Transcript Overseas Expansion 1865-1917

Overseas Expansion
1865-1917
Expanding Horizons
 American Foreign Policy
1. Before the Civil War, the U.S. practiced
isolationism or noninvolvement in world
affairs
2. After the Civil War, the U.S. changed it’s
policy to expansionism or a belief in
expanding the nation’s boundaries
Imperialism
 The late 1800s and early 1900s were called an age of
imperialism.
 Imperialism can be described as a nation’s policy of
increasing its power by gaining political, economic, or
territorial control of other areas.
 The U.S. became interested in overseas expansion at
the end of the 1800s due to the growth of American
industry.
 European countries and the U.S. became imperialistic
due to the desire for new overseas markets, the need
for new sources of raw materials, and a belief that
European culture was superior.
Examples of American
Imperialism
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Japan – In 1853, Pres. Fillmore sent Commodore
Matthew Perry on a mission to Japan. His purpose
was to open Japan to American trade.
Both sides agreed and signed the Treaty of
Kanagawa in 1854.
This marked the start of greater American
involvement in Asia
•Alaska – In 1867, under the direction of William
Seward, the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia. It was
known as “Seward’s Folly” and a “polar bear garden” but
soon Alaska proved to be beneficial as it provided the
U.S. with lumber, gold, and oil.
•Hawaii – Hawaii was annexed due to the encouragement of
American sugar plantation owners that had been in Hawaii since
the 1830s.
•The Hawaiian queen, Liliuokalani, tried to preserve her land’s
independence. However, John Stevens, the American diplomat in
Hawaii, arranged for U.S. marines from the warship Boston to
assist in an uprising which resulted in overthrowing Queen
Liliuokalani.
•Hawaii was officially annexed in 1898.
•American Samoa – In 1899, the U.S., Great Britain, and
Germany met in Berlin to discuss the islands of Samoa. Through
diplomatic negotiation, the U.S. acquired their part of the Samoan
Islands.
•China and the Open Door Policy– By the late 1890s, Japan and
other leading European nations had carved out spheres of
influence or areas where trading rights were given to foreign
powers in China.
•The U.S. worried about being squeezed out of the profitable
China trade. Therefore Sec. of State John Hay proposed an open
door policy which would allow each foreign nation in China to
trade freely in other nation’s sphere of influence.
•The open door policy was accepted by the other nations after the
Boxer Rebellion.
•The Boxer Rebellion was a famous uprising by the Chinese
against Western foreigners in China in 1900.
The Spanish American War
Causes –
1. Protection of American business interests in Cuba
2. American support of Cuban rebels to gain
independence from Spain
3. Rising tensions as a result of the sinking of the U.S.S.
Maine in Havana Harbor. This was the immediate
cause of the Spanish-American War.
4. Exaggerated news reports of events in Cuba (yellow
journalism – used by Joseph Pulitzer and William
Randolph Hearst)
Results –
1. The U.S. emerged as a world power
2. Cuba gained independence from Spain
3. The U.S. gained possession of Spanish-held islands in the
Pacific and the Caribbean as colonies. These included Guam,
Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The U.S. paid $20 million for
the Philippines.
4. After the U.S. gained possession of the Philippines, the
Filipinos began a revolt against American rule led by Emilio
Aguinaldo
The Panama Canal
•Americans and Europeans had dreamed of building a
canal across Central America to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans and to eliminate the long and dangerous
voyage around South America.
•Panama was a province of Colombia. In 1903 the U.S.
negotiated treaty with Colombia that would allow a canal
to built in Panama. However, the treaty was rejected.
•Therefore Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, who was
influential in building the Panama Canal, encouraged
and supported a revolt in Panama which would lead to
their independence.
•With Panama now independent, the U.S. could now
start constructing the canal. However, it was not easy as
the workers had to combat diseases such as malaria
and yellow fever. Workers also had to cut a path
through dense jungle and over mountains.
•The Panama Canal was opened on August 15th, 1914.
Theodore Roosevelt and
Latin America
 Often used the quote “speak softly and carry a big stick” when
dealing with foreign affairs in Latin America. He meant that the
U.S. should not threaten other nations, but show the strength of
your military power.
 Roosevelt was concerned that instability in the Caribbean region
would lead to European nations to intervene.
 He came up with the Roosevelt Corollary, which claimed that the
U.S. had the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American
nations wherever those nations seemed unstable and law and
order was threatened.
William Howard Taft and
Latin America
 Whereas Roosevelt thought of American power mostly
in military terms, Taft had a different approach.
 He “substituted dollars for bullets” or dollar diplomacy.
 Taft believed American investments would provide
stability to troubled areas of the world as well as profit
and power to the U.S.
 American investments helped build roads, railroads,
and harbors which stimulated trade and brought
benefits to both Latin America and the U.S.