Empire

Trade to Interventions

  • Pacific trade existed since the late 18th century

    1. OPEN DOOR POLICY 1899

      • In reaction to threats to trade (ensured all powers have equals access to China

    2. Boxer Rebellion, 1900

      • boxers - a group of rebellious people

      • an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, anti-Christian revolt in China

        • US + western nations sent militaries to intervene to squash rebellion and restore trade

    3. Hawaii for sugar, location within the Pacific for defense and trade, keep Japan in check

    4. Missionaries

  • Middle East

    1. prior to WWI trade was insignificant

    2. contact via humanitarian aid, missionaries

      • est. schools, hospitals, Western-style universities.

  • Spanish American War, 1898-1902 - “a splendid little war”

    1. Cuba, 1898

      • sought independence from Spain

        • news of Spanish mistreatment of Cubans

        • McKinley became increasingly concerned for Americans and American business

          • an explosion aboard the USS Maine blamed on Spain

    2. US coveted economic gains but questioned morality of empire

      • Should the US help territories earn freedom or annex?

        • Annexed Hawaii from monarchy in 1898

        • US won war and acquired Guam, PR, and Philippines

          • US fought Filipino forces but ultimately purchased Philippines from Spanish

            • Philippine Insurrection

      • Taft was est. as civilian colonial governor 1901-3

        • with military support

        • belief that it was a Protestant, civilizing force, MANIFEST DESTINY

Latin America

  • The Mexican Revolution was a result of revolving presidents in Mexico but also American presence and military deaths

    1. Jeopardized Mexican-American relations

    2. an example of American trade and defense interests in latin america

  • Roosevelt continued McKinley’s imperialism

    1. Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick - in reference to Asia

    2. DOLLAR DIPLOMACY - Latin America

      • loans to LA countries for some level of American control

      • less costly than military occupation

      • high interest rates left some unable to repay

  • Interventions

    1. returned to Cuba who had declared its independence from Spain

      • return w/o permission

    2. We supported independence from Columbia, 1901

      • to create the Panama Canal

        • Roosevelt Corollary, 1904

          1. Monroe Doctrine 1823, stated that any European intervention in LA would be treated as a threat to American security

          2. RC reiterates MD + Stated the US has the right to intervene in LA when it sees admin or fiscal problems

            • Gunboat Diplomacy - navy and marines invade

Culture

  • WASP (white anglo saxon protestant) culture was viewed as superior

    • it was the responsibility of white westerners to civilize the rest of the world - WHITE MAN’S BURDEN

    • driven by economic gain

    • tried to impose gender hierarchy on cultures that weren’t always patriarchal

Immigration

  • Industrialization → Imperialism → Immigration

    1. dependence upon labor and consumers

    2. anxiety about ability to assimilation