Empire & Expansion Chapter 27 Review-APUSH

3 Ideas of Foreign Policy

-Expanding westward

-Protecting US interest abroad

-Limiting foreign influence in the Americas (Monroe Doctrine)

2 Guiding Principles of Monroe Doctrine

Noncolonization and Nonintervention

Driving factor of US changing from isolated nation to world power with territory expanding across Pacific

Catalyst= 2nd Industrial Revolution

Seward’s Folly

William Henry Seward convinced to buy Alaska in 1867. Thought as a bad purchase but really was good for America. Alaska provided silver- new resource to US. Bought for $7.2 million. 

Economic reasons for new imperialism

Closing of the frontier, industrial overproduction, search for new markets (foreign), and desire for raw materials.

Political/Military reasons for new imperialism

International Darwinism (competition with European empires), Naval Race (Alfred Thayer Mahan- Influence of sea power upon history). Mahan said that the US needed a modern navy and to acquire overseas territory to be a world power. Theodore Roosevelt was responsible for building a modern navy.

Cultural/Ideological reasons for new imperialism

White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling, Christian missionaries, Social Darwinism

Great Rapprochement

Relationship between Great Britain and United States. Britain realized they needed military allies. 

Causes of Spanish-American War

Yellow Journalism→ sensationalization of news to sell papers and magazines. Hearst and Pulitzer were the main sensationalists. It exaggerated and lied to the American people.

De Lôme Letter→ De Lôme, Spanish Minister, writes telegrams insulting and calling President McKinley a weak leader. This inflames the public more. 

U.S.S Maine→ Battleship in Havana, Cuba, it explodes and immediately blames the Spanish.  

McKinley’s view on War (1898)

He didn’t want war either did the Spanish but Cubans still wanted complete independence from Spain.

McKinley asks for Declaration of War against Spain; wanted to be re-elected for president and Americans to vote for him in his 2nd term for election.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

-Cuba gets independence from Spain

-US ceded Puerto Rico & Guam

-US acquired Philippines from Spain for $20 million.

Outcomes of the War

-Reputation of US military (navy) was enhanced

-US acquired territory in both Pacific & Caribbean 

-Brutal war against US & Philippines

-Theodore Roosevelt was national hero

Foraker Act

An act that established a civilian government for Puerto Rico after it was ceded to the US.

Theme: Control vs Independence

Insular Cases

It decided that the US Constitution does not automatically apply to territories acquired after the Spanish- American War. Question- Does the Constitution follow the flag?

Theme: Control vs Independence

Platt Amendment

It prohibited the Cuban government from entering into any international treaty that would compromise Cuban independence. US can intervene in affairs; US has naval base in Guantanamo Bay.

Theme: Control vs Independence

Benevolent Assimilation

It was to prepare the Philippines for self-governance by educating, civilizing, and uplifting the Filipino people. (improved health care/sanitation)

Theme: Control vs Independence

Filipinos resistance against Benevolent Assimilation

Resisted because they viewed it as a denial of their newly declared independence and an attempt to replace Spanish colonial rule with American control.

Theme: Control vs. Independence

Sphere of Influence

Geographic areas, specifically in China, where a foreign power had exclusive trading privileges and significant political and economic control.

Open Door Policy

Proposed that all nations should have equal trading privileges in China and that China’s territorial and administrative integrity should be respected.

Theme: Economic Access

Boxer Rebellion

The Boxers rebelled against foreign influence and control in China, which they saw as a threat to their culture and economic well-being. The US responded by sending troops as part of an 8-nation alliance with 8 countries (France, Germany, Japan, etc.) to defeat the Boxers. It moved away from Washington’s Farewell Address wishes by intervening in foreign affairs.

Theme: Economic Access

Main issue in Election of 1900

American Imperialism=Key issue

President McKinley was pro-expansion while William Jennings Bryan opposed expansion

Theme: Control vs Independence