Transcript 17. US Chapter 10 and 11- Imperialism

Imperialism
Chapter 10
Pathfinder Fleet
Library of Congress
Diplomacy after the Civil War
 Little concern for foreign affairs.
 Manifest Destiny—pushed an
industrial nation across the
continent.
Secretary of State William Seward’s
purchase of Alaska in 1867 from Russia for
$7.2 million (“Seward’s Folly)
Pacific island of Midway
Toward a New Imperialism
 Imperialism in global context
The scramble for empire was well under
way by the time the U.S. entered in the late
19th century.
By the late 19th century, the technology of
arms and the networks of communication,
transportation, and commerce brought the
prospect of effective, truly global empires
within much closer reach – a new age of
imperialism (ex. Africa)
American Imperialism:
Markets
 The rapid industrial
development of the U.S.
(new places to export and
access to raw materials)
The growth of industrial networks
linked them to international
markets as never before.
American companies were
outgrowing the home market. As
economic systems became more
tightly knit and political systems
more responsive to industrialists
and financiers, a rush for markets
in distant lands was unavoidable.
European Expansion
Worldwide
American
Imperialism
 Social Darwinism
Applied evolution to the social order.
Survival of the fittest.
Justified white supremacy and European and
American expansion.
 Religious motives and “the civilizing mission”
American Protestant missionaries sought to
convert “heathen” unbelievers in faraway lands.
“The white man’s burden” – introducing
civilization to the “colored” races of the world.
Expansion
 In 1880, the U.S. still lacked the military
might of an imperial power.
The U.S. Navy ranked 12th in the world, behind
Denmark and Chile.
The U.S. could not protect its interests overseas.
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890)
– by Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that national
greatness and prosperity depended on sea power.
U.S. needed a modern navy with steam-powered,
steel-hulled ships that would need coaling stations
and other re-supply facilities throughout the world
 By 1900, the U.S. Navy ranked 3rd in the
world. With a modern navy, the country
had the means to become an imperial
Pacific Islands
 U.S. took the port of Pago Pago in the
strategically located islands of Samoa in 1878
 The crucial link to extending trade across the
Pacific to China was Hawaii
Island settled about 2,000 years earlier by people from
Polynesian Islands. By 1840s, American merchants and
missionaries dominated
Boom in sugarcane growing resulted from trade
agreement with U.S.
By the 1880s, U.S. was in virtual control with base at
Pearl Harbor
Queen Liliuokalani ascended to throne and tried to limit
foreign influence, Americans staged revolution and
proclaimed Republic of Hawaii
Hawaii annexed in 1898
The Spanish American War
 Rebellion broke out in Cuba in 1895
seeking independence from Spain.
 Yellow journalism whipped the American
public into a hostile frenzy.
 De Lôme letter – Spanish minister in
Washington sent this letter to friend in
Cuba; called McKinley a “would-be
politician” and said that Spain had no
intention of changing its policy –“Worst
Insult to the United States in its History.”
The Spanish
American War
 The battleship Maine exploded in
Havana harbor in 1898 killing 260
American sailors.
 Spain announced unilateral
ceasefire.
 U.S. declared war on Spain.
 Congress declared Cuba
independent.
Campaigns

Manila
 Naval battles
determined the outcome
of the war.
 Admiral Dewey
destroyed the Spanish
ships in Manila Bay,
Philippines.

Cuba
 U.S. Navy destroyed
Spanish fleet in Cuba.
 T.R.’s “Rough Riders”
won the battle of San
Juan Hill.
Results
 5,462 Americans died (379 in battle) Most
killed by malaria, typhoid, dysentery, or
yellow fever
Wool uniforms and diseased, rotten, or poisoned
rations.
 War ended less than 4 months after it
started:
Cuba was given independence.
U.S. annexed Puerto Rico and Guam, occupied
the Philippines for $20 million (Also annexed
Hawaii and Wake Island) It would take another
5,000 casualties to subdue Philippines.
China:
The Open Door Policy
 Following the Sino-Japanese War, China
attracted the great powers in a scramble for
control.
Open Door Policy outlined by Secretary of State John
Hay urged major powers to keep trade open to all
countries on an equal basis.
 Open Door Policy threatened by the Boxer
Rebellion
When Chinese nationalists laid siege to foreign
embassies in Peking (Beijing), multinational force went in
to stop uprising.
America urged other countries to “preserve Chinese
territorial and administrative integrity” –
New American empire would have its share of
Rise of TR
 Election of 1900
William Jennings Bryan (Dem)
vs. McKinley/TR (Rep)
Republicans win on proimperialist platform
 Assassination of McKinley
in Sep, 1901 made TR
president. At 42, TR was
youngest president.
Roosevelt’s
Foreign Policy
 “Speak softly and carry a
big stick”
 The Panama Canal
Colombian province of Panama, with American aid,
claimed independence and got canal contract from
United States.
America built the canal, opening in 1914.
 The Roosevelt Corollary
In response to an economic crisis in the Dominican
Republic, Roosevelt announced his Corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine—the United States could intervene in
its neighbors’ affairs to prevent foreign intervention.
Would later become the basis for military intervention.