Unit 3. American Imperialism
Imperialism: To take over another country
Expansionism: to take over territory
Spanish-American War 1898
The U.S. fought Spain for Cuba and in the end freed Cuba from Spain’s reign, but took unofficial control of Cuba
Origins
Cubans were laborers for sugar and tobacco plantations
Jose Marti organized a rebellion in Cuba while he was exiled in the US
after he was freed he was killed, but guerilla warfare still occurred in Cuba and destroyed plantations
General Weyler was dispatched from spain to end rebellion in cuba
Used brutal methods & forced them into concentration camps
Direct Causes
Yellow Journalism: A form of sensational media that pained the Cuban rebels as victims and the Spanish as murders. Two Famous journalists were William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer
De Lome’s Letter: A Spanish ambassador named Enrique Dupuy de Lome' had a letter that called President McKinley weak and was leaked
Explosion in Havana Harbor: The USS Maine was enlisted to sail to Cuba to protect American property, but was exploded for an unknown cause. In the end, Spain was blamed for the explosion and tension rose.
Refusal to grant Cuba Independence made McKinley urge Congress to declare war from popular pressure
Motives
Millions of dollars were invested into Cuba, and Spain was seen as a threat to that investment
New Business opportunities after war
always been desire to annex Cuba (Ostend Manifesto 1854)
Cuba provides greater security to U.S. wealth
Course and Outcome
Lasted 4 months
U.S had superior naval power
Theodore Roosevelt, assistant Secretary of navy, lead a group called Rough Riders and was captured Santiago, capital of Cuba
U.S. annexed Guam, the Philippines, & Puerto Rico
Commander Dewey defeated Spanish navy in Philippines
Teller Amendment allowed Cuba to not be annexed
Platt Agreement: allowed U.S. indirect control & right to intervene
provide naval bases (Guantanamo Bay) and could not borrow money from other countries thst they could not repay
Imperialism
Arguments For
Colonies provided raw materials
Alfred T. Mahan’s book “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History“, inspired the usage of colonies as naval bases; trade and naval power
White Man’s Burden, (extension of Manifest Destiny) spread christiainity & American ideals
Better in U.S. hands instead of Europe hands
Arguments Against
Anti-democratic, American Anti-Imperialist League:
William Jennings, Mark Twain, Jane Addams, Andrew Carnegie, Samuel Gompers
Getting roped into global conflicts
U.S. fought imperialism before (Britain), so it shouldnt be an imperialist now
Cheap labour in colonies lower wages in U.S.
American Colonial Empire
Philippines
U.S. agreed to help Philippines and fend off Spain, but U.S. annexed Philippines for 3 years
Emiliano Aguinaldo and rebels fought for 3 years
After 3 years, U.S. built infrastructure, schools, hospitals, roads, etc
*Jone’s Act gave Philippines independence in 1916.
Hawaii
American Plantation owners built sugar & plantation owners in Hawaii
When conflict occured, the plantation owners collaborated with the marines to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani
President Cleveland refused to recognize annexation until Congress voted for it after Spanish-American war, 1898
Guam, Samoa, Midway
Used for naval bases & coaling stations for American navy sailing to Asia
Guam: taken after Spanish American war
Midway: In American possession from
Samoa: Split between Germany & U.S.
Puerto Rico
Obtained after Spanish-American War and became a “Commonwealth”
Puerto Ricans have special privileges
Immigration without visa
U.S. currency
Puerto Rico is not officially a state, but is under the U.S.
Alaska
Russia first obtained Alaska for light inhabitance and resources, but offered to sell Alaska to the U.S. because of American trading competition
Russia sold Alaska to U.S to offset Britain
After Civil War, Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska for $7.2 million
Timber and fishing industry in U.S. boomed
Virgin Islands
Bought from Denmark in 1917
American Foreign Policy 1898-1916
Trade with Asia
U.S. traded often with Asia for spices, silk, rubber, etc;
it was close to the continent and had many naval bases along the way
China
When Europe was claiming “Spheres of Influence” in China, John Hay proposed “Open Door” policy to say that everyone had equal trading rights in China
Boxer Rebellion: rebels who feared the U.S. would influence religion, culture, and infiltrate China
Japan
Commander Perry was first to open Japan to western trade
Japan was an Imperialist country and invaded Taiwan & Korea in Sino-Japanese War
When Japan won with Russia in Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt acted as a mediator and left bad taste in both sides mouth in Treaty of Portsmouth
Tensions rose with Gentlemen’s Agreement in U.S. (Japanese could not immigrate to U.S. unless they were wives or children of already immigrated Japanese)
U.S. & Latin America
When the U.S. wanted to build the Panama Canal, Columbia declined the U.S. offer ($10 million + annual fee)
Roosevelt supported rebels who overthrow Columbian government in exchange for control of Panama Canal Zone & diplomatic recognition for Panama
Roosevelt Corollary
Monroe Doctrine (1823): New European powers could not intervene in Western Hemisphere
When Latin American countries could not repay European debt, Roosevelt sent ships to pay debt as “international police power“
“Big Stick” Policy or Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine; ‘speak softly and carry a big stick”
The U.S. sent so many ships to the West Indies & central America, that the Carribean became the American Lake
Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy
Bankers encouraged to pay Caribbean countries’ debt
Bankers paid Nicaragua in exchange for railroad, custom duties, & national banks
Taft sent U.S. marines to enforce debt when Nicaragua refused to pay
Wilson’s “Watchful Waiting”
Wilson did not acknowledge overthrown Mexican government by General Huerta
When Huerta fled Mexico, Wilson acknowledged its government
Wilson sent U.S. troops to chase rebel leader, Pancho Villa when revolutionaries targeted Americans
Pancho was never caught