Main Idea: Empire BuildingThe United States put increasing
economic and political pressure on Latin America during the 19 th
century. 28.3 United States Economic Imperialism
Slide 2
Latin America After Independence Colonial Legacy Most Latin
Americans worked for large land owners. Wages low, prices high
Workers debt accumulated Rich got richer, poor poorer Governments
took over Native or Church land and sold it to the rich. Economic
development lagged because of these conditions.
Slide 3
Latin America After Independence Political Instability A
widespread problem in 19 th century Latin America Leaders gain fame
and power during the struggle for independence. After independence
many became caudillosmilitary dictators or strong men. By mid-1800s
nearly all Latin American nations were ruled by caudillos. Juan
Vicente Gomez was a ruthless caudillo who ruled Venezuela for
nearly 20 years All Venezuela is my cattle ranch.
Slide 4
Latin America After Independence Juan Vicente Gomez was a
ruthless caudillo who ruled Venezuela for nearly 20 years All
Venezuela is my cattle ranch. Notice that some caudillos like to
where military uniforms with extensive decorations.
Slide 5
Latin America After Independence Reform-minded president of
Argentina, Domingo Sarmiento was the exception. Improved education
Number of students doubled Unfortunately, reformers did not stay in
office long, and caudillos often seized control of
governments.
Slide 6
Caudillos vs. Democracy The caudillos faced little opposition.
The wealthy landowners usually supported them. Latin Americans
lacked a democratic tradition. Voting rights were restricted to the
upper and middle classes
Slide 7
Economies Grow Under Foreign Influence Britain and the United
States became Latin Americas main trading partners after their
independence from Spain and Portugal. Old Products and New Markets
The development of the steamship and the building of railroads
greatly increased Latin American trade. Invention of refrigeration
increased Latin America's exports. The sale of perishable goods
soared. But foreign nations benefited far more from the increased
trade than Latin America did. Latin Americans imported European and
North American manufactured goods. They had little reason to
develop their own manufacturing industries. Without industry Latin
America could not play a leading role on the world economic
stage.
Slide 8
Outside Investment and Interference Latin American countries
did not re-invest in infrastructure or industry to become
self-sufficient. They often borrowed money at high interest rates
to develop facilities for their export industries. Owed Britain,
France, the United States, and Germany. Often unable to pay back
their loans Foreign lenders threatened to collect the debt by
force. threatened to take over the facilities they had funded.
gained control of many Latin American industries. This began a new
era of economic imperialism.
Slide 9
A Latin American Empire The Monroe Doctrine 1823, President
James Monroe issues the Monroe Doctrine which states the American
continents... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for
future colonization by any European powers.
Slide 10
Cuba Declares Independence 1868Cuba declares independence and
fights a ten year war against Spain. 1878Cuba gives up this war.
1895Jose Marti returns to Cuba to launch another war against Spain.
By mid-1890s, U.S. had substantial business holdings in Cuba. Jose
Marti
Slide 11
Spanish-American War 1898U.S. joins the Cuban war for
independence by fighting the Spanish-American War. U.S. attacks the
Philippine Islands first to take it from Spain. An attack is
launched on Cuba. The Spanish defense collapses. 1901Cuba is
declared an independent nation, but the United States installs a
military government. Cubans come to resent U.S. interference.
Slide 12
Roosevelts Rough Riders Theodore Roosevelt in his Rough Rider
uniform (above), and with his regiment on top of San Juan Hill
(left).
Slide 13
Slide 14
The Philippine-American War The PhilippineAmerican War, also
known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine
Insurrection (18991902), was an armed conflict between a group of
Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the
struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence
following annexation by the United States. In 1916, the United
States granted the Philippines autonomy and promised eventual
self-government, which came in 1934. In 1946, following World War
II, the Philippines was granted independence.
Slide 15
The Battle of Manila
Slide 16
Emilio Aguinaldo He led the fight for the independence of the
Philippines.
Slide 17
1899 political cartoon by Winsor McCay. Uncle Sam (representing
the United States), gets entangled with rope around a tree labeled
"Imperialism" while trying to subdue a bucking colt or mule labeled
"Philippines" while a figure representing Spain walks off over the
horizon carrying a bag labeled "$20,000,000".
Slide 18
Filipino soldiers outside Manila in 1899
Slide 19
Opposition to the Philippine War Mark Twain famously opposed
the war by using his influence in the press. He said the war
betrayed the ideals of American democracy by not allowing the
Filipino people to choose their own destiny. In a diary passage
removed by Twain's first biographical editor Thomas Bigelow Paine,
Twain refers to American troops as our uniformed assassins and
describes their killing of six hundred helpless and weaponless
savages in the Philippines as a long and happy picnic with nothing
to do but sit in comfort and fire the Golden Rule into those people
down there and imagine letters to write home to the admiring
families, and pile glory upon glory.
Slide 20
The Panama Canal It was a 13,000 mile trip by sea around the
continent of South America to reach the Pacific. France had tried
to build a canal across Panama, but failed. The U.S. offered
Columbia $10 million for the right to build a canal, but Columbia
wanted more money. The United States encouraged a rebellion in
Panama. When Panama became independent from Columbia in 1903, the
U.S. was able to begin work on the canal. Canal opens in 1914.
Slide 21
Panama Canal
Slide 22
Scientific Advance and the Panama Canal Tropical diseases like
malaria and yellow fever were the biggest hindrances to building
the canal. At times work stoppages occurred because there were so
many workers sick from these diseases. When it was conclusively
discovered that mosquitoes carry these diseases a massive campaign
occurred to reduce the mosquito population to prevent the spread of
these diseases. Swamps were drained and oil spread on standing
water to kill mosquito larvae. As a result the yellow fever
epidemic was almost completely wiped out to that work could
continue on the canal. William Crawford Gorgas, Chief Sanitary
Officer to the Isthmian Commission
Slide 23
The Roosevelt Corollary The Roosevelt Corollary gave the United
States the right to be an international police power in the Western
Hemisphere. The United States used the Roosevelt Corollary many
times in the following years to justify U.S. intervention in Latin
America. U.S. troops occupied some countries for decades.