Imperialism_in_the_Americas

The Age of Imperialism: USA & Latin America

• Overview of imperialism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Expansion of the USA

1. Post-Independence USA

• The USA after winning independence from England in 1783.

2. Louisiana Purchase and Florida

• The acquisition of Louisiana from France and Florida from Spain increases territory.

3. Oregon and Texas

• Gained Oregon from England and the independent Texas Republic further expands the USA.

4. Mexican-American War

• The USA defeated Mexico in 1848, marking a significant westward expansion known as "Manifest Destiny," the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent.

American Imperialism

• USA's growth in size, wealth, and power occurs at a time when most of the world was under imperial rule.

• By the 1890s, the USA sought to expand naval bases and trade routes, particularly in Asia and Latin America.

Major Strategies

• Increased access in Asia: Example: Matthew Perry's unequal trade treaty with Japan (1853), Open Door Policy in China (1900).

• Assisted newly independent Latin American countries that were vulnerable to European powers.

US as a World Power

• Used the Monroe Doctrine to protect Latin America, viewing the Caribbean as an American domain and Latin America as a market for U.S. goods.

• Coveted control over Hawaii and sea lanes to China.

Acquisition of Territories

1. Alaska

• Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million; became a U.S. territory by 1912.

2. Pacific Islands

• Acquisition of Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines following the Spanish-American War (1898).

Protecting Latin America

• 1823: Monroe Doctrine issued, declaring Latin America off-limits to European colonization.

• 1903: Roosevelt Corollary states the U.S. will maintain order in Latin America.

Economic Exploitation in Latin America

• Good Neighbor Policy: U.S. flooded Latin American markets with goods, which adversely affected local businesses while extracting raw materials.

Spanish-American War

• In 1898, the U.S. intervened in Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain.

• The explosion of the USS Maine led to media blaming Spain, resulting in war declaration.

• Consequence: Gained territories like the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico.

Anti-Imperialist Sentiment

• Opposition to imperialism was led by the Anti-Imperialist League formed in 1898.

• Key arguments included:

  • No governance without consent of the governed.

  • High cost of defending overseas territories.

  • Tradition of noninvolvement in foreign affairs.

U.S. Control in Hawaii

• U.S. missionaries and businessmen began influencing Hawaii in the 1820s.

• By the 1870s, sugar and fruit industries dominated economy, leading to the overthrow of the Hawaiian queen in 1888, and Hawaii becoming a U.S. territory in 1898.

Liliuokalani's Protest

• Queen Liliuokalani protested against U.S. claims to Hawaiian lands as taking property without due process. Highlights the concept of property rights and due process as per constitutional amendments.

Panama Canal

• The U.S. aimed to build the canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for economic and strategic reasons.

• U.S. Interference: Colombian refusal led the U.S. to support Panamanian revolution for canal construction.

• Financial agreement with Panama included $10 million payment and an annual rent for the Canal Zone.

  • Construction operated from 1904 to 1914 and saw over 35,000 workers, with high casualty rates due to accidents and disease.

Geographic Overview of Panama Canal

• Map details the location and significant features of the Panama Canal, connecting major oceans and influencing trade routes.

Additional Activities

• Map analysis and color coding of countries involved in imperialism and their colonies in relation to U.S. expansion.

DETAILED - The Age of Imperialism: USA & Latin America

Overview of Imperialism

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, imperialism became a dominant force globally, significantly impacting the dynamics between nations. The USA’s expansionism reflected both economic ambitions and strategic military interests, leading to an era of significant territorial acquisitions and shifts in foreign policy.

Expansion of the USA

1. Post-Independence USA

The USA after winning independence from England in 1783 faced the challenge of building a stable and secure nation. The new government was keen on asserting its sovereignty and securing its borders against both indigenous peoples and European powers.

2. Louisiana Purchase and Florida

In 1803, the USA acquired the vast Louisiana Territory from France for approximately $15 million, doubling the nation's size. Additionally, the U.S. completed the acquisition of Florida from Spain in 1819, further solidifying its southern border and expanding its reach into the southeastern territories.

3. Oregon and Texas

The Oregon Territory was acquired through a treaty with England in 1846, resulting in the establishment of the U.S.-Canada border along the 49th parallel. Furthermore, the annexation of Texas in 1845, following its revolution against Mexico, was pivotal in shaping the national narrative of Manifest Destiny, where Americans believed they were destined to expand across the continent.

4. Mexican-American War

The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) arose from disputes over Texas and territorial ambitions. The USA's victory led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which resulted in the cession of present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming, significantly enhancing U.S. territorial claims.

American Imperialism

By the late 19th century, the USA was emerging as a global power with increased wealth and military strength, contained within the context of a world dominated by European imperialism. The U.S. sought to expand its influence, especially in strategic regions like Asia and Latin America.

Major Strategies

• Increased Access in Asia: Examples of American engagement included Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival in Japan in 1853, leading to the signing of an unequal trade treaty that opened Japan to U.S. markets. The Open Door Policy established in 1900 aimed at ensuring equal trading rights for all nations in China, showcasing U.S. economic interests in the region.

• Support for Newly Independent Nations: The U.S. sought to assist Latin American countries that had recently gained independence, aiming to bolster their stability and prevent European intervention.

U.S. as a World Power

The Monroe Doctrine (1823) was a cornerstone policy asserting that the Americas were off-limits to further European colonization. By establishing itself as the protector of Latin America, the USA aimed to secure a sphere of influence in the region for both economic and political reasons.

Expansionist Aspirations

The U.S. coveted control over key strategic areas, such as Hawaii, which would provide naval bases for operations in the Pacific, along with securing vital sea lanes to China.

Acquisition of Territories

1. Alaska

Acquired from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (known as Seward's Folly), Alaska was initially viewed skeptically but later turned out to be resource-rich, showcasing the USA's growing territorial ambition.

2. Pacific Islands

Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the U.S. acquired significant territories, including Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, marking a significant expansion of American interests and control in the Pacific.

Protecting Latin America

The Monroe Doctrine served as the foundation for U.S. interventionist policies in Latin America. The Roosevelt Corollary (1903) expanded the doctrine's implications, asserting the U.S. would intervene in Latin America to maintain stability and order, justified by eradicating European influence.

Economic Exploitation in Latin America

The Good Neighbor Policy later established a relationship where the U.S. flooded Latin American markets with goods, which often undermined local economies and disrupted traditional practices while securing raw materials for American industries.

Spanish-American War

In 1898, the USA intervened in Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain, driven by humanitarian concerns and economic interests. The explosion of the USS Maine catalyzed public support for war against Spain, resulting in American victory and significant territorial gains, cementing the U.S.'s role on the global stage.

Anti-Imperialist Sentiment

Opposition to imperialism was significant, particularly through the Anti-Imperialist League, which criticized the imperial expansion on moral and economic grounds. Key arguments included:

• Advocacy for governance based on the consent of the governed.

• Concerns over the high cost and commitment to defending overseas territories adopted without public support.

• Upholding traditional American values of non-involvement in foreign affairs.

U.S. Control in Hawaii

American interests began to dominate Hawaiian economic life in the 1820s, primarily through missionaries and agricultural entrepreneurs. The sugar industry’s dominance fueled political pressures leading to the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, culminating in Hawaii's annexation as a U.S. territory in 1898.

Liliuokalani's Protest

Queen Liliuokalani's protests against American claims to Hawaiian lands serve as a significant example of the tensions between imperial interests and indigenous sovereignty, highlighting the concepts of property rights and constitutional due process.

Panama Canal

The construction of the Panama Canal was pursued for its strategic economic advantages, aiming to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. After negotiations with Colombia failed, the U.S. supported a Panamanian revolution, leading to the canal's construction under a financial agreement that stipulated payment and annual rent for the Canal Zone. The construction period from 1904 to 1914 was marked by high worker mortality rates due to harsh conditions and disease.

Geographic Overview of Panama Canal

Maps of the Panama Canal reveal its strategic location and pivotal role in connecting global trade routes, reshaping maritime commerce and international relations.

Additional Activities

Students can engage in map analyses, color-coding countries involved in imperialism, and examining their colonies in relation to U.S. territorial expansions, enriching their understanding of the imperialist context and its lasting impacts on global relations.