AMERICAN IMPERIALISMPERIOD 7: 1890 – 1945

MOTIVES FOR IMPERIALISM

Economic

Open up new markets for industrial & agricultural goods

Access to cheap raw materials

Political

Desire to compete w/ other nations

Strategic/Military

Acquire naval bases around the world (Alfred T. Mahan – “The Influence of Sea Power)

Ideological

White Man’s Burden – duty to spread “superior” civilization

EXPANSIONIST EFFORTS

China

Christian Missionaries

Boxer Rebellion

Society of Righteous & Harmonious Fists

Anti-foreign societies

“Sphere of influence”

Britain, Japan, Germany, Russia, & France each claimed parts of China

“Open door” policy by John Hay (Sec. of State)

Hawaii

Americans invested in sugar & pineapple plantations

Sanford Dole asks for US intervention

1893 – Queen Liliuokalani removed from power by U.S. troops & businessmen

1898 – annexed by U.S.

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR – 1898

Cuba – Spanish colony

Revolts are becoming more

common

Concentration camps

U.S. investments in sugar

plantations

Feb. 1898 – USS Maine explodes

Yellow journalist blame Spain

Apr. 1898 – U.S. declares war on

Spain

U.S., Cuba, & Philippines v. Spain

Teller Amendment : U.S. has no

intention of taking over Cuba

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR – 1898

“Splendid little war”

Lasts 4 mo. & 400 Americans die from fighting

Begins in the Philippines

Spanish fleet defeated in Manila Bay

Teddy Roosevelt & Rough Riders in Cuba

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR – 1898

Impact of war

Question about what to do w/ new territories

Anti-Imperialist League – oppose annexation of new territories

Does the Constitution permit the US to make rules for people who are not represented in govt?

Insular Cases – colonial subjects are not subject to constitutional rights

Treaty of Paris, 1898

U.S. acquires Guam, Puerto Rico & Philippines

Spain is paid $20 million

Platt Amendment (Cuba)

Allowed US military to intervene in Cuba was necessary

PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR

Disappointed w/ US decision to hold

on to the Philippines as a colony

War lasted 3 years & more deadly

than S-A War.

Filipino led by Emilio Aguinaldo

Granted full independence in 1946

PANAMA CANAL

TR will pursue expansionist policy

“Speak softly & carry a big stick”

Attempted to get Colombia to allow the

construction of a canal – rejected

TR secretly supports Panamanian

independence

Completed in 1914

ROOSEVELT COROLLARY

Monroe Doctrine

(1823)

English warships are

sent to LA to collect

debt

Roosevelt Corollary

– U.S. has the right to

intervene in LA

Strained relationship

w/ Latin America