US Imperialism: Hawaii, Cuba, and the Rise of Yellow Journalism

Foundations of American Imperialism and Expansionist Ideology

Global Context of Nationalism and Power: During the late 19th century, the United States was motivated by growing nationalism and the desire to compete with European powers who were still colonizing various regions around the world.
Motivations for Imperialism: The U.S. had a dual interest in expanding both its global power and its "money-making ability."
Manifest Destiny: This is the foundational belief that the United States possessed not only the right to expand its geographic borders and spread its ideas but also a "duty" to do so. This concept, which originally fueled westward expansion across the continent, was now being applied to outward expansion across the oceans.
The Monroe Doctrine: Originally established in $1823$ , this policy asserted that European nations should not have the ability to colonize or interfere in the Americas. In the late 1890s, this doctrine served as both a formal government policy and a motivating ideology for American imperialism.

The Annexation of Hawaii

The Independent Kingdom of Hawaii: Before American intervention, Hawaii was an independent kingdom.
Economic Interests: American investors and businessmen became heavily involved in the Hawaiian sugar industry, and these sugar planters eventually gained significant influence over the island's affairs.
Queen Liliuokalani: The Queen of Hawaii opposed the growing American influence and did not want Hawaii to lose its independence or its power to the United States.
The Overthrow ( $1893$ ): In $1893$ , American businessmen led a coup to remove Queen Liliuokalani from power. This action was notably backed by the U.S. Navy.
Strategic and Economic Value: Hawaii was considered a vital location for several reasons: * It provided a valuable Pacific location for trade with Asia. * It offered significant economic opportunities. * It served as a critical military and strategic location.
Official Annexation ( $1898$ ): While the queen was overthrown in $1893$ , Hawaii was not officially annexed until $1898$ .
Connection to the Spanish-American War: The start of the Spanish-American War provided the U.S. government with a justification for annexation. The government argued that the rebellion in Hawaii was dangerous and that the U.S. needed to expand its military bases during wartime.
Historical Significance: Hawaii was the first major overseas territory annexed by the United States that was not part of the contiguous landmass. It remained a territory for a long time before eventually becoming a state.

Conflict in Cuba and Spanish Colonial Rule

Cuban Resistance: Cuba was the center of the Spanish-American War. Cubans were frequently organizing rebellions, using both civil and violent approaches to seek independence from Spanish rule.
Spanish Interests: Spain refused to relinquish Cuba because the colony provided significant wealth and ensured that Spain maintained power and influence in the Americas. The sugar industry was a primary economic factor.
Reconcentration Camps: To suppress the Cuban rebellion, Spain employed harsh tactics, most notably "reconcentration camps." These were distinct from later historical concentration camps; they functioned by: * Isolating rebels in the remote countryside. * Blocking all supplies, including food, from reaching those areas. * Attempting to "starve out" the population to force them to stop rebelling.

Yellow Journalism and Public Opinion

Definition of Yellow Journalism: A type of journalism that emerged in the late $1890s$ characterized by sensationalism, exaggerated stories, and eye-catching headlines.
Primary Goal: The central objective of yellow journalism was to boost newspaper circulation and sales rather than reporting strictly factual news.
Key Media Figures: * William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were the two primary competitors in the newspaper business whose rivalry fueled the rise of yellow journalism. * The Pulitzer Prize, awarded today for excellence in journalism and the arts, is named after Joseph Pulitzer.
The USS Maine Incident: Reporters used yellow journalism to cover the explosion of the U.S. ship, the USS Maine. Headlines claimed there was a "torpedo hole" in the ship and immediately implicated Spain before all facts were known.
Influence on War Support: Yellow journalism exaggerated the brutality of Spanish tactics in Cuba. While the tactics were inherently harsh, the sensationalized presentation in American newspapers increased public sympathy for Cubans and built significant public support for a war against Spain.

Questions & Discussion

Distance to Cuba: A student correctly identified that Cuba is approximately $90$ miles away from the United States (specifically off the coast of Florida).
Geographic Context of Hawaii: Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean. Traveling there from the East Coast typically involves a flight to California followed by several more hours of flight time.
The Caribbean and the Atlantic: It was clarified that the Caribbean Sea, where Cuba is located, is part of the larger Atlantic Ocean.
250th Anniversary: The instructor noted that this year marks the $250^{th}$ anniversary of the events leading to the United States declaring independence from the United Kingdom (England).