Untitled Notes

Not all Americans supported imperialism; significant anti-imperialist sentiment existed.
Notable anti-imperialist figure: Mark Twain.
Formation of the American Anti-Imperialist League in 1898 against U.S. annexation of the Philippines.

Annexation of the Philippines marked a crucial turning point in American views on imperialism.
Opponents claimed that imperialism contradicted the republican principle of self-government, originally foundational to the United States.
- Key principle: Consent of the governed: The idea that a government’s legitimacy arises from the consent of those it governs.
Argument against annexation:
  - Violated the principle of self-government, resulting in forced governance without consent.
  - Reflected concerns regarding the preservation of American democratic ideals rooted in George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s values.
  - Washington’s farewell address warned against entanglement in foreign affairs.
  - Lincoln’s declaration that government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Ultimately, the American Anti-Imperialist League did not sway public opinion.
Many Americans celebrated military victories, such as the Spanish-American War, which reinforced imperialist sentiments.
Politicians also favored imperialism due to its association with national pride and victory.
Anti-imperialist sentiments manifested in poetry:
- Examples include “The Black Man’s Burden” and “The Real White Man’s Burden,” which criticized the hubris of imperialists and highlighted racial injustices.
These works suggested that imperialists overlooked the struggles faced by people in colonized nations, reflecting American racial issues.

Gunboat Diplomacy exemplified in the actions of Matthew Perry towards Japan in 1853:
  - Perry’s mission to Japan aimed to open trade relations.
  - At the time, Japan was isolationist, only trading through a single port (Nagasaki) with the Dutch.
  - Perry presented a treaty to Japan, backed by the assertion of military dominance (gunboat), effectively coercing Japan into compliance.
Resulted in establishment of U.S.-Japan relations, leading Japan to modernize and industrialize, ultimately becoming an imperial power itself.

Racial tensions in the U.S. impacted Japanese Americans:
  - Japanese Americans faced public schooling restrictions in California.
  - Gentlemen's Agreement:
    - An unofficial agreement where the U.S. would allow Japanese immigrants in America certain rights, while Japan would limit emigration to the United States.
U.S.-Japan relations characterized as a “bound destiny” in the Pacific, foreshadowing future conflicts such as at Pearl Harbor.

The U.S. intervened in a boundary dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela.
President Cleveland warned Britain against expanding into Venezuelan territory under the Monroe Doctrine, asserting U.S. dominion over the Western Hemisphere.
- Britain initially rejected this assertion, leading to heightened tensions.
The situation was resolved through arbitration, avoiding war and enhancing U.S. reputation as a regional power.
Positive reception from Latin American countries, who began viewing the U.S. as a protector.

Preceding U.S. control in Hawaii were initial missionary efforts that turned economic in nature (sugar and pineapple industry).
A minority of white planters led by Sanford Dole overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893, signaling a shift to American control.
- Backup from American troops facilitated the coup, followed by an attempt to annex Hawaii to the U.S.
President Grover Cleveland opposed the annexation, honoring the overthrow of a legitimate government, marking a brief period of respect towards sovereign nations.
Hawaii later became a strategic location during the Spanish-American War for U.S. maritime operations in Asia.

China resisted overt conquest; instead, it experienced a division of influence known as spheres of influence among the powers, facilitated by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay.
Open Door Policy proposed:
- Countries should maintain respect for Chinese sovereignty while establishing their own privileged areas of trade.
- Aims were to prevent conflict over colonization in China.
Boxer Rebellion (1900): A nationalist uprising opposed to foreign influence in China.
- An international coalition, including the U.S., intervened to suppress the rebellion and uphold the Qing dynasty, asserting American influence in Chinese affairs.

Overall, U.S. imperialism has complex motives including economic interests and strategic positioning, which often conflict with foundational American ideals of liberty and self-governance.
The resistance and implications of imperialism reflect the entwined history of race, foreign policy, and national identity throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.