Transcript Chapter 20 The United States Looks Overseas

Chapter 20
The United States Looks Overseas
End of the Open Range
Frederick Jackson Turner
Turner is remembered for his "Frontier
Thesis", which he first published July 12,
1893, in a paper read in Chicago to the
American Historical Association during the
Chicago World's Fair.
In it, he stated that the spirit and success of
the United States is directly tied to the
country's westward expansion.
In other words, America’s greatness lies in
it’s abilities to confront and conquer new
frontiers. Now that a continent has been
conquered by 1890, where are there new
frontiers to conquer?
A World Power
The ambition of Manifest Destiny in the 1840’s
combined with the colossal industrial expansion after
the Civil War has brought the United States, by
1890, to the point where competing on a global stage
with other world powers is the next frontier.
Imperialism
Imperialism is the economic, political and
military domination of an area by an industrial
power.
Countries such as England, Germany, France
and Spain are furthering their interests
overseas by seeking more raw materials to
fuel their industries, creating colonies and
opening new markets for their goods.
The United States wishes to join these
countries and participate in the new age of
imperialism.
Imperialism
By 1890, the United States has
created an enormous industrial
system that is fueled by an
abundance of natural resources and
a virtually unlimited supply of labor.
Pro-imperialists believe the U.S.
must become a participant in
imperialism for the following
reasons:
Imperialism
1.) The need to compete economically with
other industrialized nations and open
new markets for American goods.
2.) The need to compete politically or
perhaps militarily to prevent other
industrialized nations from seizing all
new markets.
3.) A belief in the racial and cultural
superiority of Anglo-Saxons.
Opposition
There was opposition to American imperialism
within the United States. Those who were
anti-imperialism held the following positions:
1.) Imperialism was against the basic principles
of the United States.
2.) New markets and/or areas of attempted
American domination may be too far away to
effectively control and could wind up costing
more than they are worth.
3.) If the U.S. attempts to establish a presence
in the Pacific, a conflict with Japan may
eventually occur.
If the United States wishes to become an
imperialistic nation, and it does, there
are several questions to be answered.
How do this get accomplished?
Where will new markets open?
Where will additional natural resources be
found?
Will there be conflict?
With who?
Admiral Alfred T.
Mahan was president of
the Naval War College
and author of
“Influence of Sea Power
on History 1660-1783”.
He was also a leading
proponent of American
imperialism. Mahan
outlined a four point
plan which needed to be
accomplished for the
United States to
compete successfully
with other world
powers.
Mahan’s Four Points
1.) Build a strong naval fleet
2.) Establish naval bases in the Caribbean Sea
3.) Construct a canal linking the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans
4.) Acquire Hawaii
Strong Naval Fleet
After the Civil War, Congress was involved with the financial
affairs of Reconstruction, railroads and westward expansion.
Consequently, the Navy, which was #1 in the world in 1865, had
slipped to #12 by 1880.
The general feeling was that there were no imminent conflicts
threatening the United States and with two large oceans for
protection, why spend money unnecessarily on the Navy?
Strong Naval Fleet
Between 1883 and 1890,
the United States built
9 steel battleships
among which were the
USS Indiana, USS
Oregon, USS
Massachusetts and the
USS Maine.
The U.S. Navy was once
again a world class fleet
which would only become
larger.
Establish Naval Bases in the
Caribbean
In 1898, the United States Navy established itself on
the southeastern end of Cuba at Guantanamo Bay.
The Naval Base at Guantanamo is still in existence.
Why would the United States need a naval base in the
Caribbean for successful participation in imperialism?
Build a Canal
According to Mahan,
a successful
imperialistic policy
requires a canal
linking the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.
Why?
Acquire Hawaii
What would be the purpose in acquiring the Hawaiian
Islands?
1.) Military presence in the Pacific Ocean
2.) Refueling station for Pacific crossings
3.) Business interests on the islands
Hawaiian/American Relations
By the middle of the
19th century, American
business interests
controlled 75% of
Hawaiian sugar
plantations.
In 1891, the King,
favorable to American
business, dies. Queen
Liliuokalani wishes to
restore power back to
Hawaiians which would
hurt American business.
In 1898 with the aid of military forces, the
United States annexes Hawaii as a territory.
Cuba Revolts
Cuban
revolutionaries, led
by Jose Marti,
revolt against
Spanish authority.
He hoped to
persuade America to
intervene on behalf
of the
revolutionaries.
Yellow Journalism
William Randolph Hearst was the owner of the New York Journal
and a leading supporter of American imperialism. His paper
presented articles and cartoons exaggerating the treatment of
the Cuban revolutionaries by the Spanish in the hope of U.S.
military intervention leading to war and to sell newspapers. His
competitor, Joseph Pulitzer, owner of the New York World,
fought back with stories which were exaggerated even greater.
U.S.S. Maine
On February 15, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine was docked in Havana
Harbor for the purposes of keeping order, if necessary. An
explosion on board destroyed the ship and killed 266 American
sailors. Spain was immediately blamed for the attack but claimed
they were not involved. The United States offered Spain the
opportunity to apologize and settle the matter diplomatically but
Spain, again claiming innocence, refused.
The Spanish American War 1898
On April 11, 1898,
President McKinley
goes before
Congress and asks
for a declaration of
war against Spain.
On April 20,
Congress declares
war on Spain. The
Spanish American
War begins.
The Spanish American War 1898
On May 1st, Admiral
Dewey sails into Manila
Bay and destroys the
entire Spanish fleet in
just a matter of hours.
The Spanish suffer 384
casualties as opposed to
the loss of one
American sailor.
American ground forces
join with Filipino rebels
to defeat Spanish
troops. Spain
surrenders by August of
1898.
The Spanish American War 1898
While the American
Navy battled the
Spanish in the
Philippines, the Army
would lead the fight in
Cuba. After a confused
and unorganized start,
the U.S. Army, joined by
Theodore Roosevelt and
his Rough Riders, spent
the summer of 1898
battling the Spanish.
After 16 weeks of
fighting, the war is over.
The Treaty of Paris
After a swift and decisive American
victory, the United States and Spain sign the
Treaty of Paris in December of 1898.
- Cuba would be independent
- U.S. acquires Puerto Rico and Guam
- U.S. pays Spain $20 million for the Philippines
The United States is now in the imperialism
business!
Open Door Policy
By 1900, the 250 year old Manchu Dynasty was
crumbling and European powers were carving up China
into “spheres of influence”. Feeling left out,
Secretary of State, John Hay, issues the Open Door
Notes to foreign powers and takes their vague
responses as being affirmative. Thus, on March 20,
1900, the United States issues the Open Door Policy.
1.) The growth of the U.S. economy depends on exports.
2.) The U.S. has the right to intervene to keep foreign
markets open.
3.) The closing of a market threatens U.S. survival.
Boxer Rebellion
In 1900, the Chinese rebel against foreign intervention. The
“Harmonious Righteous Fists” or Boxers tried to remove foreign
nations from their soil. U.S. troops and troops from other
nations put down the Boxer Rebellion.
Problems in the Philippines
The Filipino rebel
leader, Emilio
Aguinaldo,
believed the
Americans were
helping to fight
for the
independence of
the Philippines.
Problems
in the Philippines
..
He led the Filipino troops to fight
against American control. The resulting
Philippine-American War lasted for
three years. Ultimately, the United
States won but at what cost?
The casualties included 24,000 Filipino
troops and 4,000 American troops at a
cost to the United States of $400
million dollars.
What were the anti-imperialists thinking now?
Open Door Policy
By 1900, the 250 year old Manchu Dynasty was
crumbling and European powers were carving up China
into “spheres of influence”. Feeling left out,
Secretary of State, John Hay, issues the Open Door
Notes to foreign powers and takes their vague
responses as being affirmative. Thus, on March 20,
1900, the United States issues the Open Door Policy.
1.) The growth of the U.S. economy depends on exports.
2.) The U.S. has the right to intervene to keep foreign
markets open.
3.) The closing of a market threatens U.S. survival.
Roosevelt’s “Big Stick”
Roosevelt’s “Big Stick”
was the United States
Navy. As former
Assistant Secretary of
the Navy and proimperialist, he believed
in a powerful Navy
which would protect
American interests in
the Western
Hemisphere and around
the globe.
Roosevelt Corollary
In 1904, President
Roosevelt added an
amendment to the
Monroe Doctrine known
as the Roosevelt
Corollary. He warns
European nations not to
interfere in the
Western Hemisphere or
the “United States
would exercise police
power” to protect its
economic interests.
Conclusion
In a relatively short period of time, the
United States becomes an imperialistic
power joining European nations in
dividing the world into spheres of
influence.
With a growing military force and the
willingness to use it, the United States
informs those same European powers
when and where America intends to do
business.