HIST 1951 Midterm

economic extraction

explains how colonies were used for resources and intended to enrich the crown/church (Spanish and Portuguese) 

primitive accumulation

theory that explains the historical processes that create the conditions for capitalism, in terms of land, means seizing from indigenous to create property rights, and resource extraction

rural indigenous

indigenous communities were concentrated in rural areas

urban mestizo

mixed ancestry in colonial cities, not fully elite but lower level bureaucracy 

labor systems LA colonization?

encomienda, hacienda, plantation

encomienda

Spanish crown grants conquistadors rights to receive tribute and labor from the native people. (16th century)

hacienda

Large land estate and landholding system. Spanish settlers acquire lots of land, control all labor on it. More focused on subsistence, fed workings, but tied slaves and debt peons to the estate. Familial ownership (17th century)

plantation (LA)

large scale intensive agriculture on one crop, focus on profit maximizing and exporting to international trade

debt peonage

work off your debt by providing labor to haciendas

property rights justification

how European colonizers in LA justified land seizures - mixing their labor with land meant it was theirs to take

Two legal spheres by Spanish Crown

Republic of Indians (established them as subjects under the crown, legal basis for tribute) vs. Republic of Spaniards (spaniards, mestizos, slaves)

When were LA independence movements?

1800-1824

Simon Bolivar

Venezuelan military leader of broader LA independence movement. Advocated for united LA against foreign control/domination. Liberalism. Pushed for independence because wanted access to trade, connection to political sovereignty and making LA global power. Warned against monroe doctrine, knew it was US interference

Monroe Doctrine

Policy US announced in 1823, stated that Europe could no longer colonize the Americas and framed as protecting LA independence, but served US interests through less competition with foreign powers for LA access, setting stage for subversion later

Liberalism

Post-independence movements in LA (contrast to aristocracy). Emphasized individual autonomy and that enhancing freedom is the central role of politics (connects to markets too). Republican systems of government, rights of man, free trade, individualism and the market.

How was liberalism interpreted differently?

Enslaved saw as validation of desire to be free, greater economic and individual rights. But elite saw whatever they wanted - ultimately did not lead to liberalism “for the minoritized” instead oligarchy of wealth (rather than birth like monarchy)

Oligarchy of wealth

Bourgeoisie = capitalists (owners of factories, shipping cos, investors, relationship to empire) who rely on working class

petit bourgeoisie = artisans, small producers, workshops, have structure of master v apprentice, but NOT new oligarchy of wealth

Dominican order Philippines

Spanish friars that were important in colonization and evangelism, powerful governance establishing schools missions, catholic clergy. However, important exception, a largely Muslim island was able to defend their authority 

Philippines as an outpost

Was a relatively small outpost and less important to Spanish trade, but Manila was the most powerful, and connected Spain to Chinese traders… however Chinese traders had growing power and influence over trade, upset the Spanish

Chinese traders in Philippines

Spanish not self-sufficient, depended on Chinese trade, killed many in massacres because feared their growing influence. Limited where they could settle and aimed to limit their economic and legal power. 

in 1750s expelled Chinese that refused to convert to Catholicism. If they stayed, move them inland because did not want them to compete in trade, eventually adopted mestizo identities and became landowners

1872 mutiny Ph

200 Filipino troops and workers uprising, catalyzed by Spanish restriction of Filipino rights, unfairness such as limiting amount of positions they could hold in the church authority. Executed 3 priest accused of pushing for protests and treason, they became martyrs for cause of Philippine independence

Jose Rizal

(1861-1896)  = considered the first nationalist, was a medical student. Ilustrado = educated filipino elite. Advocated for representation in Spanish government, change/reform within the imperial system (esp equality, citizenship of Fil and spaniards, bring Liberalism to Filipinos), but never advocated for Philippine independence 

• Was later falsely accused of starting a revolt, executed 1896  because was a bigger symbol of Filipino nationalism 

Andreas Bonafacio

second… (1863-97) advocated for complete independence from Spain, used printing press to propagandize. Worked with the poor, founded nationalist society Katipunan that planned an insurrection that was defeated. Seen as an ineffective military leader, philippine republic named Aguinaldo president instead (struggle for power) - sidelined by Aguinaldo

• Later Aguinaldo executed him by firing squad 

Emilio Aguinaldo

 (1864 - 1964) -  takes charge of movement, combines the elite and the lower class to fight for independence, gained independence 1898 from Spain but the ceded to US later in the year through Treaty of Paris. Led filipinos in Philippine American War, eventually captured by US and ended organized resistance

Spanish American War (Ph perspective)

1898, US defeats Spain. Fought over Spanish empire, USS Main sunk near Cuba, also US acquires PR, Guam, Philippines, protectorate of Cuba. Once won, ignored Philippine revolution

• US somewhat confused on what to do with Philippines, entered war because of Cuba mainly

  • But appealed to US as a base, opportunity for missionary work

  • Ended with US buying Philippines 

Treaty of Paris (Ph)

Spain sold Philippines to US 20 million

Philippine American War

1899-1902. 

• Elihu root speech = colonization is a civilizing mission. In his speech, cited principles of liberty and Jefferson, argued that laws of humanity require government, “government does not depend on consent”

  • pro colonizing! Duty of US to uplift and intervene because incapable of self government

  • language dehumanizing for Filipinos  

• Atkinson = promised independence, Philippine Autonomy Act

  • says empire is unconstitutional, is anti-imperialist, asks why we are violating our own principles of due process and consent, also we encouraged Ph independence

• Aguinaldo = we are capable of self rule

  • condemns US for betrayal after helping spain, compares independence to Am rev

• overall paternalistic arguments and stereotypes, Filipinos uncivilized, no work ethic, lazy, childlike, feminized, argued “humane” obligation whereas some antiimperialists used this argument to claim we shouldn’t claim this/colonize

Why did US colonize Philippines?

Black perspective on Ph war

Connection of racism at home to racism in Ph = exported racism and continuation of US imperialism, (lynching and war as tools of white supremacy) there is a pan-colored struggle of all nonwhite people, allied with Filipinos. Filipinos were also called black.

However, some supported fighting in hopes that they would claim cultural citizenship at home, other Black soldiers chose to remain in Ph after war

Spanish American War

(1898), US declares war after USS Maine explosion in Havana (thought Spain sunk), which was sensationalized by yellow journalism because war was good for the newspaper. The war ended Spanish colonial war in the Americas

territories after Sp Am war

McKinley takes control over many territories and negotiated peace without Cuban rebel involvement (sneaky). Annexed PR, Philippines, Cuba protectorate. led to insular possessions (foreign and domestic? Scotus confused)

Guano islands

Guano important to agriculture, developed on these locations bc of winds, birds, and no rain = buildup.

• Chincha Islands were off coast of Peru, Peru territory (vs US model of colonial semi jurisdiction)

• Labor was extremely dangerous, US companies imported labor from Asia/Pacific, ammonia fumes, collapsing dung, mistreatment

  • led to Navassa uprising, killed five supervisors, SCOTUS had to decide if they had jurisdiction, how to apply to their sentences

Guano Islands Act 1856

Allowed US citizens to claim any unoccupied island with guano would be considered under US jurisdiction. Intent was to use all the guano and then leave when gone, the purpose of the bill was to get cheap guano for farmers. 

• created confusion over land claims, what constitutional jurisdiction applied

• takeaway = while initially was just intended for farm, Act intentionally vague so that it could be reinterpreted for trade, use for America, but not so much authority that had to assert sovereignty, would have to apply all constitutional protections etc (Burnett)

• so could be interpreted as imperialist, bc even though limiting amount of US power just reduced responsibility. Strategic

Pacific slave raiding

By Peru and Chile, connected to labor demands of guano. Since slavery was abolished in Peru, first used imported Chinese laborers, but turned to raids to kidnap and force labor in guano islands

Mexico in 1824

Was independent 1821, in 1824 contained much of the US SW

• dominant force = natives, Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, very strong trade, armed, territory

• private armies from both US and Mexico paid to scalp natives

Gold Rush

• transforming effect. Once reaches east coast, maritime routes loop around SA and pass Chile (1st major group of miners = Chileans, Mexicans)

• many would remain in port cities, spread of LA intellectuals moving up to California

• all this maritime travel = start of sneaky Panama Canal efforts

• also caused railroad expansion

• *should not nec. be considered imperialist, just exploring new travel, real estate 

Hawaii

Don Francisco de Paula Marin

was a botanist, advisor to Hawaiian king, cultivation created Hawaiian agricultural wealth

George Vancouver

introduced cattles to Hawaii

John Parker

first cattle rancher

Kamehameha

first ruler of Kingdom of Hawaii (united islands), maintained island’s sovereignty despite European discovery and exploration, helped Hawaii become major port, pacific traders and missionaries, adopted weapons from these traders, used European advisors, set up strong monarchy. Encouragement of foreign trade

Mexican vaqueros from CA

• 1830s

• Later kings wanted to encourage vaquero system into Hawaii cattle herds (created paniolo, Hawaiian cowboy)

missionaries (HI)

sent in early 19th century, wanted to educate, civilize

• came to do good, did very very well (economically) - connection to sugar plantations, trade/shipping

planters (HI)

• descendants of missionaries, foreign settlers, Americans

• sugar plantations, relied on imported labor (Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese)

• Dole company = pineapple plantation

• created plantation economy… similar to LA, dependent on foreign markets, no manufacturing power, also much of land owned by US businessmen

1887 Bayonet Constitution

American and British businesses forced the Hawaiian king to sign a constitution (Bayonet bc was under the threat of violence) which drastically reduced the king’s powers, gave more political and property power to planters, american/european residents, property owners. Disenfranchised native hawaiians (because no property/income)

• undermining native monarchy

1893 overthrow of monarchy

US-backed business interests (sugar planters) overthrow, US Marines arrive to force. Economic + military power = coercion

1894 Declaration Hawaii

Created Republic of Hawaii, Dole as President, rescinded more Native rights, set grounds for annexation and power for the elites

1898 US annexation of Hawaii

Congress passed, made Hawaii a US territory, no sovereignty

Cuba

was a sugar economy, tobacco. Large plantations, US investors buy them up after the war, strategic interests.

Jose Marti

cuban writer, wrote Our America, warns against foreign interference, warns against following US models, advocates for unity of LA, resist foreign domination. Warned against US swooping into Cuban independence

Cuban independence movement

• jose marti

• US did not allow Cuban representatives to talk in the Treaty

Platt Amendment

• limits Cuban autonomy, ability to conduct foreign policy, ability to borrow money

  • basically sets up dependence on US

• gives rights to Guantanamo Bay, US Naval base

• gives US right to intervene in Cuba, their discretion for what an “adequate” government is 

  • set stage for US intervention during the years, way to stop rebellions against their interests

• slap in the face to afrocubans, who did not gain rights despite their assistance in the war, continued tensions

US marines in Cuba

• Marines kept returning to Cuba, reinforce interests, maintain white supremacy and elites power “imperialism of liberty”

• killed afro cubans when independent party of color gained power, framed as disruption

• quintin Bandera = Afro cuban general, symbol for afro cuban liberation struggle, murdered and displayed dead body

1810s-1824 in LA

period of decolonization and independence (except insular territories) - break away from Spanish and Portuguese 

US war with Mexico

1847-1848, expansion west by US at the expense of NA states, empires

filibusterismo

• privatized armies from places like New Orleans go to Central America, overthrow existing governments to set up fiefdoms. Private adventurers, not officially sanctioned, but was US business interests

• ex = William Walker, seized power in Nicaragua, made self president, driven by Manifest Destiny

• * example of private interests, not just empire involvement in subversion

Changing US role in LA after Civil War

• impact bigger because more economic strength = ability to influence/make impact, esp in banana and coffee industries

• *Banana republic = concentrated investment in LA countries, derogatory term of CA countries (small, politically unstable) that are controlled by foreign corporations

  • increasing US investments, plantations

  • *

• *attitude was also to establish a permanent presence for trade without the burdens of annexation

LA officials on unequal trade

• plantations, farms, products volatile in market, at whim of international market.

• Honduras ex, had to import some food because all the land was dedicated to export goods

  • all plantation, no subsistence, prioritized international market over domestic needs

• vs manufactured, stable goods that were stable for other countries

• also, the investments and land consolidation by US interests generates Turmoil

Elihu Root perspective on LA

• similar to Philippines, claimed that LA is naturally lazy, don’t know how to be inventive (why they can’t manufacture), cannot improve themselves.

• continuation of ethnocentric view on tropics

• *BART also continued lazy rhetoric, critiqued debts taken on 1903, because LA countries took on foreign loans, also wars devastated their economies, still politically unstable 

Panama Canal

• 1903, US assists in helping Panama breakaway from Colombia because US sees a canal opportunity through this allyship

• Elihu Root says effect of building canal = we will have obligation to police and maintain order so that business can actually succeed (again alluding to inability of LA to control themselves etc)

Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine 1904

• POLICE POWERS, connected to Canal, also ideas of Elihu Root - US has to step in because LA is uncivilized, would devolve to chaos, no work ethic, need US to step in to keep prosperous. 

• Claims that not power hungry, that this is all in the interest of the welfare of neighboring countries

• *says behave yourself! Don’t intervene with our investors, or else

gunboat diplomacy

explains US use of military force, use military power to coerce foreign governments to comply with US objectives

• connects to Roosevelt corollary/police powers

• use to explain how US interests enforced in LA

  • Panama Canal

  • Nicaragua occupation

  • Honduras, coups with backing of US Marines, overthrowing

Nicaragua occupation 1909-1933

• conservative opposition backed by US (also US entrepreneurs provided financial support to them) because wanted rebellion victory

• US Marines move in, justification = political instability, have to be kept in line bc proven they can’t manage self

• US controls the Nicaraguan Militia

Sandino

Liberal nicaraguan leader, resisted opposition. Guerilla leader, started Sandanista movement, was eventaully killed

Ruben Dario

Writer, wrote a poem to Roosevelt in response to the big stick/policing policy