Imperalism Reading

Summary: US interests in expansion goes back to colonial times, the Louisiana Puchase, and later the aquisition of Alaska. Spanish-American war kickstarted an era of territorial expansion that continued and expansion led to the establishment of the US as a world power

Aquisition of Alaska (1867)

  • William Seward, secretary of State helped purchase Alaska from Russia

  • Called Seward’s Folleycriticized as a waste of money → land had no clear value

  • Later discovered valuable oil resources in Alaska

Naval Power

  • Alfred Thayer Mahan- argued strong navy essential to controlling foreign markets + becoming a world power → wrote a book on it and encouraged US to aquire territory overseas

Spanish-American War (1898)

  • Led to aquisition of new territories (Mexican cession)

Causes of the war:

  • Cuban Revolt-

    • Cuban nationalists attempted to overthrow Spanish colonization from mid-late 1800s

    • Revolts failed and only led to firmer Spanish control

    • Cubans hoped for US support

  • Yellow Journalism-

  • Writers like Joseph Pulitzer and Williiam Randolph Hearts used exaggerations/false accounts about Spanish occupation in Cuba focusing on sensationalism to influence the opinions of the American public

  • De Lome Letter-

    • Spanish minister in the US wrote a letter criticizing president William McKinley (President during the Spanish-American War) → Americans upset w/ Spanish

  • U.S.S. Maine

    • American vessel stationed in Havana Harbor that blew up → blamed the Spanish

    • Yellow journalism contributed to anger towards Spanish + support for the war

The War:

  • Short war (few months)—Secretary of State John Hay called it “a splendid little war”

  • Americans intervened in Spain’s colonies—Cuba + Phillippines

    • Battle of San Juan Hill (Cuba): Roosevelt led the “rough riders” a volunteer army → American victory

    • Santiago Bay (Philippines)- Spanish navy defeated

    • Philippines- George Dewy led a fleet → took out Spanish influence

Post War

  • Treaty of Paris (1898)

    • US aquired Spanish colonies including the Philippines (paid 20 million), Guam, Puerto Rico

    • Recognized Cuban independence

    • Question of what to do w/ new territories—colonize or independent

  • Philippines Imperialism Controversy

    • Anti-Imperalists did NOT approve of treaty because the US would aquire the Philippines

      • Filipinos should have self-determination + form their own government/nation

      • US imperialism contradicts principles in the Declaration of Independence

    • Emiliano Aguinaldo- Filipino leader that leads a rebellion against US imperialism in the Philippines → after 3 years defeated and put under US control

  • SPAM Effects

    • US increased national pride and European recognition of the US as a world power

    • (US Navy no active prescence in international affairs)

  • Annexation of Hawaii

    • President McKinley approve of takeover of Hawaii (influenced by SPAM events) and created the McKinley tariff

    • McKinley Tariff persudades sugar planters to push for the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii → Hawaii becomes a US territory in 1898

    • Hawaii is not annexed until 1959 (also done by McKinley)

  • Platt Amendment (1901)

    • American troops stationed in Cuba (1890-1901)

    • Forbids Cuba from signing treaties with foreign nations

    • Allows US to intervene in Cuban affairs

    • US naval base at Guantanamo Bay

  • Open Door Policy-

    • Context—Spheres of Influence: Major European nations controlled trade + investments in regions “spheres” of China

    • John Hay wanted to guarentee all nations had equal trading access and rights in China → establish US as world power + controlled spheres of influence

Teddy Roosevelt

  • Big Stick Policy

    • Aggressive foreign policy through MILITARY means—motto “speak softly and carry a big stick”

    • Imperialists supported Teddy’s authoritative approach to intervention in foreign affairs while some disliked his intimidation approaches

  • Roosevelt Corollary

    • Addition to the Monroe Dotrine—US can intervene in Latin American affairs

    • Purpose: Increase US control and rid of European influence in western hemisphere

    • Enforce through US military prescence in Latin America

  • Panama Canal

    • In 1800s British + US agreed to a joint operation for the building of a canal in Central America connecting the Pacific + Atlantic oceans

    • Britain signed Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901) allow US to build canal alone

    • Panama under Colombian occupation strict w/ allowing US to build a canal →

    • Roosevelt promoted Panama to revolt against Colobmia and offered support of US Navy

    • Panama grant US territory to build a canal to repay for its independence

William Taft

  • Dollar Diplomacy

    • Imperialism through FINANCIAL/ECONOMIC means

    • Encourage US banks to provide loans to foreign nations → more influence in foreign ecomonic interests

    • US businesses to expand overseas (locations in Latin American + East Asia)

Henry Cabot Lodge

  • Supported imperalism + stronger navy

  • Prevent foreign nations from influencing western hemisphere

  • Advocated for a Monroe Doctrine that prevented non-European nations from colonizing Latin America

Rough Riders

  • Volunteer army during Spanish-American War led by Roosevelt fought in San Juan Hill (Cuba) → US victory

  • Included African Americans + prompted DMX to produce the Ruff Ryder’s Anthem in 1998 (idk how this is important but ok)

Commodore Matthew Perry in Japan

  • Sent to Japan and forced a treaty to open up Japanese ports to trading w/ the US—US intervention in Asia + imperiallism

Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)

  • Chinese nationalists in a secret society known as the "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" opposed imperialism and spheres of influence of foreign nations (esp. the US) sought to rid China of foreign influence

  • Boxers began attacking foreign nationals, Chinese Christians, and anyone associated with foreign influences

  • Troops from the US + European nations sent to put down the rebellion

  • Result: Harsher terms imposed on China—pay heavy indemnities to the foreign powers, and foreign troops stationed in Beijing

Russo-Japanese War (1904)

  • Russia v. Japan fought over territorial expansion/imperialism—wanted to take over Korean peninsula and Manchuria → Japan defeated Russia

  • US intervened as diplomat after Japanese victory organized winnings for both nations

  • Although Russia ceded lands to Japan, Japanese felt they did not recieve what they deserved → further Japanese imperialism in future

Gentlemen’s Agreement

  • Context: Japanese discrimination laws in San Francisco w/ segregation of Japanese-American schools

  • Teddy Roosevelt reached agreement to restrict Japanese immigration to the US in return for attempts to repeal discriminatory laws in California

California Alien Land Law (1913)

  • Laws restricting rights of immigrants (esp. Japanese) to own/lease agricultural lands