U.S. Imperialism in Hawaii and Southeast Asia

U.S. Imperialism in Hawaii

Overview of Imperialism

  • Definition of Imperialism: A policy whereby a nation expands its power and influence through military conquest and political diplomacy.

  • Areas of Focus:

    • Hawaii

    • China

    • Japan

    • Philippines

Hawaii

  • Initial Context:

    • The U.S. president initially wanted to maintain Hawaiian sovereignty.

    • Hawaii was effectively taken over by American business interests, particularly fruit barons.

Historical Timeline

  1. 1849:

    • Hawaii becomes a protectorate of the U.S. via economic treaties.

    • Growth of American business presence in Hawaii.

  2. Voting Rights Changes:

    • Pressure from American businessmen leads the Hawaiian king to limit voting rights to wealthy landowners, primarily foreigners.

    • Resulting dominance of foreign interests within the Hawaiian legislature.

  3. The Bayonet Constitution (1887):

    • A new constitution was passed with military force, removing power from the monarchy.

    • Key contributors included American, European, and local elite Hawaiians.

  4. Queen Lili'uokalani (1891):

    • Ascended after her brother's death; sought to create a new constitution to restore monarchical veto power and voting rights to poorer Hawaiians.

    • Overthrown by Sanford B. Dole and other business interests, who aimed for U.S. annexation to benefit from avoiding tariffs.

  5. Economic Context:

    • A treaty in 1875 had granted Hawaii tariff-free trade, which changed with the McKinley Tariff (1890).

    • This tariff raised import prices significantly, impacting Hawaii's economy.

  6. Establishment of the Republic of Hawaii (July 4, 1894):

    • Led by Sanford B. Dole as the first president.

    • Grover Cleveland's administration later found this overthrow to be illegal and sought to reinstate Queen Lili'uokalani.

  7. Final Annexation:

    • Under President McKinley, Hawaii was officially made a U.S. territory in 1897.

China

  • U.S. Imperialism in China:

    • Focused on maintaining financial dominance amidst competing imperial powers (Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia).

Key Policies and Events

  1. Open Door Policy:

    • Proposed by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay, aimed to ensure equal trading rights for all foreign nations in China, neglecting Chinese perspectives.

  2. Boxer Rebellion:

    • A nationalist uprising led by the Righteous Harmony Society against foreign imperialism and missionary efforts.

    • Initially not supported by the Dowager Empress, but government later collaborated with Boxers offering covert assistance.

    • The Boxers trained vigorously, believing they were immune to bullet harm; they were not.

    • Resulted in foreign powers forming an international force that violently quelled the rebellion.

    • Despite failure, it fueled a surge in Chinese nationalism, inspiring continued resistance against imperial powers.

Japan

  • Gentlemen's Agreement (1907-1908):

    • Context: Significant Japanese immigration to the U.S. led to increasing prejudice, especially in California, where Japanese children faced segregation in schools.

Agreement Details

  • Japan agreed to stop issuing new passports for labor migration to the U.S.

  • The U.S. agreed to allow Japanese immigrants already in the country to remain and provided provisions for their families.

  • Discrimination against Japanese children in California schools was addressed, though the agreement was never officially passed by Congress and ended in 1924.

Philippines

  • Historical Context:

    • The Philippines had been under Spanish rule since the 16th century, named after King Philip II of Spain.

American Involvement

  1. Spanish-American War:

    • U.S. engaged the Spanish fleet in the Philippines.

    • U.S. ships first docked in the Philippines following Spanish defeat.

  2. Filipino Revolution:

    • Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, sought independence from Spanish rule in the 1890s.

    • The U.S. formed a temporary alliance with Filipinos against Spain, adhering to the principle of “the enemy of my enemy.”

  3. Treaty of Paris:

    • Ended the Spanish-American War and ceded the Philippines to the U.S.

  4. Resistance and the Philippine-American War:

    • U.S. did not recognize Aguinaldo's First Philippine Republic; war ensued.

    • The Buffalo Soldiers, African-American troops, were a significant part of U.S. forces.

    • Casualties among Filipinos were substantial, with varying estimates of total deaths.

  5. Outcome:

    • The U.S. effectively controlled the Philippines until its independence in 1946.

Summary of Key Points

  • Hawaii: American businessmen overthrew Queen Lili'uokalani, leading to Hawaii's annexation under McKinley, despite findings of illegal actions by Cleveland's administration.

  • China: The Open Door Policy maintained equal access for all foreign powers. The Boxer Rebellion, while crushed, boosted Chinese nationalism.

  • Japan: The Gentlemen's Agreement limited immigration while addressing segregation issues.

  • Philippines: U.S. assistance in defeating Spain led to the Philippine-American War, affecting Filipinos' fight for independence until 1946.

Learning Outcomes

  • Improved understanding of American imperialism's impact in Hawaii, China, Japan, and the Philippines, particularly regarding major policies, agreements, and conflicts.