American History Unit 5

Isolationism

When a nation devotes all its resources to its own advancement and remaining at peace by avoiding foreign alliances and responsibilities

Internationalism

Policy in which a nation believes countries should cooperate within international organizations(I.e. NATO, United Nations, etc…) to settle disputes

Imperialism

When a stronger nation, for its own benefit, extends its economic, political, and/or military over weaker territories

Three Reasons America participated in Imperialism

1. Desire for Economic Prosperity- the us wanted raw materials like sugar, America competed with European nations for new materials(places) to sell goods

2. Pursuit of International Prestige(“respect”)- the us believe it needed an empire to be perceived as a major world power like Europe

3. Belief in Cultural Superiority-people in the us believed they had a responsibility to spread “civilization” to the inferior peoples of the world

Economic Reasons for participating in Imperialism

Social Darwinism

Belief that certain races and nations were generally superior and destined to rule over “inferior” people and cultures

Alfred T. Mahan

• Was an American naval officer and historian who urged American leaders to build a stronger navy and to obtain naval bases in Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines. He was also an early proponent for building a canal through Central American to allow us naval vessels to move quickly between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

• Wrote “The Influence of Sea Power on History”(1890)

Three Causes of Spanish-American War

1. Spanish Reconcentración camps-in response to Cubas 2nd war for independence,Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to restore order. Weyler placed approximately 300k rural civilians in reconcentration camps. As a result of disease and starvation, tens of thousands died in the camps

2. Yellow Journalism: use of exaggerated reporting by newspapers or magazines to attract readers. William Randolph Hearst-owner of several major newspapers during the late 19th century who used his papers to oppose Spanish rule in Cuba

3. Explosion of U.S.S Maine in Cuban harbor(February 15,1898): 266 killed, congress officially declared war on Spain (April 11th, 1898)

William Randolph Hearst

an American newspaper publisher who created the nations largest newspaper chain. Hearst along with Joseph Pulitzer, helped popularize investigative reporting and sensationalist journalism

Yellow Journalism

Use of exaggerated reporting by newspapers or magazines to attract readers

William Randolph Hearst-owner of several major newspapers during the late 19th century who used his papers to oppose Spanish rule in Cuba

Rough Riders

A volunteer cavalry commanded by Teddy Roosevelt

Group of men consisting of rugged westerners and upper class easterners who fought during the Spanish American war

Roosevelt became famous for leading the charges at San Juan Hill

USS Marine Controversy

A US ship exploded killing 266 members

Parked in a Cuban harbor

People believed it was purposely caused by a Spanish mine of fixed torpedo

This was later found to no be true and was actually a accident because of fire being near the amo

Treaty of Paris-

Impact on Spanish-American War

Territory America gained

Ended the Spanish American war

Spain agreed to free Cuba, give Guam, and Puerto Rico to the us and sell the Philippines to us for $20 million

Big Stick Diplomacy

• Teddy Roosevelts foreign policy while he was president

• Policy of careful negotiation(“speaking softly”) supported by the unspoken threat of a powerful military(“big stick”)

Results of Spanish American War

• In addition to gaining the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, the us maintained a strong presence in Cuba

• Cuba was given quasi independence

• In 1903 the us forced them to add the Platt Amendment to their new constitution

• This allowed America to maintain a military base at Guantanamo Bay

• The acquisition of foreign territory and strengthening of its navy signaled to the world the us had officially became a major world power

Reasons for US intervention in Panama/Colombia

• Wanted to build the canal for primarily military reasons but also for international trade considerations

• When Colombia dropped out of the deal of building the canal, the us parked battle ships off the coast of Colombia and told them to give the people of Panama independence

• Roosevelt recognized the new country of Panama and offered the same deal he had previously given Colombia- $10 million plus the annual $250000 rental fee

Reasons for U.S. intervention in Hawaii

Hawaii was good for their sugar businesses

US wanted to maintain naval base of Pearl Harbor to have a place to refuel their ships moving the rough the Pacific Ocean

Results of US imperialism

The US had an empire and a new statue in world affairs

The war marked a turning point in the history of American foreign policy