expansion 😛

Seward’s Folly

Seward purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, considered a waste initially but later proved valuable

Reasons for 1880s expansion

Need for new markets and materials

Charles Darwin’s influence

Survival of the fittest and Anglo-Saxon superiority, used to justify Social Darwinism

Josiah Strong

Believer in Social Darwinism, argued that white people would dominate in an ultimate race

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Admiral who wrote The Influence of Sea Power upon History, promoting naval power as key to world dominance

Key goals from Mahan’s ideas

Modern fleet, naval bases in the Caribbean and Pacific, Panama Canal

Cuban independence: 1st war

1868 war, rebels lost, Spain abolished slavery, allowed limited self-governance not fully realized

Effect of 1886 Cuban emancipation

Cuban sugar industry grew due to American investments, but tariffs later harmed it

Cuban independence: 2nd war

Began in 1895, led by José Martí

American opinions on Cuban war

Split between intervening for ideals of freedom or protecting Spanish-American interests

Valeriano Weyler’s tactics

Moved rebel-supporting Cubans into concentration camps, labeled “The Butcher” by Yellow Press

The Yellow Press

Sensationalist journalism led by Hearst and Pulitzer, exaggerated events like Weyler’s actions

Frederic Remington

Newspaper artist for Hearst, initially believed war with Spain was unlikely

McKinley’s stance on Spain

US President who initially resisted war but ultimately intervened after USS Maine explosion

USS Maine explosion

An American ship exploded in Havana, Hearst blamed Spain, rallying war sentiment

George Dewey

Head of the Pacific fleet who captured Manila in the Philippines during the war

Emilio Aguinaldo

Filipino rebel leader who helped Americans defeat Spain but was excluded from surrender negotiations

Theodore Roosevelt’s role

Resigned as assistant secretary of the navy to organize and lead the Rough Riders in Cuba

Battle of San Juan Hill

Rough Riders’ key battle in Cuba during the Spanish

Treaty of Paris 1898

Ended the Spanish-American War, US gained Philippines Guam and Puerto Rico

McKinley on annexing Philippines

Initially reluctant but later supported annexation to “Christianize” the population

Platt Amendment 1901

US provisions in Cuba’s constitution, limited treaties, US intervention rights, and land leasing for naval bases

Protectorate definition

A country controlled by a stronger power, Cuba was a US protectorate post-1898

US investments in Cuba

Heavily invested in Cuban sugar, public utilities, and railroads

Foraker Act 1900

US appointed a governor for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s status in 1952

Became a commonwealth of the US, controlling laws and finances while the US handled defense

Queen Liliuokalani’s rule

Hawaiian queen who sought native rule, overthrown by US business interests

Hawaii’s annexation

Annexed in 1898 during the Spanish-American War for sugar production and strategic naval bases

Philippine-American War

Started in 1899 after tensions between Filipino forces and US troops, lasted 3 years

Jones Act 1916

Replaced appointed commissions in the Philippines with an elected senate

Tydings-McDuffie Act

Promised Philippine independence after 10 years as a US commonwealth

Open Door Policy

John Hay’s policy ensuring US access to China’s markets and opposition to exclusive spheres of influence

Boxer Rebellion 1900

Chinese uprising against foreign influence, suppressed by international forces including the US

Russo-Japanese War

Roosevelt mediated peace in 1905, Japan retained Korea and parts of a Russian island

Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

Established Panama Canal Zone and US rights to build the Panama Canal

Roosevelt Corollary

Addition to Monroe Doctrine, US would intervene militarily in Western Hemisphere to maintain stability

Dollar Diplomacy

US policy of gaining economic control by solving other nations’ financial issues, e g Nicaragua Haiti

Kristin Hoganson’s argument

Racial hierarchies and anxieties justified US expansion, e g fears of Japanese power in Hawaii

Frederick Jackson Turner’s Thesis

The American frontier drove national spirit, overseas expansion was needed after its closure

Alfred Mahan’s key ideas

Expansion of naval power, Pacific posts for China trade, construction of Panama Canal

William Appleman Williams

US imperialism driven by economic ambitions for new markets and resources

Albert Beveridge’s justification

US expansion was a moral duty to bring civilization and progress to other nations

Examples of economic imperialism

Hawaii sugar, Philippines trade with Asia, Cuba sugar and trade ports, Panama Canal trade routes

US influence in Latin America

Samoa Venezuela Brazil and Chile interventions driven by economic and political goals

Social Darwinism

Belief that superior societies dominate weaker ones, used to justify US imperialism

American identity post-1893

Shaped by the Depression and desire for expansion after the frontier ended