa threatened

reprisals against the U.S.

Took Americans off a mining train and shot them.

CHASING VILLA Wilson ordered Gen. John J. Pershing and

15,000 soldiers into Mexico to capture Villa dead or alive.

Villa still ran. Wilson called out 150,000 National

Guardsmen and stationed them along the Mexican border.

Mexicans grew angry over the U.S. invasion of their land.

1916 U.S. troops clashed with Carranza’s army

Carranza demanded U.S. withdrawal and Wilson refused.

Both sides backed down.

Wilson ordered troops home.

Mexico adopted a constitution that gave the govt. control of the nation’s oil and mineral resources.Placed strict regulations on foreign

invasions

Carranza ruled oppressively until 1920.

ALVARO OBREGON Came to power after Carranza

Marked the end of civil war and beginning of Mexican reform.

CONCLUSION Americans believed in the superiority of

free-enterprise democracy.

The American govt. attempted to extend its reach of this economic and political system, even through armed intervention.

U.S. expanded its access to foreign markets in order to ensure growth of domestic economy.

U.S. built a modern navy to protect its interest abroad

U.S. exercised its international police power to ensure dominance in Latin America.