The Progressive Presidents

Foreign Policy & Imperialism (Late 19th–Early 20th Century)

Core Idea

  • Imperialism: Complete control of another nation’s political, economic, and social life through military force, economic dominance, or diplomacy.

  • Many Progressives believed overseas expansion matched their goal of reform at home.

  • This created tension: reformers wanted justice domestically but tolerated or ignored oppression abroad.

Early Expansion & Military Presence

Panama Canal Crisis (1885)

  • US intervened in Panama to suppress a revolt against Colombia.

  • Chile objected, nearly causing conflict.

  • Result: US realized it needed a stronger navy → naval expansion.

Hawaii (1893–1898)

  • American missionaries and traders gained influence.

  • Sanford Dole led revolt against Queen Liliuokalani with US Marine support.

  • Hawaii declared an independent republic.

  • Annexed in 1898 under William McKinley for strategic reasons during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War Era

Cuban War of Independence (1895)

  • Cuban rebels led by José Martí, Máximo Gómez, and Calixto García fought Spain.

  • Drew US attention through journalism and economic interests.

Spanish-American War (1898)

  • Triggered by sinking of the USS Maine (cause unclear).

  • Driven by yellow journalism from William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

  • Outcome:

    • Spain lost empire in Western Hemisphere.

    • US gained Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico.

    • Cuba technically independent.

Media & Public Opinion

Yellow Journalism

  • Sensationalized news to sell papers.

  • Fueled war fever with exaggerated or false stories.

  • Famous line: “You furnish the pictures, I’ll provide the war!”

Anti-Imperialism

Opposition to Expansion

  • Anti-Imperialists opposed US expansion for different reasons:

    • Moral contradiction with democracy.

    • Racist fears of non-white populations entering US politics.

  • W. E. B. Du Bois compared imperialism to Jim Crow.

  • Mark Twain became a vocal critic and member of the Anti-Imperialist League.

US in Asia

Philippines & the Far East

  • Philippines ceded to US in 1898 → Philippine-American War (1899–1902).

  • Heavy civilian casualties; guerrilla warfare used.

  • US victory led to colonial rule.

Open Door Policy

  • Issued by John Hay (1899–1900).

  • Goal: Equal trade access in China.

  • Sparked resentment among Chinese citizens.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

  • Anti-foreign uprising in China.

  • Opposed Western influence and missionaries.

US Policy in Cuba

Teller Amendment (1898)

  • US promised not to annex Cuba.

Platt Amendment (1901)

  • Allowed US intervention in Cuban affairs.

  • Restricted Cuba’s treaties.

  • Established US base at Guantanamo Bay.

  • Marked long-term US influence.

Economic Imperialism

United Fruit Company

  • Controlled ~90% of global banana trade.

  • Dominated politics of Central America.

  • Origin of term “banana republic.”

  • Destabilized nations like Honduras and Guatemala.

Presidential Leadership & Imperial Policy

Assassination of McKinley (1901)

  • Shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz.

  • Led to presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt

  • Domestic reformer and aggressive imperialist.

  • Believed in racial hierarchy.

  • Policies:

    • Roosevelt Corollary: US police power in Latin America.

    • Conservation reforms.

  • Led Rough Riders in Spanish-American War.

William Howard Taft

  • Continued reforms but leaned conservative.

  • Promoted Dollar Diplomacy:

    • Economic control disguised as aid.

  • Refused to appoint Black Americans to federal jobs.

Woodrow Wilson

  • Advocated Moral Diplomacy.

  • Intervened abroad despite anti-imperialist language.

  • Domestically allowed segregation in federal offices.

  • Disappointed Black leaders like Du Bois.

Panama Canal

  • US backed Panama’s independence from Colombia (1903).

  • Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty gave US canal zone.

  • Canal opened in 1914.

  • Racial segregation in Canal Zone.

  • Major engineering and strategic achievement.

Key Progressive Reforms (Domestic)

  • Pure Food and Drug Act (1906): Honest labeling and safety.

  • Meat Inspection Act (1906): Federal inspection of meat.

  • Strengthened federal regulation of business and labor.

Big Picture Themes (AP-Style)

  • Progressivism = reform and contradiction.

  • Imperialism justified as moral improvement.

  • Race shaped foreign and domestic policy.

  • Media power influenced war.

  • US emerged as a global power.