Transcript U.S. Imperialism

U.S. Imperialism
U.S. Expansion 1853
Manifest Destiny
In the late 19th Century the idea of increasing U.S. territory
seemed natural to most Americans.
Manifest Destiny – the notion that Americans were a
superior people and had the right to control the North
American Continent
Manifest Destiny 2
The Civil War had interrupted the nations
expansionist march, but once it was over,
American looked for new frontiers to conquer.
By 1890, the United States was settled from
coast to coast.
Americans had to turn to areas outside of the
U.S. to continue to grow
The Turn to
Expansionism
During the 1800’s economic
expansionism became part of the
American experience
U.S. began to export surpluses of goods
to foreign markets wanted to open more
markets
Political leaders began to develop a
foreign policy of expansionism
Expansionism to Imperialism
The desire for new markets turned into
a desire for an American Empire.
It would make America money
It was believed that to be strong in a
modern world, America must be able to
compete in a global market.
It must protect its markets and acquire
territories.
Reasons for Imperialism
Many Americans believed that taking
over new lands beyond the continental
U.S. would increase American glory and
prestige throughout the world.
Others felt that the United States was a
role model and should spread its
democratic and Christian values to
people in other lands
Reverend Josiah Strong
Author of book Our
Country
Claimed Americans
were special, Godfavored Anglo-Saxon
race
Represent the “purist
Christianity, the
o job is to “lift up” other societies
highest civilization”
http://www.boondocks o“Take up the White Man’s
net.com/ai/kipling/detr Burden”
oit.html
oMake uncivilized countries like
the U.S.
Imperialism Debate
Imperialists felt that it was America’s right,
responsibility to take over other lands.
Others believed in expansionism (trade with
other nations) but not having power over
them
Anti-imperialists believed that it would
weaken institutions at home, invite war,
violate American principle of selfdetermination (right to choose gov’t.
without outside interference)
Led to growing US involvement in Latin
America, Pacific Islands, Hawaii and Samoa
Revolution in Cuba
Revolution In Cuba
o Cuba is an island 90 miles off of the coast of
Florida
o Cuban people struggled for independence from
Spain
o U.S. identifies with struggle.
o Slavery is abolished, but Spanish rule
repressively
o Some saw Cuba as a natural extension of US
o Economic interest in sugarcane plantations
o 1894 sugar tariff disrupts Cuban economy
o Jose Marti gathers money, arms, and men from
New York
Revolution Begins
Marti launched revolution from US
Destructive war: Rebels destroyed
fields, mills, fought Spanish soldiers
Valereano “Butcher” Weyler (leader of
Spanish troops) forced Cubans into
“Reconcentration Camps” to separate
them from Cuban rebels
Horrifying conditions: hunger,
starvation, diseases: 10,000’s deaths
(25% population)
Americans Keep Watch
$50 million in interests in plantations
Sensationalized news reports of
atrocities in camps
Americans want action; President
McKinley doesn’t.
New Spanish gov’t promises reform and
autonomy for Cubans
“Remember the Maine!”
In this picture, we see the US battleship
Maine exploding in Havana Harbor, Cuba
Spanish troops in Cuba refused to comply
with reforms and rioted in Havana (1898)
Spain was not in control of its officials in
Cuba ( no control)
Jan. 1898- McKinley sends Battleship Maine
to Havana Harbor to protect American
citizens and property
On February 15, 1898, the Maine was
rocked by an explosion in Havana Harbor
that destroyed the battleship, killing 260
American officers and crew
In response to the tragedy, headlines in
American papers called for
revenge:”Remember the Maine! To war with
Spain!”
Most Americans believed that Spain had
blown up the Maine, even though there was
no evidence!
Yellow Journalism Pushes U.S. Towards War
Yellow Journalism
-American Newspapers placed blame on
Spanish
-Yellow Journalism: Sensation headlines
and stories, with little attention to facts,
designed to grab the attention and stir up
emotions of readers
-Hearst/Pulitzer competition for highest
circulation
-“You furnish the photos, I’ll furnish the
war!”
Yellow Journalism
McKinley Calls for War
Anti-Spanish sentiment limits
McKinley’s options
President still doesn’t want war, but
can’t avoid it
March 1898 ultimatum:
Armistice
 End reconcentrations

WAR!
Spain – Insufficient concessions
April11, 1898 – Congress okays use of
force
April 19 – Congress declares Cuba’s
independence, direction to use troops
April 25, McKinley signs declaration of
war
“The Editor’s to Blame”
Now wars are never started by those who have to eventually fight them.
And profit is often gained by those who plot and intrigue to ignite them.
Now take the recent struggle ‘twixt America and Spain,
When all is said and all is done, there’s only one man to blame.
Chorus
Editor, Editor, we all know your name.
Editor, Editor, you’re the man to blame. (Repeat)
He saw his circulation, sinking mighty low,
So he says we need a yarn to put us on the go.
Then he looked at Cuba, and then he looked at Spain,
He says I’ll tell the world and God, of Cuba’s tragic shame.
Chorus
And so he wrote of pain and tear, of anguish and despair,
Taxes made and orphans made, and print both bold and bare.
He wrote of bleeding Cuba, he wrote of cruel Spain,
He says that we should intervene, in Christianities name.
Chorus
And when the country was aroused, as much as we could be,
He scribbled of his masterpiece, enthusiastically.
He took his yellow-quilted pen, and then with great disdain
He wrote his editorial, and sunk the goodship, Maine
Chorus
This fellow made a lot of money from the Little war,
And after it was over, boys, he made a whole lot more.
Newspapers all around the land, bear his famous name,
But it began the day this man, sunk the goodship, Maine.
Philippines
War In the Philippines
Asst. Sec’y of Navy Theodore
Roosevelt, Commodore George Dewey
moved six US ships from the port of
Hong Kong to invade the Philippines
May 1, Dewey and his fleet attacked
Spanish squadron in Manila
In 7 hours, US demolished Spanish
forces, sinking all 10 of their ships
Storming of Manila
Dewey blockades harbor to await ground
troops
11,000 reinforcements and collaboration with
Filipino patriot Emilio Aguinaldo and his
rebels, captured Manila on August 13, 1898.
Ironically, Aguinaldo helped based on belief
US would guarantee Philippines
independence. NOT!
War Moves to Cuba
US Troops in Cuba
17,000 troops land
near Santiago, Cuba
(Spanish Base)
Included many
African-American
soldiers (Buffalo
Soldiers)
Wanted
independence for
Cuba (ancestry)
The Rough Riders
A colorful regiment
of volunteers under
T. Roosevelt
Cowboys, college
students, ex-polo
players, and steeple
chasers
Rumor – TR
recruited them at a
bar in Texas
Rough Riders
Known as “Teddy’s Terrors”
TR resigned from Navy to
command them
Were undisciplined and not
always effective
Symbol of American enthusiasm
for fight against Spain
Became legend after charge up
San Juan Hill
US demoralized Spanish, took
sight.
U.S. Defeats Spain
African-Americans in War
Black Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Battle of
Guasimas June 24, 1898
African-American role in Spanish-Am
war ignored at the time
Guasimas opened way the way for
Rough Rider to rout the Spanish
Crucial to success of San Juan Hill31
Defeating the Spanish
Battle at San Juan Hill, last battle
Spanish resistance in Cuba smashed
Puerto Rico, easily conquered in July
John Hay “Splendid Little War”
385 Americans killed; 5,00 died from
tropical disease( malaria, yellow fever)
and bad food tainted meat
Many quarantined in NY
US as Imperialist Power
Peace
August 12, 1898 Spanish signed peace
protocol
Treaty of Paris – October 1898
Independence to Cuba
 Ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines to
US for $20 Million

President set up military government in
Cuba
Platt Amendment – limited Cuba’s
foreign interaction and gave the US
right to have naval bases on the island
and to send troops if necessary to keep
order
Filipino’s were considered “unfit for selfgovernment”
Made Philippines a US colony
Filipino’s wanted self-government
Aguinaldo refused to acknowledge US
rule of the islands
Aguinaldo was deported from the
Philippines so he couldn’t cause
problems