United States History II Native Americans + Imperialism

Native Americans

Chief Joseph

was the leader of the Nez Perce tribe during the late 1800s. When the U.S. government tried to force his people onto a reservation in Idaho since they found gold, he led them on a long retreat toward Canada in 1877 to try to avoid confinement. After traveling over 1,000 miles and fighting several battles, they were captured just 40 miles from the Canadian border. Chief Joseph became known for his surrender speech, especially the line, “I will fight no more forever.” He is remembered as a symbol of Native resistance and dignity.

Native Americans

Little Big Horn

1. also known as Custer’s Last Stand, was a battle between U.S. Army forces led by General George Custer and a coalition of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by leaders including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

2. The Native forces defeated Custer and his men.

3. Although it was a major Native American victory, it led the U.S. government to increase military efforts against Native tribes, ultimately resulting in their defeat and confinement to reservations.

Native Americans

Gohst Dance

Spiritual movement led by Wovoka in the 1880s promising the return of Native lands and buffalo. Ghost Shirts were believed to protect from bullets. They were defeated

Native Americans

Battle of Wounded

1. took place in 1890 in South Dakota. U.S. soldiers surrounded a group of Lakota Sioux, many of whom were followers of the Ghost Dance movement.

2. A gunshot was fired during an attempt to disarm the group, and soldiers opened fire, killing around 250–300 Native Americans, including many women and children.

3. It is considered the last major armed conflict between Native Americans and the U.S. Army and marked the end of Native armed resistance in the West.

Imperialism

Alfred Thayer Mahan

U.S. naval officer and historian; argued strong navies made nations powerful. Influenced U.S. to build a modern navy and pursue overseas bases

Imperialism

American Samoa

1. The United States wanted access to Asia but was not strong enough to challenge major powers directly.

2. The U.S. chose Samoa, a small Pacific island, to establish a presence.

3. Samoa had a poor, landlocked harbor, making it strategically weak.

4. The U.S. paid Samoa to place a ship there.

5. Germany viewed this as a threat.

6. Germany sent ships to Samoa.

7. The conflict ended in a tie, symbolizing that the U.S. could stand up to Germany without losing

Imperialism

USS Baltimore

• A coup in Chile brought an anti-American government to power.

• President Harrison sent the USS Baltimore to intimidate Chile.

• American sailors went ashore, got drunk, and started a fight.

• Two Americans were killed and others were jailed.

• Harrison demanded:

•   Release of prisoners

• A formal apology

• $75,000

•    Reopening of trade

• Chile complied.

• This showed that the U.S. could use naval threats successfully, even without testing its strength

Imperialism

Hawaiian Revolution

• Hawaii was originally a kingdom ruled by Queen Liliuokalani.

• The U.S. had good relations with Hawaii under her father.

• The U.S. had access to Pearl Harbor.

• Hawaii’s economy depended on sugar and pineapples.

• The McKinley Tariff removed Hawaii’s special trade status.

• Hawaii’s economy collapsed.

•   Queen Liliuokalani planned to remove non-native landowners.

• American businessman Sanford Dole organized a revolt.

•   He overthrew the queen and declared himself president of the Republic of Hawaii.

• The U.S. later made Hawaii a protectorate (1898).

Imperialism

Great White Fleet

U.S. naval fleet sent around the world under Roosevelt to showcase American naval power

Imperialism

Yellow Journalism

A sensationalist, often exaggerated style of newspaper reporting in the late 1800s. It mattered because it manipulated public opinion, inflaming Americans’ anger over events in Cuba and other territories. Newspapers blamed them for the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, stirring outrage and pressuring the U.S. government to go to war.

Imperialism

Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War involved the United States going to war with Spain. President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war, and the Teller Amendment was added to ensure that the U.S. would not take permanent control of Cuba — Cuba would be fully sovereign once freed. The U.S. used a volunteer army, led by Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, who were fully integrated and did most of the fighting in Cuba. Training camps in the American South were dangerous due to heat and disease.

The war ended after a short six-month campaign with the Treaty of Paris. According to the treaty:

1. The U.S. took all of Spain’s remaining empire outside of Spain, including Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Manila in the Philippines.

2. The U.S. paid Spain $20 million for the territories.

3. Hawaii was also taken by the U.S., not from Spain but as a separate act to make it a protectorate.

 

Imperialism

Big Stick Diplomacy

Refers to the U.S. Navy (Great White Fleet), which Roosevelt used to project power globally

Imperialism

Dollar Diplomacy

Encouraged U.S. influence abroad through financial and economic means, rather than direct military force.

Imperialism

Missionary Diplomacy

U.S. had a responsibility to spread democracy; supported governments aligned with American values and opposed those that did not.