1.1 History Notes

US Expansionist Foreign Policy (1880-1900)

Conceptual Understanding

  • Key Questions:

    • Why did the USA embark on a territorial expansion?

    • How consistent was this expansion with prior US foreign policy?

    • What domestic opposition existed?

Background

  • The Civil War ended in 1865, resulting in over 620,000 deaths.

  • Reconstruction was challenged by the need to reintegrate southern states and manage a declining northern economy.

  • Rapid industrial growth during the war followed by economic dislocation led to the Long Depression (1873-1879).

  • Grant's administration's restrictive monetary policy worsened economic conditions, resulting in unemployment and labor strikes (e.g., the Great Railway Strikes of 1877).

Economic Expansion (1879-1900)

  • Post-Long Depression Recovery:

    • US emerged into a period of economic expansion in 1879, driven by industrial demand.

    • Immigration and resource exploitation (coal, oil, etc.) fueled growth.

  • New Infrastructure:

    • Significant railway expansion facilitated the movement of goods and labor.

    • Emergence of business monopolies and trusts influenced economic dynamics.

  • Labor Response:

    • Rapid urbanization led to poor working conditions and labor organization.

    • Rise of political ideologies like socialism and Marxism emerged in response to worker exploitation.

Ideological Roots of Expansion

  • Monroe Doctrine (1820s):

    • Established US opposition to European interference in the Western Hemisphere.

    • By the late 19th century, it was used to justify US actions in Mexico, Venezuela, and Cuba.

  • Roosevelt Corollary:

    • Expanded the Monroe Doctrine to include US intervention in Western Hemisphere affairs.

  • Manifest Destiny:

    • Originally a justification for Texas annexation, it evolved into a belief in the US's divine right to expand coast to coast.

    • It blended with ideas of American exceptionalism and social Darwinism.

Moral Justifications for Expansion

  • Influenced by Darwinian thought and led by figures like Herbert Spencer.

    • Emphasized 'survival of the fittest' as a justification for social and political dominance.

    • Supported by US industrialists as philosophically backing the expansion.

  • Josiah Strong's Perspective:

    • Argued for Anglo-Saxon racial superiority and a moral obligation to expand to promote democracy and Christianity.

Economic Necessity for Expansion

  • Growth in population and industry called for new markets.

  • Alfred Thayer Mahan's Influence:

    • Advocated for naval power to support trade, asserting that control over strategic waterways was essential.

  • US industrial expansion after 1873 spurred an urgent search for new markets, particularly after the depression of the early 1890s.

Case Studies of US Expansionism

  • Samoan Islands:

    • Secured as a coaling station for trade despite initial congressional rejection of formal treaties.

    • The rivalry with Germany and Britain over the islands led to a joint protectorate arrangement in 1899.

  • Hawaii:

    • Growing US commercial interests culminated in the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 after US citizens overthrew Queen Liliuokalani.

Political Responses to Expansion

  • Venezuela Crisis (1895):

    • Gold discovery in the border region heightened tensions between the US and Britain.

    • Cleveland's response reinforced the Monroe Doctrine, demanding arbitration from Britain despite their rejection.

    • The situation was characterized by nationalistic fervor and jingoism in Congress, leading to final arbitration and reaffirming US influence.

Summary

  • US territorial expansion during 1880-1900 was driven by economic, ideological, and moral imperatives.

  • This era marked a significant shift in US foreign policy, transitioning from isolationist tendencies to an assertive stance on the global stage.

US Expansionist Foreign Policy (1880-1900) - Detailed Overview

Key Questions:

  • Why did the USA embark on a territorial expansion?

  • How consistent was this expansion with prior US foreign policy?

  • What domestic opposition existed?

Background:

  • The Civil War (1861-1865) ended with significant national casualties and economic challenges.

  • Reconstruction faced difficulties due to reintegration of Southern states and the impacts of the Long Depression (1873-1879).

  • Economic turmoil led to labor strikes, notably the Great Railway Strikes of 1877.

Economic Expansion (1879-1900):

  • Post-Long Depression Recovery: US industrial growth resumed in 1879, supported by high immigration rates and resource exploitation (coal and oil).

  • Infrastructure Development: The railway expansion facilitated trade and labor mobility, aiding economic dynamics.

  • Labor Movement Response: Urbanization sparked labor organization as workers fought against poor working conditions, leading to the rise of ideologies like socialism.

Ideological Roots of Expansion:

  • Monroe Doctrine (1823): Asserted US opposition to European interference in the Western Hemisphere, later justifying actions in Latin America.

  • Roosevelt Corollary (1904): Expanded the Monroe Doctrine, advocating for US intervention in regional affairs to maintain order.

  • Manifest Destiny: Initially justifying the annexation of Texas, it evolved into a belief in US territorial and cultural expansion.

Moral and Economic Justifications:

  • Darwinian Influence: Social Darwinism, promoted by figures such as Herbert Spencer, justified expansion as a survival of the fittest.

  • Josiah Strong: Advocated for the moral imperative of spreading Anglo-Saxon culture to promote democracy and Christianity.

  • Alfred Thayer Mahan: Emphasized naval power and control over strategic waterways, influencing US military expansion and trade policies after the Depression of 1893.

Case Studies of US Expansionism:

  • Samoa (1899): Conflict over control with Germany and Britain resulted in a joint protectorate, highlighting imperial interests.

  • Hawaii (1898): The overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani by US interests culminated in the annexation, facilitating sugar trade and military access.

Political Responses to Expansion:

  • Venezuela Crisis (1895): Tensions with Britain over gold found in disputed territory led to US enforcing the Monroe Doctrine, demanding arbitration and reflecting nationalistic fervor in Congress.

Summary:

US territorial expansion from 1880 to 1900 was propelled by a blend of economic interests, ideological beliefs, and moral obligations, marking a significant shift from isolationism to an assertive foreign policy stance on the global stage.

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