7.3 The Spanish-American War and U.S. foreign policy to 1917

jingoism, Cuban Revolt, yellow journalism, De Lôme Letter, sinking of the Maine, Teller Amendment, "a splendid little war", John Hay, the Philippines, Theodore Roosevelt, George Dewey, Rough Riders, Treaty of Paris, Puerto Rico, Guam, anti-imperialism, Emilio Aguinaldo, Anti-Imperialist League, William Jennings Bryan, insular cases, Platt Amendment, Open Door policy, spheres of influence, Boxer Rebellion, "big stick" policy, Panama Canal, Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, Santo Domingo, Roosevelt Corollary, Russo-Japanese War, Treaty of Portsmouth, "gentlemen's agreement", segregated schools, Great White Fleet, Root-Takahira Agreement, Nobel Peace Prize, Algeciras Conference, International Conference, William Howard Taft, dollar diplomacy, railroads in China, Manchuria, Woodrow Wilson, Jones Act, conciliation treaties, military intervention, Pancho Villa, expeditionary force, John J. Pershing

causes of the Spanish American War

• jingoism - intense nationalism calling for aggressive foreign policy

• economic opportunity

• Cuban Revolt - attempts to overthrow Spanish colonial rule from 1868, crushed by “The Butcher” General Valeriano Weyler

• yellow journalism - sensationalistic reporting featureing bold and lurid headlines of crime, disaster, and scandal, exaggerating Spanish atrocities in Cuba (ex. New York Journal)

• De Lôme Letter (1898) - Spanish diplomat’s letter leaked by the New York Journal criticizing U.S. president McKinley

• sinking of the Maine (1898) - explosion of the U.S. battleship USS Maine in Cuba that was blamed on Spain

McKinley’s reasons to support the Cuban revolt in his war message to congress

• end Spanish atrocities in Cuba

• protect lives and property of U.S. citizens in Cuba

• end economic (commerce, trade, business) problems

• end “constant menace to peace”

Teller Amendment (1898)

part of Congress’s resolution authorizing war against Spain, declared that the U.S. had no intention of taking political control of Cuba

the Philippines and the Spanish American War

assistant secretary of the navy Theodore Roosevelt orders fleet commanded by commodore George Dewey to the Philippines, pounded Spanish fleet with naval guns in Manila Bay

• McKinley’s pretext to complete annexation of Hawaii

invasion of Cuba

• lethal tropical diseases (malaria, typhoid, dysentery)

• victorious cavalry charge up San Juan Hill by Rough Riders

• U.S. Navy successful destruction of Spanish fleet at Santiago Bay

Rough Riders

regiment of volunteer fighters led by Theodore Roosevelt, aided by veteran regiments of African Americans

Treaty of Paris (1898)

• recognition of Cuban independence

• U.S. acquisition of Spanish Islands Puerto Rico (Caribbean) and Guam (Pacific)

• U.S. control of the Philippines for $20 million

Philippine question

anti-imperialists argued that annexation of the Philippines would be a violation of the Declaration of Independence and unnecessarily entangle the U.S. in Asian political conflicts

• Emilio Aguinaldo - Filipino nationalist leader who fought against U.S. control

results of the Spanish-American War

• American Anti-Imperialist League - rallied opposition against further expansion in the Pacific, argued or constitutional rights of Filipinos

• insular cases (1901-1903) - Supreme Court ruled that constitutional rights were not automatically extended to territorial possessions and Congress had the power to decide whether or not rights applied to territories

• Platt amendment (1901) - made Cuba a U.S. protectorate and subjected Cuba to U.S. supervision and control in order to withdraw U.S. troops

• election of 1900 - McKinley wins a

• recognition of U.S. power, Southerners became more attached to Union

China foreign policy

• spheres of influence - Russia, Japan, Great Britain, France, Germany could dominate trade in a particular port/region of China

• Open Door Policy - McKinley’s Secretary of State John Hay’s proposal in which all nations would have equal trading privileges in China, “diplomatic triumph”

• Boxer Rebellion (1900) - Chinese xenophobic nationalist secret society attacked foreign settlements, crushed by U.S. troops

• Hay’s second round of notes (1900) - feared other powers would attempt to occupy China, note stating U.S. commitments

  • protecting China’s territorial integrity

  • safeguard “equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese empire”

  • ineffective at deterring nations

Theodore Roosevelt’s “big stick” policy in Latin America

“speak softly and carry a big stick”, aggressive foreign policy

• Panama Canal - desired canal through Central America to connect Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

  • Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901) - nullified Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) and allowed U.S. to build Central American Canal alone

  • Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty (1903) - granted U.S. all rights over Canal Zone after Rooosevelt’s staged revolt against Colombian control of Panama

• Roosevelt Corollary (1904) to the Monroe Doctrine - allowed U.S. intervention on behalf of European powers until problems in western hemisphere resolved

  • as a result of Santo Domingo debt to European powers

Theodore Roosevelt and Japan

• Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) - Treaty concluding Russo-Japanese War arranged by Roosevelt, blamed by Japanese nationalists for inadequate reparations

• gentlemen’s agreement (1908) - informal understanding/compromise between U.S. and Japan

  • Japan restricts emigration of Japanese workers to U.S.

  • Roosevelt persuades California to repeal discriminatory laws against Japanese (ex. segregated schools)

• Great White Fleet (1907-1909) - Roosevelt demonstrates U.S. naval power in worldwide cruise

• Root-Takahira Agreement (1908) - U.S. and Japan pledge mutual respect for each nation’s Pacific possessions and support for open door policy in China

Roosevelt’s “peace efforts”

• Nobel Peace Prize (1906) - awarded to Roosevelt for organizing Treaty of Portsmouth ending Russo-Japanese War

• Algeciras Conference (1906) - arranged by Roosevelt, resolved conflict between France and Germany over Morocco

• Second International Peace Conference (1907) - discussed rules for limiting warfare, U.S. participation directed by Roosevelt

William Howard Taft and foreign affairs

• dollar diplomacy - belief that private American financial investment in China and Central America would lead to greater stability

• secured U.S. participation in agreement between bankers of Great Britain, France, Germany to invest in railroads in China (1911)

• excluded from Russia and Japan agreement to build railroads in Manchuria, defiance of Open Door policy - jointly held spheres of influence

• intervened in Nicaragua financial affairs and civil war for American investments

Woodrow Wilson and foreign affairs (non-military)

• New Freedom plan - moral approach to foreign affairs, opposed imperialism

• Jones Act of 1916

  • guaranteed full territorial status, Bill of Rights, universal male suffrage for the Philippines

  • promised independence as soon as stable government was established

• Puerto Rico - given U.S. citizenship, provided for limited government

• persuaded Congress to repeal act granting U.S. ships exemption from paying Panama Canal tolls

• conciliation treaties - over 30 arranged by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan promoting ideals of democracy and peace

  • submitting disputes to international commissions

  • 1-year cooling off period before taking military action

Woodrow Wilson and foreign affairs (Mexico)

• Wilson orders General John J. Pershing and an “expeditionary force” to capture raider Pancho Villa from Northern Mexico

• President Venustiano Carranza protested presence of U.S. in Mexico

• Pershing’s troops withdraw to avoid involvement in WWI